AMU Anaesthesiology Faculty Member Dr Shahna Ali’s Debut Novel Released

 

Prof. Azarmi Dukht Safvi, Prof. A. R. Kidwai, Prof. Shafey Kidwai, Prof. Mohd Khalid Prof. Ghazanfar Ali and Dr Shariq Aquil releasing the Dr Shahna Ali’s Debut Novel on Doctors’ Hidden Vulnerability

AMU Anaesthesiology Faculty Member Dr Shahna Ali’s Debut Novel Released

ALIGARH, October 22: The White Coat’s Weight, the debut novel by Dr Shahna Ali, Assistant Professor in the Department of Anaesthesiology, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), was released at a ceremony held at the AMU Staff Club. The novel explores the emotional and psychological challenges faced by medical professionals and the human experiences behind the white coat.

Presiding over the programme, Prof. Nahid Azarmi Dukht Safavi, renowned Persian scholar, appreciated the novel’s emotional authenticity and literary finesse. “The novel gives voice to the unspoken vulnerabilities and inner lives of those dedicated to healing others, bringing together professional realities and deeply human emotions,” she said.

Chief Guest Prof. A. R. Kidwai appreciated Dr Ali’s sensitivity and empathy, observing that the novel’s themes have universal appeal beyond the medical profession. He also noted the poetic quality of its language and its grounding in human and family values.

Guest of Honour Prof. Shafey Kidwai, Director, Sir Syed Academy, highlighted the novel’s literary merits and its blending of the emotional realities of medical practice with creative storytelling. He also underscored the value of artistic expression emerging from academic circles.

Another Guest of Honour, Prof. Mohd Khalid, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, reflected on the responsibilities and emotional toll associated with medical practice, noting the importance of resilience and compassion in the lives of healthcare professionals.

The novel follows Dr Sana, a medical professional diagnosed with a serious chronic illness, as she moves from denial towards acceptance. It explores the vulnerability of doctors when they become patients themselves, the demands of professional life and the importance of family support and compassion.

Other speakers included Prof. Ghazanfar Ali, the author’s father and an eminent fiction writer; Prof. Asim Siddiqui and Prof. Sami Rafiq, Department of English; Prof. Tariq Chhatari, Urdu fiction writer and critic; Prof. Muhibul Haq, Department of Political Science; Dr Lubna Zafar, Department of Medicine; and Dr Amina. The author’s daughter, Insha, spoke about her mother’s dedication to writing the novel.

The programme was conducted by Dr Shariq Aqil. In her vote of thanks, Dr Shahna Ali acknowledged the support of her family, friends and well-wishers and thanked Naamāk Publications for bringing the book to readers.