Divine inspirations: The spiritual journey of Dr Kaisar Nasrullah Khan

In a rare intimate conversation with the highly revered cardiologist, the answer surfaces: his spirituality.

Performing the hajj a few years ago brought about a pivotal change in him, as he feels he finally began to truly ask the 'right' questions: why are we here and what is the purpose of life?

This led to a lot of soul-searching. "We have our own goals and ambitions in our professional lives. We want to reach the top and enjoy fame and fortune. I too, had those desires," Dr Khan admits. "But I changed after my pilgrimage. I started balancing all aspects of life; my profession, family, friends, and my duty to society."   

The doctor says that he refuses to lead a mechanical life, and makes it a point to spend quality time with his wife and children.

As for social work, he enthusiastically extends his hand, such as by organising free medical camps, where he and a team of professionals treat patients, donate medicines, and spread health awareness.

And in these trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Khan has come forward to provide PPEs, masks, etc. to front-liners.

Other than the front-liners, he also organises food donations and supply other essentials to the poor, including those who are facing financial hardship due to the pandemic, but would refuse to ask for help because of the associated social and personal embarrassment.

But one may say that such philanthropic activities are just the tip of the iceberg, and that a very significant contribution of Dr Khan involves training up newer generations of cardiologists, thus pushing the frontiers of cardiac health treatment in Bangladesh and making such practices and standards available in different cities of a developing country like ours. 

"When you die, your work shall remain, and through that work, you can live on forever," Dr Khan asserts.

But when your work is so pressing and requires immense levels of responsibility, how does one remain calm against odds, and de-stress when needed?

"My prayers help me," he says. "When you believe that God is with you, the whole world is with you."

While it was his mother who inspired him to pursue a medical career, his father, an IG of police, helped build his work ethic and integrity by setting an example for him early in life with his honesty.

And today, connecting the dots, one may say it all paid off, being an authority in the field of clinical and interventional cardiology, with a huge wealth of experience and admiration.

But the revered doctor humbly would remind you that his career is just one of the dimensions of his life — as his spiritual journey has taught him — that his family and personal life are hugely important too.

And hence, he found, one may reckon, amidst all the busyness and stress, a little solace that we all crave for.

Photo: Nayem Shaan and Personal Collection