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ACADEMYFOCUS

FEATURE ARTICLE:

THROUGH THE

LOOKING GLASS

BY: ARTHUR VAN LANGENBERG

Dr. Arthur van Langenberg, a seasoned surgeon with over five decades of practice, has transitioned to exploring his passions mine and besides, I have always considered it important for Gardening also gives us greater respect for food—a
for gardening and writing these years. In this article, he reveals how gardening brought solace, his involvement in a terrace someone in a stressful occupation to be able to pursue new cabbage is not merely an item we pick up from the
project within the Academy building, and the concept behind selecting the commemorative tree for the Academy. interests. However, upon inspecting the terrace, I must admit supermarket wrapped in plastic, in exchange for a few
that I had some reservations. The terrace, although large, was dollars. A potato originates from beneath the soil,
Approaching, in 2021, the end of a long medical practice Anticipation, immediate action, the ability to change tack fairly exposed to wind and faced westward, making it requiring us to dig it up, often covered with mud. Many
(Class of 1962), there were many things to consider. Had if problems arise—all of these apply, including expecting susceptible to intense heat in the summertime, especially heat people have never seen it in that raw, unprocessed form.
I reached my sell-by date? If not yet, then it was surely the unexpected. reflected from the tiled flooring. But—nothing ventured,
fast approaching! Retirement loomed large. Granted nothing gained. We embarked on the project, with valuable A digression. Would it not be wonderful if we had a
the drama and excitement of an eventful surgical career The universe is a community; its harmony is my harmony. input from Dr. Tom Ho, a dentist and a seasoned gardener. machine that removed carbon from the air using solar
may awaken wistful recollections, but it surely should not Those who do not recognise this are strangers to the Large containers, topsoil, peat moss, organic fertilisers were energy and producing beautiful, workable building
be a deadweight to carry around. universe. Ever since the emergence of Homo sapiens, quickly set up and doctors or specialty colleges assumed material? But wait! We do have such a machine. It’s
modern humans have supplanted Nature as the cultivation of individual containers. Despite my initial concerns, called a TREE. To commemorate the Academy’s 30th
General Douglas MacArthur, in his retirement speech, dominant environmental force on Earth. Consequently, we were pleasantly surprised by the rapid success, with a harvest anniversary, it was decided to plant a tree in the garden
famously said: “Old soldiers never die, they just fade we bear responsibility for the planet. This is why I find of various vegetables, herbs, and fruits. I still pay occasional visits to mark this milestone. I was tasked with suggesting a
away.” I take issue with that sentiment. I would parse it encouragement when approached by anyone seeking to the terrace to see how things are progressing. suitable specimen for this purpose. I chose Ficus
thus: “Old surgeons never die, nor do they just fade guidance to embark on their gardening journey. religiosa (฾ఏथ) (bodhi tree, peepul tree) for its
away.” Retirement is not an end in itself, rather, it opens Recently, a small group of my former students from the 1970s significance in Buddhism. At his death around 400 BCE,
doors to new opportunities. There have been many. Two years ago, a group of sought my help and I shall be visiting their small start-up farm the Buddha or Siddhartha Gautama is said to have
doctors, mostly in mid or later career, expressed their on Lamma Island to get things going. A week ago, two achieved parinirvana or enlightenment whilst sitting
In my case, gardening has been my salvation—or rather desire to cultivate vegetables on the large terrace young doctors (Classes of 2020, 2021), having read of my under such a tree. Hence, it is also known as the “tree of
should I say it has been my salvation ever since it became located on the third floor of the Academy building. I was concern for environmental issues came to visit me through enlightenment”. Should anyone in the Academy be
my passion several decades ago. In our bustling eager to help since growing food is a special interest of the auspices of a mutual friend. We had a wide-ranging and confronted with a particularly thorny dilemma, then my
metropolis, there is an inevitable disconnect between its lively discussion (despite having both been on call the suggestion is for that someone to stand in the shade of
citizens and Nature. Gardening aims to correct this previous night), hardly noticing the yawning age gap. So the Academy tree and wait for light to be shone
through reconnection. In many ways gardening is a important it is to engage the younger generation. on the problem.
solitary activity, a covenant between oneself and one’s
plants. After a hard day’s work, I would immerse myself in
my garden surrounded by and communicating with my
charges, my equanimity restored. Any observer surveying
this scene and hearing me talking to my plants might
reasonably surmise that this gardener is undoubtably
mad! In medicine and gardening, analogies abound. Yes,
we sometimes act strangely, but patience is key.

The back garden (left) and kitchen garden (right) at Dr. Langenberg’s residence

04 January 202404 January 2024