Sidharatha Mukherjee wins Pulitzer prize for his book on cancer

The award for general nonfiction was awarded to Siddhartha Mukherjee for “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.”

This book is written like a history of the malady we call cancer. Dr Mukherjee is an outstanding fighter and researcher in the field of treatment of this disease.

He had an article this week in the New York Times discussing the effects of low level radiations, particularly speaking of those emitted from cell phones when used frequently. In a conversation on National Public Radio, he said that he can not say that cell phone use creates cancer of the brain. He also said that at the same time he can not say that conclusively that it does not cause cancer. There is always a risk from low level radiation of radio waves. The risk is far less than from x-rays and MRI’s.

His Pulitzer prize puts him high in the category of select writers, whose writings have been honored by Columbia University in the name of Pulitzer. It is indeed one of the highest honors for any writer in America. The only thing more honorable is being awarded a Nobel Prize for literature. I am glad that the Pulitzer Prize honors many writers and journalist representing a variety of genres.

Jhumpa Lehri is another Indian writer who was honored at a very young age for her fiction work Interpreter of Maladies. When she received the prize, she was only 33 years old. She was raised in Rhode Island and we are proud to have a renowned daughter. Dr Mukherjee is also a young 40 year old physician who has been in the spotlight since his highly researched book has been out. Now, this Pulitzer will put his book on a fast sales path. I wish him good luck.

I found it unique that a malady is a common word used by both authors in the title of their prize winning books. Can we read anything into that?