Indore : If you believe that doctors always remain busy in looking after patients’ health and they don’t have time for any other activities then meet Dr Avadhesh Awasthi, you will definitely change your mind. He became a YouTube sensation after videos of Dr Awasthi playing flute from his nose hit the web.
His latest performance mesmerised audience at a workshop organised by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on non-communicable diseases and tobacco.
A child specialist, Dr Awasthi, is also an incredible musician who plays flute by his nose. He doesn’t have any degree of music but he knows every rhythm and notes of flute.
Serving as a senior consultant of paediatrics in Indian Railways, in Ratlam, Dr Awasthi shared his story about how he turned a musician and learnt to play flute by nose with Free Press during his visit to the city.
“I was born in Fatehpur District in Uttar Pradesh and at that time, during my childhood, there were no instruments or devices for the entertainment. The only thing we had was the local folk musicians and their instruments. I used to see them performing on every evening in the centre of our village to earn their bread,” Dr Awasthi said.
He further said that by seeing them daily, he also started practising to play flute and learnt some tips from the leader of folk musicians band Surama Bhaiyya.
A challenge given by his medico classmates, Dr Awasthi developed a new hobby of playing the flute by nose.
“Till the second year of my MBBS in MGM Medical College, in 1980, I used to play flute by my mouth only. But, one day during a lecture of ENT, the professor asked the class about the uses of nose, then a classmate told him that I used to play flute and I can play by my nose also,” he said.
From that day, Dr Awasthi started practicing playing flute by my nose. He had received many awards and appreciation during his academics but didn’t continue it professionally as he turned busy in practising paediatrics.
“I didn’t continue to play the flute professionally but still perform in various events including Railway’s programme and gathering of doctors. Now, I have started learning about the techniques of music therapy and trying to use it in my medicinal practise for treating the patients in new way,” the doctor cum musician said.
