Bhubaneswar, Jan. 17: Cuttack-based cardiologist J.P. Das, who is admired for his creative endeavours as an artist, has now turned author.

His book The Dialogue: Heart to Heart was released today at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan here in the presence of a number of famous litterateurs and artists.

Das, who has received medical training in the UK, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Moscow and USA, fell in love with the emotions of the heart that he expressed as art. Sketching, oil and watercolour painting are a few genres of art that the doctor excels at without any formal training.

Inclined towards art even as a school student, Das ensured that he took out time for his passion after his duties as a doctor.

'Once out of my chamber, I tried various concepts and themes since I was not bound by any discipline. After 1987, when I took voluntary retirement, I could give even more time to painting and sketching,' said Das. The doctor-turned-painter believes that for a doctor, the spectrum of life before you brings many aspects that a sensitive mind can observe.

'You have to be a good human being to be a good artist,' said Das.

The book launched today includes poems and paintings by Das. His wife Gayatri also read excerpts from the book. Eminent author and a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan Sitakant Mahapatra released the book.

Chairman of the publishing house Angarag and well-known artist and art historian Dinanath Pathy, secretary of the Rashtriya Lalit Kala Akademi, Bhubaneswar, and noted painter Ramahari Jena were present on the occasion.

'J.P.'s speciality lies in his multi-dialogues, interactive and participatory mode. His art is vernacular, yet international with a unique dialectical resonance,' said Pathy.

A Powerpoint presentation of the works of Das was also made on the occasion.