Part 1 : Early Days

Mani, your early years of childhood were spent traveling all over the world - do you think that gave you a head start in thinking WorldWideWeb?

Actually, I was all of five years old when I returned to India, where I've lived since :) But yes, I do believe traveling has helped me broaden my vision, think big.

When did you first encounter the Internet and what sparked your interest in this new medium?

I got online in early 1995, when the Internet first broke upon the Indian scene. Struggling through connectivity problems and poor service was worthwhile because it provided access to unlimited treasure troves of information, both related to my profession and on other topics as well.

Slowly over time what started as an information-seeking effort changed to a knowledge-sharing endeavor, which grew rapidly with the creation of my websites.

And that first website?

The first site was for fun. I designed a basic webpage to see how it was done. It gave me a thrill to see 8 people visited it in the first week.

But only when I started getting feedback from readers, I learnt that:

a. I had a knack of explaining difficult and complex concepts in a simple, understandable and light-hearted manner that patients and their families found reassuring.

b. there was a definite need for articles on heart disease written with the patient's point of view in mind, yet with the authority and accuracy that only a medical professional could provide.

The casual fling grew into an obsessive passion - and still is one.

How did your medical background help you as you developed your web presence and activities?

On my sites about heart disease, it helped to have specialist degrees. Credibility is an important concern with health care information, and my qualifications helped build my reputation as did the content and service of my site.

Even in my other online activities, including posts on discussion lists, the fact that I was an MD helped establish some sort of 'image' or 'aura' that most people associate with a physician.

So yes, my medical background has been valuable in my online activities.

What was the biggest problem with getting started? Did you make any moves you now regret?

Biggest problems? Difficulties with internet access in India, and the lack of funding for the different features - web hosting, software, hardware, advertising, everything. For the first year, I designed on a 386 machine, using only SHELL internet access, without access to GRAPHICS!

Mistakes? Again, so many. But none too major. I did get carried away by marketing hype at times, and ordered products and services that weren't worth the price. And yes, one mistake I made - and, to my horror, repeated - was to pick a web hosting service that wasn't quite what it should've been.