There I was, once again perched in the Kempegowda International Airport lounge, a familiar haunt where the coffee is too strong and the Wi-Fi is too weak. Not too long ago, I had vowed to take a break from the endless parade of conferences. But here I was, en route to CIGICON 2024 (An annual conference of Cochlear Implant Group of India), being held at AIIMS, Patna, Bihar, for yet another mega meeting. I was part of NESCON 2024 (the annual conference of the Neuro-otology and Equilibriometric Society of India) held at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute (SGPGI) Lucknow only two weeks back. NESCON 2024 was a memorable one, and I have a strong urge to document those magical moments.  

My loose New Year’s resolution to dial back on these academic pilgrimages had lasted about as long as a diet in December. Social media and online platforms have made information as accessible as the nearest smartphone, so one might ask—why bother with conferences at all? Often dismissed as academic melas for the meet, eat, and cheat crowd, these events are, in truth, irresistible. Like a moth to a well-lit PowerPoint, I am drawn to them for good reason.  

For starters, conferences are reunions in disguise—a chance to catch up with old friends, forge new connections, and swap tales over stale coffee and too-sweet pastries. Secondly, they offer a front-row seat to esteemed speakers’ passionate, sometimes flamboyant, knowledge displays. Watching them strut their stuff on stage, observing their body language, and soaking in their ideas—it’s a masterclass in human expression. Thirdly, let’s not forget the food. I’m not just talking about the usual buffet fare; I mean the thrill of discovering new tastes and textures that challenge the palate in delightful ways. Fourthly, these trips double as history lessons, with every new city offering a slice of India’s rich past. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I’ve rekindled my love for wildlife and bird photography—a pursuit that has me lugging around a camera lens the size of a small telescope.

When the invitation to NESCON 2024 landed in my inbox, I didn’t need much convincing. Held at the prestigious SGPGI in Lucknow, the event promised more than an academic feast. I was thrilled to have the chance to visit the SGPGI. But that wasn’t all—my youngest sister Radhika lives in Lucknow, and visiting her, her husband, Col. Dr. Satish, and their two bright kids, Arya and Agam, was long overdue. Add to that the lure of spotting some rare birds on the SGPGI campus, and I was sold.

The organizing team graciously offered accommodation at the SGPGI Guest House, a stone’s throw from where 110 species of birds had been spotted, according to ebird.org. I was practically salivating at the thought of capturing some feathered rarities with my camera.

Lucknow didn’t disappoint. Dr. Amit Keshri and his deputy, Dr. Ravishankar—brilliant minds in ENT and old friends—welcomed me. SGPGI, a pioneer in Neurotology, had always held a special place in my heart, dating back to my residency days when the mere thought of the institute filled me with awe.

Upon landing in Lucknow, I was greeted by Col. Dr. Satish in his shiny new MG Hector, a car that, with its giant infotainment screen, made me feel like I was riding in a spaceship. It’s fascinating how the once-British brand MG has been revitalized under Chinese ownership. Talk about a resurrection story.

Lucknow’s modern airport and well-maintained roads impressed me. Decorative lights along the roads evoked scenes of Lord Rama and Ayodhya, adding a touch of the divine to my journey. My sister’s apartment, conveniently located near the kids’ school, was a safe haven filled with the laughter and energy of my young nephews, who eagerly shared their latest adventures and discoveries with their doting uncle.

The conference at SGPGI was everything I expected and more. The venue was top-notch, and I spent the morning mingling, listening to insightful presentations, and putting the final touches on my own talks. The cherry on top was reuniting with fellow PGIMER Chandigarh alumni—naturally, we commemorated the occasion with a group photo.

NESCON 2024 delivered on its promise of high-quality scientific discussions. While Dr Anirban Biswas is rightly hailed as the father of Neurotology in India, it was heartening to see how many other “Vertigo warriors” have contributed to spreading this science across the country. Even more encouraging was the rise of Indian companies producing medical equipment for vertigo evaluation under the Make-in-India policy—a far cry from the days of expensive imports.

My first talk, “Efficiency of Surgery for Meniere’s Syndrome,” sparked a lively discussion. My second talk, “Surgical Management of Congenital Aural Atresia,” was equally well-received—a topic close to my heart. There were a few heart-touching moments during the inauguration. Prof. Dr. Isha Thyagi, the founder of the Neurotology Department, SGPGI, was honoured with a lifetime achievement award. At the same time, I felt proud and jealous when all the students trained under him surrounded him during that moment for a group photo. 

The evening banquet was a whirlwind of music, dancing, and networking. Spirits were high, joints were loose, and so were the number of new friends I made. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my blog articles had made quite an impact on my colleagues. The night wouldn’t have been complete without indulging in Lucknow’s famous meat delicacies—the historical Galouti Kebab was a standout.

After the banquet, I retired early, eager to rise before dawn for some bird photography. My nephews were just as excited to join me. But alas, the weather had other plans. Rain and humidity conspired against us, fogging my camera lens and making photography impossible. Despite my best efforts, I abandoned the shoot, worried about scratching my expensive lens with repeated wipes.

The following day, my presentation on “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Cochlear Implants” was well-received, and I was touched by the support from junior and senior colleagues. Radhika and her family attended the presentation, a proud moment that also served as a motivation for their kids.

With the conference wrapped up, it was time to head back home, doused with a deep sense of gratitude to the organizers. Satish dropped me off at the airport, and I braced myself for the long journey ahead—four hours by air and road to Chitradurga. Return journeys always leave me with a twinge of melancholy, especially knowing I’ll soon be back in the conference circuit, despite my best intentions to take a break. My wife, ever the pragmatist, keeps my travel bag ready, knowing I can’t resist the lure of the next academic adventure.

NESCON 2024 was a swan song—a meticulously organised conference where every detail was attended. Sure, the usual Indian time management issues cropped up, with speakers overshooting their allotted time, but that’s par for the course. All in all, the experience was well worth the journey. And as much as I may grumble about the rigours of travel, I know deep down that I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thanks to the Government of India’s paperless, digital initiatives, booking flights and checking and disembarking during return has become a breeze. My wife jokes that Kempegowda International Airport has turned into a bus stand because of people like me who are always on the move. She’s not wrong—Bangalore’s T2 might ease the crowding, but it seems I’m part of the problem.

What was more satisfying to me was when Dr. Amit Keshri, the HOD of Neurotology, SGPGI and the Organizing Secretary of NESCON, said, “Dr. Prahlada was instrumental in motivating me to take up Otology and Neurotology. When I attended my first Temporal Bone Dissection workshop at PGI Chandigarh, Dr Prahlada demonstrated temporal bone dissection and said India has a very high incidence of Otological problems, and if each and every ENT surgeon operates, there are 22,000 cases of them. That is when I decided to choose Otology as a sub-speciality.” You can’t ask for more in life. Every minute of the long and strenuous journey was worth the compliment.

Dr. Prahlada N. B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh). 
MBA (BITS, Pilani), MHA, 
Executive Programme in Strategic Management  (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru). 

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