Do you take sugar with your tea?

Darjeeling is situated in the northern tip of the state of West Bengal in India. Here, in the foothills of the Himalayas and close to the borders of India, Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan, the cultural melange is unique. The Nepalese, Tibetans, Bengalis, Biharis, Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists all live together in harmony.

In the days of the Raj, when the British administrators took their summer breaks from the heat of Calcutta in the fresh air of Darjeeling, they became aware of the rich mountain soil. They opened several tea plantations, and Darjeeling tea was recognised as the “champagne of tea.” Today, Darjeeling has hectare upon hectare of tea plantations and rhododendrons.

For my elective I wanted to explore part of India completely unknown to me. Being of Indian origin and familiar with the busy streets of Mumbai, I wondered whether the mountain air and hilly terrain of the Himalayas would have a positive influence on the health of the local population. Darjeeling promised nature, tranquillity, and beauty, and being removed from larger Indian cities I was sure to have a unique medical experience. The nearest computed tomography scanner is 100 km away in the plains, so diagnosis depends mainly on history and examination. As a final year medical student, where better to improve my clinical acumen?

When one mentions poverty in India one pictures a hot, sunny village with poor rain and crops. Darjeeling is far from this picture, and yet …