Doctor with poetic licence

Cancer surgeon Dr Sanjeev Chibber, who is working at the Ramlila Maidan medical camp, has won many awards for his poetry

Doctor with poetic licence

Cancer surgeon Dr Sanjeev Chibber, who is working at the Ramlila Maidan medical camp, has won many awards for his poetry

The army of doctors working day and night at the medical camp set up by 'India Against Corruption' at Ramlila Maidan is led by a multi-faceted personality whose interests go beyond medicine and into the sublime world of literature and poetry. Dr. Sanjeev Chhiber, a senior cancer surgeon, also played a pivotal role in the release of passengers of flight 814 which was hijacked by terrorists in 1999 and taken to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Six of Dr. Chhiber's relatives were on that flight.u00a0

Dr. Chhiber, who has been working tirelessly at Ramlila Maidan since day one says he loves to write and spends his idle time in this pursuit. His poetry often takes a shot at the political class and that explains his reason for doing his bit for the Anna movement.

The surgeon has won numerous laurels for his poetry, including the prestigious Blue Ribbon award for his poem by the same name and the Jungle Trail award in America.

Besides being a celebrated poet, Dr. Chhiber is a novelist and is looking forward to the launch of his debut novel next month titled 'One Who Looks'.u00a0 Speaking about it, he said, "It is a fictional work on India." Dr. Chibber had also participated in BBC's Mastermind in the year 2000.

The doctor is also the founder of a political party by the name of 'Naya Daur', which was officially launched in 2008. "I am not here to publicise my political views but only to work for something I believe in. Corruption needs to be rooted out of India and this is the way we move forward."

Free water on sale outside Maidan
It seems that those with a nose for money can smell it anywhere. Slum children have discovered a lucrative way to make a quick buck by selling bottled water distributed free of cost by Team Anna at Ramlila Maidan. In view of the intense heat of the past few days, supporters of Anna have been distributing bottles and packets of water to protesters. This reporter on Tuesday found some kids selling bottles of water at nearby shops for Rs 5 each. These bottles are sold at Rs 12 by the shopkeepers. "It is difficult to keep a track on these things. How can we know if the children will sell the bottles or drink them?" said a police officer at the spot, who didn't wish to be identified. Manoj, 9, was apprehended by this reporter while selling the bottles at a shop near Ramlila Ground. "I am poor. With this money I will buy rotis for my family. It is free and I am selling it. It is not wrong," he said.