A Journey Between Life and Death: A Reflection on "When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi

 I was searching for the book for more than a year since I came to know about this book from my friend, Mithu. It was during the morning assembly conducted on World Cancer day she spoke about "when Breath Becomes Air", and its creator Paul Kalanithi. Finally the book is in my hands. As I turn the last page of it with mixed emotions, I am grateful to Biju uncle for sending me this deeply moving memoir.

When Breath Becomes Air explores life, death, and the fragile line between the two. It is a book that grips the reader from the first page, pulling them into the intimate journey of a neurosurgeon confronting his mortality after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

Kalanithi's writing is both poetic and raw, blending his wast knowledge in Medical sciences with philosophical musings. The book is divided into two parts: his life before the diagnosis and his life after. In the first part, Kalanithi reflects on his journey into medicine, his ardent love for Literature, and the search for meaning in the face of suffering. The second part presents his transition from doctor to patient, as he grapples with the reality of his diagnosis and the choices it forces upon him.

What makes When Breath Becomes Air so compelling is Kalanithi’s ability to articulate universal questions about existence, purpose, and the meaning of life in the face of death. His background in both medicine and literature gives him a unique perspective, allowing him to see life through multiple lenses. He writes with the insight of a scientist, the sensitivity of a philosopher, and the vulnerability of someone facing the end of their own story.

Kalanithi’s reflections on his relationships, particularly with his wife Lucy, are poignant and heart-wrenching. As a reader, one can feel the weight of their shared grief and love as they navigate the uncertainty of his illness together. The final section, written by Lucy after his passing, is a fitting conclusion, giving voice to the void that Kalanithi leaves behind.

This book is not just a memoir of illness but a profound meditation on what it means to live fully and die gracefully. It leaves readers with a deep sense of both loss and appreciation for the fleeting beauty of life. Kalanithi’s words linger long after the final page, encouraging readers to contemplate their own lives and what they would do when faced with their own mortality.