Mohd Rehan Raza; The Doctor turned Civil Servant with a Flair for Writing

How often do we find authors donning multiple hats? A lot of people would say a big NO considering the nomadic aspects attached to an author; sometimes literally and a lot of times figuratively? The reason is quite obvious as an author is undoubtedly an ocean of emotions and thought-process that travels on a different tangent when compared to the mere mortals? Even though their hearts bleed with the misery of the mere mortals but still they fill detached from the common masses considering their migratory behavior? But what if an author has seen bleeding blood in a true sense and has seen the suffering of the common masses? How much he would have sufficed in the agony of the masses? Wouldn’t his heart would have tried to measure the misery of the people who are bound to suffer? Indeed! His heart would not have been at rest and these aspects would have surely made him a better individual and administrator ; an author close to the common masses like the doctor turned civil servant; Mohd Rehan Raza.

An MBBS from Shri Ram Chandra University; Dr. Raza joined the Indian Civil Services in 2012 as a DANICS Officer. Currently serving as Additional District Magistrate, District Shahdara, Delhi, Government of NCT of Delhi and CEO of Delhi Waqf Board ; he has served in various capacities for the welfare of the common masses. Dr. Raza has received the state awards for being the Best Returning Officer for the conduct of Delhi Legislative Assembly Elections 2020.  Dr. Raza has also been awarded the ‘1st Hakeem Abdul Hameed Award for Excellence’ awarded by the Hamdard Alumni Association in 2012, and ‘The Vashist Chikitsa Ratna Award’ by Delhi Medical Association in 2019 for his contribution as an administrator in the medical field. Having such an illustrious career didn’t deter him to let his passion for writing go haywire and he debuted as an author with his debut masterpiece; The Great Nicobar Island: India’s Southern Fortune, published by Bloomsbury in November 2019 which is a Bestseller . The masterpiece being a travelogue is a comprehensive guide to the beautiful Nicobar Islands. This book is a unique compilation highlighting the geostrategic and geo-economics significance of Great Nicobar Island and providing an incisive description of its picturesque tourism sites.

Is it even possible that a doctor’s heart can keep itself away from the pandemic which tormented the whole world? The pandemic that began in the year 2020 turned the world around in an unprecedented way causing huge economic and social disruption and devastating millions of people. At this time, the idea of his latest masterpiece; ‘An Odyssey Through the Dark’ originated in his mind. In the words of Dr. Raza himself; “This story was conceived while I was engaged in COVID relief work as Sub Divisional Magistrate. At this crucial time, I was at the forefront of disaster management and had the onerous task of managing the pandemic situation and ensuring compliance with COVID protocols. When tales of pain and suffering were making headlines in the newspapers, I was witnessing them first-hand being at the epicenter, ensuring necessary and timely help to people. The heart-rending chronicles of human suffering that I bore testimony to were also anecdotes with stories of grit, determination, and courage that are the essence of human beings. The Odyssey Through the Dark was conceived during this time when I was sinking in the sea of human emotions while discharging my duty diligently.”

Set in the backdrop of a romantic love story, the latest masterpiece by Dr. Raza not just explores the misery and havoc  wrecked by the COVID-19 pandemic but also tries to instill a sense of grit, courage, determination, and selflessness through his protagonist. The microscopic eyes of a doctor not only help him to understand the gravity of the health hazards about also the other problems associated with a post-pandemic situation. And at the same time; the experience of a serving bureaucrat helps him to portray the grass root situation which would have perhaps been at bay had it just been through the eyes of an imaginative author.

Dr. Raza with a ton of experience in various domains which directly touch the lives of the common masses makes him a role model for the youngsters. He has been deservedly awarded as ‘Youth Icon Award’ by Aadhya Foundation in 2020.