A woman of many parts

Gynaecologist and writer Dr. Eva Bell wears many hats with equal ease and is a strong champion of women. Vishaka Srinath meets this inspiring senior.

Dr Eva Bell

Pic: Vishaka Srinath

The sunset years- the later phase of human life- can actually be the beginning of a journey in self discovery. Dr. Eva Bell, a gynaecologist and writer from Bangalore, lives up to this thought.

“Age does not count,” has always been Dr Bell’s motto. In her seventies, she is also someone who wears many hats. Writing is one of them. While doing her Post Graduation in Medicine in London, Dr. Bell also pursued her passion of writing alongside. She did her first Writer’s Course in Birmingham, UK and that was when her passion became her companion through her later years.

The Write Word

Over a mid-morning chat with Silver Talkies, Dr. Bell tells us how writing was always her first choice but she became a doctor due to her family’s wish. She went to medical college in Vellore, India and then to London for post graduation in her later years. A believer in giving back to society, she has worked in rural areas to help and encourage women and give medical assistance.

Her writing career took off post retirement. She has several books to her credit, including four novels, two children’s books, three e-books and two upcoming novels. Her upcoming books are centred around hospital life and international adoption search issues.

Dr Bell has also written for the Chicken Soup series in India. She is part of an active eight women team of writers called Inklinks. What unites them is their zeal for observing life and writing about the things and people that make an impact, each in their own individual style. Since writing has been a big part of her senior years, Dr. Bell plays an active part in 50 Carrots, a critics group for women over 50. Given her multi-faceted interests, she loves to discuss various topics with them.

Books by Dr Bell

Pic: Vishaka Srinath

Social Service

Dr. Bell’s expertise goes beyond just writing and medicine, she is a volunteer and a counsellor as well. Her inspiration to write about social causes, especially issues surrounding women, comes from being a doctor. “Working in the hospital environment, we get to see many different kinds of people, especially women,” she says, emphasizing that this is her favourite topic to write. “This environment has made me more empathetic. Others problems become mine when I reach out to them.”  She also has a thesis on Euthanasia for the terminally ill that is quite well known.

Dr Bell volunteers at several places, including Vathsalya Charitable Trust (VCT), a home for underprivileged and abandoned children and TARA, an organization that works to empower women, both in Bangalore.

Her experience with the children of VCT includes watching orphaned children and children from underpriviledged backgrounds bloom after they get love and care. She strongly believes that if a child is given love and care they can achieve their best.

Empowerment of women remains a cause close to Dr Bell’s heart. “Women in our society must realise their self worth. They need to have a say in matters pertaining to their lives and are not to be treated as door mats. Women need to use their independence prudently,” she says.

She also keeps herself busy with her charitable work for Ashvasan, an organization for the elderly.

Dr Bell in Andaman

Woman of many parts

Dr.Bell never feels lonely due to age as she is on her feet most of the time doing various activities or travelling. Globetrotting is her other big passion. Writing about her visits to various countries gives her a boost and her travelogues have been published at several places. Her persona reflects the vibes she has carried and imbibed from all her travels worldwide. E.g., she’s an avid collector of salt and pepper shakers and on each travel, she buys more to add to her collection! Her favourite place is Munich, though her travel map has been marked with other places in Europe, Iran and Saudi Arabia. “When I travel, I get to learn about different cultures and how different India is to them.” Her ultimate travel dream? “One day I’d like to go to Africa to learn about their culture and write about the women.”

Truly a multi-faceted personality, Dr Bell plays the piano and guitar, listens to western classical music and loves to bake. Her bread pudding is famous with her grandchildren. She is also a spiritual person and has done her Bachelors in Divinity.

Her secret to feeling young is probably her outgoing attitude and involvement with social causes. She strongly believes that “people need to be prepared for retirement 5 to 4 years before it happens and start cultivating a forgotten hobby, volunteering, helping others, doing yoga and having positive thoughts.”

Her belief is that it makes this new phase of life more bright and beautiful.

You can read more about Dr Bell and her work on http://www.evabell.net/