I always prefer listening to classical music on waking up as I always grasp better this time of the day.
Dr. Asmita Deshpande Dixit
Dr. Asmita Deshpande Dixit, known for her melodious voice and often dubbed as ‘nightingale of Northeast of England’.
She is winner of the “British Icon trophy” for singing in International Indian Icon contest in Chicago, US in 2019.
She was recently given award for –
outstanding contribution in Music ( March 2024) by Punjabi Doctors & DentistsAssociation of North East of England.
Asmita was invited to be a Judge at a Music and Dance competition organised by “Indian Association of North East” at Newcastle upon Tyne in May 2024.
Her forte is being able to sing all musical genres ranging from bhajans, ghazals to soulful Bollywood numbers.
Asmita believes in healing power of music. She has been classically trained in music since childhood and has continued her lifelong quest for further improvisation through learning classical music of Agra and Jaipur gayaki from Pt Shounakji Abhisheki of Mangeshi, Goa. She has original music album with Hindustani classical vocalist Pt Sanjeev Abhyankar, Bela Shende, Ranjana tai Joglekar and also sung original numbers with stalwarts of Marathi and Hindi music industry such as Swapnil Bandodkar and Shaan.
She has featured in the BBC radio Media city Manchester in June 2016, Spice FM Newcastle radio in December 2022 and September 2023 about her passion and pursuit for Music and Medicine!
In her medical career , after graduating from Lata Mangeshkar Medical college, Nagpur, Dr Asmita moved to UK with her husband and has pursued family medicine after doing MRCP in 2002 and MRCGP in 2008. She now works as a GP with special interest in Rheumatology.
She is also attached to medical university as a teacher for undergraduate as well as postgraduate medical trainees.
Asmita has other few career interest such as Dermatology, Women’s health and Minor surgery in Primary care.
Asmita also feels equally passionate about physical fitness and regularly runs for charity. She has participated in the Great North Run, a world famous half marathon, being organised at Newcastle Upon Tyne over 40 years.
How did your passion for music begin, and what inspired you to pursue it alongside your medical career?
I grew up listening to my mother who is a very good singer. I started to sing with her and found that we both could sing along with Lata didi Mangeshkar and Asha tai Bhosle when their songs used to play on All India Radio! The Mangeshkar sisters are “Wikipedia of Music” and one can just learn so much by just listening to them! My Baba was an avid listener and a big fan of the likes of Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Pt Vasantrao Deshpande, Pt Jitendra Abhisheki so we used to listen to these maestros on audio cassettes during my childhood.
Congratulations on your recent award for outstanding contribution to music! How does it feel to be recognized for your talents?
Extremely delighted and humbled!
This gives me even more energy to do more music!
You have been trained in classical music since childhood. Can you share a memorable experience or performance from your early days?
I can remember 2 incidences, first was when I was about 8 years old during a family get together when I sang a Marathi bhaav geet “ kaiwalyachya chandanyala “ after my Aajee insisted I sang that one and another was in front of a massive audience when I was asked to sing on the occasion of 15 th August. I was about 15 years old, my hand was shaking holding mic as I was feeling very anxious whilst I sang “ aye mere watan ke logo”
Your music album features collaborations with renowned artists. What was it like working with them, and what did you learn from the experiences?
It’s always extremely humbling experience! I have been fortunate to meet a few of them, though I never met Shaan as his part in our duet was recorded after I sang my part, I am told by our music director that he is extremely pleasant and humble artist.
You believe in the healing power of music. Can you share an instance where music has made a positive impact on someone’s life?
I can cite my own example!
When I was grieving immensely after I lost my Baba in 2019, music helped me heal in a major way! I found pure solace and bliss in music. I was fortunate to sing in a concert and have my Baba right front in the audience just 2 months before I lost him. A few months later after I lost Baba, I had an opportunity to learn from Hindustani Classical vocalist,
Pt. Shounak Abhisheki ji who has been my Guru ever since.
Music is still healing me and I am forever indebted to the healing powers of music.
You have been involved in various charity runs, including the Great North Run. What motivates you to combine physical fitness with giving back to the community?
As a doctor, I come across many incurable illnesses and many lifestyle associated health conditions.
I lost a close friend to Neuro-endocrine cancer in her early 40’s soon after my Baba who died due to Lung Fibrosis. For both of these conditions, we have not yet found a cure! But there are more health problems which are due to poor lifestyle. In recognition of these incurable versus curable diseases,
I decided to take up the challenge of running during the Covid pandemic and challenged myself further with Half Marathon. I along with my husband Anand, ran the 40 th Great North Run together. This was for
“The Newcastle Gateshead bridging Stroke Charity “
How do you balance your medical career as a GP with your passion for music, and what advice would you give to others pursuing multiple interests?
Until quite recently I was working full time and had responsibilities towards young family too. But now since my children are grown up I have decided to dedicate some time for myself. I have also been able to go part time at work which allows me to dedicate some time for riyaaz.
I drive to work which takes almost an hour, this is my “Me time” when I do riyaaz with iTablaPro in the car.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for your music and medical careers, and how do you see them evolving in the future?
Both Medicine and Music are like endless oceans and I believe any knowledge is still very little knowledge. So I intend to continue my lifelong quest in both fields, gradually, at my own pace and want to remain grateful and thankful to my parents, my Gurus , my family and friends for their blessings and support in this journey.
Your medical interests extend to Rheumatology, Dermatology, and Women’s health. What draws you to these areas, and what do you hope to achieve in your work?
When I was working in Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, I came across an excellent Rheumatologist who inspired me to pursue this sub speciality after I completed my MRCP in 2003. After Geriatrics and Endocrinology, Rheumatology is the only speciality which is all round, thorough and deals with each and every organ of human body. Most Rheumatologists I have worked with are excellent clinicians. The wholesome knowledge of Rheumatology helps me to treat the patients in Primary care holistically.
I can also offer joint and soft tissue injections to all my patients without much waiting time here in the NHS.
After I decided to leave hospital medicine in 2005 to become a GP mainly to support my young family, I took up Dermatology as an extra career interest and again it’s very interesting and rewarding. Patients are grateful when their skin condition is treated quickly as it could be distressing to them , also when lumps and bumps could be surgically removed in a GP Surgery setting rather than a hospital setting without long waits.
Being a woman, I always attracted more female patients with gynaecological problems and therefore I decided to get further training in this area and did a Diploma in Faculty of Family Planning and Sexual Health in 2008.( DFSRH) and MRCGP in 2008. This enables me to sort contraceptive issues too without referring to Family Planning Clinic.
As a teacher for undergraduate and postgraduate medical trainees, what values or lessons do you aim to impart to the next generation of healthcare professionals?
Thankfully most medical students here in the UK take up this career of lifelong learning mainly due to their passion about this noble profession. My aim is to consolidate their clinical skills , treat patients empathetically by following principles of Good Medical Practice and Patient care based on up to date evidence base.
10. How does your experience as a judge in music and dance competitions influence your own approach to music and performance?
It is always extremely important to give a succinct constructive feedback, to start with positive feedback and then on the areas where one can improve . This is more likely to be received better from the contestants. I have seen some people give very critical negative feedback which could permanently shake someone’s confidence!
I learnt so much from all the participants when I was judging the contest. It could be either stage confidence, presentation skills or actual content of the singing.
Your music spans various genres, from bhajans to Bollywood numbers. What’s your favorite genre to perform, and why?
It depends on my mood and time of the day.
When I am in a romantic mood I enjoy singing and listening to Bollywood, when I am in a divine and festive mood, I enjoy bhajans, semi classical and classical music.
I always prefer listening to classical music on waking up as I always grasp better this time of the day.
I love listening to ghazals mostly towards the end of the day. They are very calming and soothing.
