This is an example of destiny. IDOJ was destined to be connected with late Prof. Karl Holubar.
I was was going to deliver a talk in the Dermatology department of University of Vienna in November 2012. I wrote to Prof. Karl Holubar suggesting that we meet on Sunday for lunch. I did not think even once of inviting him to hear my talk since he was frail and not keeping well. He replied immediately saying he was unable to meet for lunch but would be there for my talk! It was such a pleasure and an honor to see him quietly sitting in the front row taking notes. I went up to him after completing my talk with Prof. Erwin Tchachler, the Chair of the department and the President Elect of EADV and we three chatted for a while where we discussed Dr. Amiya Mukhopadhyaya and his book amongst other things. He had written the foreword for it and praised the book which is now in the permanent collection of EADV library! We walked him to the elevator and bid good bye. Little did I know that we were bidding our final adieu to him and it was his final adieu to the department which he must be familiar with for so many decades! May his soul Rest in Peace. An era sadly ends with the departure of this erudite, dedicated, and very affable dermatology historian.
“Alone and Thinking!“ Photographed without his knowledge during EADV meeting in Prague, 2012. Courtesy: Dr. Shyam Verma