Dr. Neeta Deshpande
I am an anesthesiologist and intensivist at Orange City Hospital and
Research Institute, a tertiary care center in Nagpur. Medicine has been
my primary calling, but over the past decade, art has quietly and
steadily grown from a personal passion into a meaningful second
profession.
Interestingly, this journey did not begin with a deliberate decision. It
started while accompanying my daughter to her high school drawing
classes. Watching young students immersed in colors and creativity
stirred something within me — a memory of my own childhood days spent in
painting classes. That dormant connection soon turned into a strong urge
to paint again. Acting on that impulse, I enrolled myself in a short
three-day Chinese painting workshop in the same class as my daughter's.
What seemed like a small step became the beginning of a much deeper
engagement with art.
From there, the journey unfolded organically. I began exploring online
tutorials, experimenting with different mediums — oils, watercolors,
crayons, charcoal, and eventually acrylics. Acrylic painting, in
particular, fascinated me. Its versatility and vibrancy resonated with
my evolving style, and over time, it became my preferred and now
exclusive medium.
To me, art is far more than technique or aesthetics. It is a powerful
expression of thoughts, emotions, inspirations, aspirations, and
devotion — a true reflection of how we experience the world. In many
ways, it feels like an extension of one’s personality. Interestingly, I
find a deep parallel between my profession and my art. Administering
anesthesia, much like painting, requires intuition, precision,
sensitivity, and balance. For me, both are forms of art — one practiced
in the operating room, the other on canvas.
As an ardent practitioner of yoga, I also experience painting as a
meditative process. It allows me to connect deeply with myself, bringing
a sense of calm, joy, and inner fulfilment. The act of creating becomes
a quiet space of reflection amidst the otherwise demanding rhythm of
medical life.
