Abstract
Dear Professor Sadasiva Shetty,
It is an unspoken dictum in the professional realm that all clinicians may not be good teachers, and conversely, all teachers may not be great clinicians. To combine in oneself all these virtues is indeed rare. YOU, DR SHETTY, ARE A LUMINOUS EXAMPLE OF SUCH A RARE AMALGAM OF ALL THE FACETS MENTIONED ABOVE.
When your 2 volume publication arrived yesterday, I opened it and was stunned to see what a monumental testament it is to your intellectual ardor and pursuit of knowledge. What phenomenal work you have done! If this is my first response, I am sure to feel overwhelmed by the intricate aspects of excellence once I plunge into its details. Despite my age, I am sure to feel compelled to go through the contents with the enthusiasm of a youngster. At a time when the printed page is being swallowed by the virtual world of knowledge that the internet proudly offers to the avid reader, you have boldly chosen to publish such a mammoth book. Of course, the digital copy is bound to benefit thousands of students who would be longing for a book that is a combination of a textbook and a reference book.
Another aspect strikes me. Publication of a book entails not only knowledge of a subject, but also the more mundane, material aspect of dealing with a publisher and his priorities relating to market considerations. By choosing to publish such a pair of volumes yourself, you seem to have affirmed your values, by setting the academic objective above the monetary.
You have groomed a whole team of young academic aspirants to join you in this venture. They are lucky to have got this remarkable opportunity to learn and express themselves. I congratulate you and your team.
An old Sanskrit is saying that the parent should " desire defeat at the hands of the son":पुत्रात् इच्छेत् पराभवम्"
[Putraat icchet paraabhavam"]
and the teacher should " desire defeat at the hands of the student ":
शिष्यात् इच्छेत् पराभवम्
[Sishyaat icchet paraabhavam]
Of course, I am no guru. Even so, I feel that sense of pride looming at your landmark publication.
Warm regards,
Former Principal and Head
Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
Madras Dental College
Chennai (India)
Review
This book is a priceless academic treasure, being a compendium of cases of patients treated by the author over four decades. It is the very zenith of accomplishment. The visuals are incredible and bear the stamp of genuine artistic intelligence, far removed
from drab disquisition and mechanical compilation.
The two volumes are eloquent testimony to a life marked by the spirit of industry, perseverance, and patience which alone lead a professional to the pursuit of excellence, and that is Dr. Shetty's message to the youngsters of the fraternity.
An ardent admirer.