Mission to India

About the Book

This is the story of commitment and willingness to leave the comfortable environment of the West to care for those in the Third World. It is about a Scottish medical doctor who gave up the lucrative potential of a United Kingdom medical practice to go to India as a medical missionary with the Church of Scotland in the mid-fifties. Insight is provided into the reasons why this individual’s environment, family, religion, schooling, Boy Scouts, medical training and the Second World War, all contributed to his interest in reaching out to help a global community. The narrative will take you to South and North India, to understand the many challenges facing a medical missionary at a time of immense change in that part of the world. It was not only the post-war period, it was the time when India had obtained its independence after one hundred and fifty years of British Rule, when China attacked Tibet and when the missionary world was facing immense change. For a period in time, Bill Robertson was the only doctor available to provide surgical care to many Tibetan refugees as they escaped into India. This book should appeal to those familiar or interested in missionary work, those drawn to international health care, and those fascinated by philanthropic service.

About the Author

Sally Robertson, born in Prince Edward Island, obtained her Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Canada, and her PhD from Curtin University of Technology in Australia. She is also the author of the book “The Pebble”, is retired and lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Bill Robertson, born in Scotland, received his medical degree from Glasgow University and went to India as a Church of Scotland medical missionary. Returning to Scotland in the sixties, he worked in the National Health Service and eventually accepted a position in Canada, first at Dalhousie University, and later in executive positions in the provincial and federal governments with the Canadian national health care program. He spent time in private consulting and was the Chief Medical Officer of Veterans Affairs, Canada in his pre-retirement years. In retirement he has been involved in teaching, gardening, writing, is a Usui Reiki Master and Karuna Reiki Master and lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.