Fest@2k10!! The hidden truths behind a college fest!!

                    Foreword

Today, I consider myself fairly well versed in leading a life in Gandhi. I seem to be digging my heels deeper here and a farewell seems nowhere in my sight.

          Penning down our event was my to-do list to share with my fellow folks as a tribute before we go in search of our futures. I want to rekindle those personal, interpersonal & group memories and uphold that bonds forever which our fest created among us.

          My book divulges our combined efforts, our integrity, our determination, our sacrifices and our hard work to overcome the hassles and hurdles behind the screen because of which we could make our fest a grand success. Nevertheless, my book also reveals so much that is uncomfortable, unsettling and difficult to accept that makes one understandably reluctant to make that journey. Is it better not to know? Hard on the heels this question is a more pragmatic one, for those who believe remembering is important and necessary.

          A majority of my pals seem to be happy and upbeat which conforms and further strengths my positivity about this book. I hope Gandhi will not lose its character as a safe friendly institution with a good balance between reality and futility.

          My only aim is to take my companions back to the context which we created on behalf of our fest. I never intend to hurt anyone by this book. I will take a walk down the lives and experience on campus while organizing a grand event- some jovial, while others painfully heart wrenching- through this journey. Turns the pages and enter into the weird and wonderful reality, keeping aside all preconceived notions, clichés and any emotional baggage you have.

A CRAZY ACT!!

                            26^th December, 2013

SPM lecture hall:

I had my SPM pre final practical today.  We should take a Clinico-social case after statistics and epidemiological exercise. Even though I prepared well, I was tensed. I was ready to take any case, except those two diseases caused by that awful Mycobacterium.

Even though, we were related to Community Medicine since our second year, we were never told about the pattern of the practical. It was around 10 am, we finished our stats and epidemiological exercise. I started developing tachycardia, thinking about the Clinico-social case. A final year PG, Dr. Niharika came and started calling the roll numbers.

Answer sheets were kept in a row in inverted manner on the table on the stage of the lecture hall. Each student was asked to pick any answer sheet of their choice and take the case of the disease that is written on it. It was purely based on our luck. I was in deep thoughts thinking about what case I would get…

“Roll no: - 60!!!” the PG called.

“Who is roll number 60??” she shouted this time.

“Sharmila…”

“Sharmi…” shouted my friends in chorus.

I came into my senses and ran towards the podium to check my fortune. I was glancing at all the papers, thinking what to take…

I kept my hand on the last but first one on my left, I was about to take it. My heart sensed something bad & within microseconds I changed my mind and took the paper which was right in front of me. 

I was about to turn the paper and see, but suddenly the pg dragged it from me. She noted it on her paper and returned it back to me and said, “Go to O.P fast… be ready with your case in 45 minutes…”

“Ok madam!” I said hardly and I turned the page to see the case. To my shock… and to my misfortune it was… TUBERCULOSIS!!

My mind was blank, and I almost stumbled from the stage. Reluctantly, I collected my things and started walking to the O.P.

“Sharmi…! Wait till I come…” I heard Prathyusha’s voice.  Her face was very sad even than me.

“Yaa… Ok! I will wait there at the steps! Anyhow why are you such gloomy? What’s your case?”I asked.

“Hmm…. LEPROSY!” she said in a dull note.

“Eee… why is this Mycobacterium only behind us? I don’t know anything about TB health Schemes and treatment protocols… that DOTS and other stuff!” I was worried.

“Chill… You can read that in Park after your case is finished. But what about me, I have to examine all the peripheral nerves! I don’t know their anatomy at all!” she screamed.

“You can call someone from the hostel to come downstairs, to give you anatomy book.” Someone said hearing our conversation.

“Idea…!!! I will call Himaja to come with me to O.P and help me in the case.” I shouted.

“Tell her to bring the book too” Prathyu added.

****----------------------------------*****---------------------------------******

“Hello! Himmi! What are you doing? Come fast to O.P. I got TB case! You have to help me…”

“What? Sharmi… how can I come? What if the staff sees me there?” Himaja exclaimed.

“Oh!! It is only a pre final. No one is going to come to check the students.  Stop the discussion and come fast. Also bring Anatomy text book for Prathyu, she got Leprosy case”

“Ha ha …. Both of my friends got wedged with Mycobacterium… LOL!! It is so good to hear,” she giggled.

“Stop your non sense. Be in O.P soon… I will be waiting! Bye!”

“Ok… bye!! I’m coming…”

****------------------------------------*****----------------------------------*****

TB clinic:

I entered the TB clinic. I got a Relapse case of a 40 yr old male. I started taking the case. Even though, I don’t need Himaja, I just called her without expecting the further consequences.

I was engaged in my work. Suddenly I heard someone screaming Himaja’s name.  Though I was happy that she came, my smile disappeared as soon I saw her. My dearest friend came to help me as soon as I called, not even bothering about her appearance. 

She didn’t even comb her hair. I couldn’t resist laughing at her. I and Himaja discussed my case for a while.

“Sharmi…  I know that you don’t need me… you called me unnecessarily.” Himaja yelled.

“Oh… I just called you, because I was tensed. You can go now…” I started concentrating on my patient.

I thought that himaja left. But she didn’t go…. She was busy chatting with my other classmates and I didn’t notice that.

Suddenly, two PGs came to the clinic.  Everyone who had their books open closed them, and arranged themselves in front of their patients.  

One of them was Dr. Niharika… I could hear her voice from my back. She was asking, “Who are you?”

I turned back to see, who that was? And I was shocked to that it was Himaja… My idiot friend still didn’t go from here!! I was frightened. I was just staring them with fear filled eyes.

My clever friend started acting like a lay village girl with an innocent face and naïve eyes. She didn’t react to our PG. She behaved as if she doesn’t know English.  She was seeing around the surroundings, typically like the patients who come to Gandhi for the first time.

Even though, the situation was serious… I was laughing hysterically. My cute friend will definitely get a Nandi Award if she does a movie… seriously! True…

Our pg came near to Himaja and asked in Telugu, “avaramma nuvvu?? enkada endhuku unnav?” Himaja said in a low voice, “Madam… ma uncle!!” she pointed towards a patient.

“Ok! But why are you so afraid? You are a medico. You have to be bold!” We were hell shocked, when we knew that our PG recognized Himaja as a student.

“Madam… that my uncle came to this clinic…” Himaja said.

“Ok… don’t ever fear to speak. Be dominative! Here exam is going on you go and sit aside.”

“Ok… madam!” Then Himaja left.

Our PG indentified Himaja as a medico. But she was not clever enough to find out that she was helping the other students. J

Although, it was a serious scene, we enjoyed a lot. Himaja’s stellar performance was worth to remember. It was one of my crazy acts in Gandhi with my bestie.

 I'm really lucky to have such a friend, who supports in every act and never complains about anything.... 

                          

Mysterious n8!!

At around 1 am, I got call from my aunt about my uncle’s emergency appendectomy. I started to Mythrivanam on my friend’s old activa.

On the way, a guy with a bandage to his left leg, came across my bike and said, “Anna! I had a fracture. I can’t walk. Please! Give me lift up to Mythrivanam.”

As I was alone on bike, and it was late night, I felt pity and decided to help him. He got on my bike. We started. Mean while he spoke, “Thank you! Anna!  I can’t forget your help. By the way you look handsome.” I blushed.

We reached Mythrivanam. He held my hand and said thanks once again. On a sudden, he kept his hand in my shirt’s left pocket. He took a 500 rupee note and pushed me. I fell down along with my bike. He started running away.

I was shocked. Within a few seconds I realized that he had no fracture of his leg and he was a burglar. I came out of my thoughts & started my old activa to follow him. I was a bit late, but I could see him in my eye sight range.

He turned into a street. I reached there. But I couldn’t see anyone as it was very dark. I was angry thinking about what happened. I felt it very irritating. I went into the dark road searching for him. It was a dead end.

I came back to the main street and waited for about 15 min there. Suddenly, I saw a shadow approaching me, with a rod in his left hand surrounded by cigarette smoke. I felt apprehensive and I got down from my bike. I was looking clearly to that shadow which came near and near… within 5 sec there stood a WATCHMAN!! Hmm… he was a security guard to a nearby apartment.

I spoke to him regarding my issue. He said, “No one came here sir!!” I sighed, “Okay!! Let that idiot go… Is there any coffee/tea shop here?”

“Yes sir! Just go straight for about 500 m, u will see a mobile tea shop in the right.”

“Okay… thank you!” I started my activa and headed towards the tea shop.

I felt very bad and at the same time very happy. I had my i-phone in my other pocket. Thank god! He didn’t observe that.

I reached that mobile tea stall. There I saw that idiot drinking tea. I parked my bike on a side. I came to him and shouted, “Hey! Give me my money back!!”

No response. I shouted again. He said, “Who are you? What money? What do u want?” I told the entire story to tea stall guy, he said, “Sir! Don’t shout. He is not a good guy. Leave about it and go back.”

“I am not afraid of him. I will see his end today!” I was fuming. All of a sudden that idiot, stood and said, “Sir! Take your money!” He kept a 100 rupee note in my hand and slapped hard on my left cheek.

I was dumbfounded on such a behavior. Within seconds, I revolted. I punched twice on his ribs and kicked him in his stomach. I couldn’t control my anger. I pushed him on ground and kicked him hard and hard.

He jumped into a manhole nearby and escaped.  Suddenly, the tea stall guy came and kicked me from my back. Then, I become conscious that he too is related to that idiot.

I slapped that tea stall guy. He fell down and couldn’t get up. Meanwhile, another two thin, dark colored men joined us. They held me stretching my hands back. I struggled and got out form their grip. I caught one’s neck with my left hand and with my right hand I lifted the other into air and threw him away.  The person in my left hand shouted to tea stall guy, “Hey! Bring a stone!! Let’s break his head into pieces!”

Till then, I was not in my senses and I was fighting with anger. I looked at the surroundings. It was dark. I was one. They were four. What if they kill me? I felt panic. What I’m I doing?  Y I’m I Risking my life? I was not bothered about money, but I was annoyed about his cheating. I was upset about my virtue.

I stepped back and stared that tea stall guy. He was choosing a stone to lift up. I threw the other man in my right hand towards him. They both crashed on to a stone.

Suddenly a new character entered. He said, “Babu!! Why are you fighting? What if anything happens to you? Take this 500 note and go from here.”

I took that note from him, kept it my pocket and came towards my bike. I gazed angrily at the guys with whom I fought till know. I started my activa and drove to home…

I lay down on bed and started thinking about what everything happened. I don’t know why I took that money? I took the note from my pocket. Surprisingly!! It was my 500 note which that idiot stole from me?!

Ganapati Bappa Moriya!!

               GANAPATI  BAPPA  MORIYA!!!!

Even though Ganesh Chaturti is on Sep 9, our preparations were on full swing for about a week before the “Pratisthapana”.  We are ready with our invitation cards and donation books.

       

            We split ourselves into organizers and batches. We invited all our teachers and staff in our hospital to participate in our event. 

Day 1 {9^th September, 2013}

After days of endless waiting and speculation, finally the day of shukla chaturti (fourth day of the waxing moon period) in the month of Bhaadrapada dawned.

            We made a beautiful Mandap with a raised platform in it in the Netaji Grounds. We decorated the Mandap with flowers and leaves. We bought a seven feet eco-friendly standing ganesh idol made of clay. The idol had Lord Shiva at the top. He had four hands in whick he carried a rope {to carry devotees to the truth}, an axe {to cut devotees attatchments}, a laddoo {to reward devotees for spiritual activity} and fourth hand’s palm is extended to bless people.  There was a tiny mouse at his left feet.

We had our batch’s inaugural pooja. Ganesh Utsav is a cultural extravaganza in the college where music, mantras, revelry and devotion all blend together. 

Day 2

           

Today we had pooja of gynecology department and 2k11 batch. . We packed Prasad for the pooja and distributed it to the various departments. With the advent of Ganesh Chaturti pomp and splendor would filled the air with a positive energy that is unbeatable.   

Day 3

Today we had pooja of our first year departments i.e. Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology.

We planned a blood donation camp. We thought it as a simple and easy way to impact the lives of others in a beneficial way. The event was organized under the guidance of our Blood Bank {NACO} and our General Medicine Post Graduates. . The camp began at around 11.00 am when various students had come forward to donate blood.  Our super indent Dr. Chandra Shekar {dept. of Plastic Surgery} started the event by donating his blood.

We collected about 77 units of blood that day. It was a grand success in the history of Gandhi Medical College. Our doctors were proud to receive such a good and vibrant crowd of young students who were so keen on donating the little they could.  Our teachers gave excellent compliments and encouragement. The student support was marvelous and way more than expected.  We gave apples and beverages to replenish the energy of the donors. The Blood Donation Camp winded up at 3 pm with cheerful doctors and nurses who were very proud of the crowd they had received.

This experience has helped me to realize the real secret of being rich: compassion towards humanity! My heart full thanks to all for making our Blood Donation Camp so memorable.

Day 4

Today we had pooja of our third year {ENT, OPTHAL and SPM} and fourth year departments {MEDICINE, SURGERY AND PEDIATRICS}.

            We planned to spend our day with orphans. We invited children from FRIENDS FOUNDATION, Narapally; Uppal.  At 2 pm, 25 children headed by their sir Ranjith came to our Ganesh Mandap.

            We had “ANNADANNAM” and we fed the children. We enjoyed talking to the children and spending time with them. Everyone was very open and friendly. Children were so sweet and affectionate.  We enhanced our communication with them through activities like drawing, singing, dancing and playing musical chairs so on.

          

            Hours rolled away as minutes when we are with them. We donated them Baskets, Tiffin Boxes, Water Bottles, Note Books, Pencils and Stationeries which they needed on behalf of our batch and our Utsav Committee.  We had a cute photo session with the children. They left at around 6.30 pm.

            I felt grateful for the experience and it has exposed to me many aspects of my character. It is certainly an experience that we always remember.

            At 7 pm we had bhajan organized by ISKCON temple, Hyderabad.  We chanted the “Hare Krishna Mantra” along with the ISKCON volunteers. A volunteer explained us that the Mantra can give peace, happiness, God realization, freedom from repeated birth and death and total self-fulfillment.

Day 5

            We all dressed in white today.  We had pooja of Gastroenterology dept.

At 11 am, we all gathered at Mandap for Ganapati Homam. We participated in the homam as batches. The homam ended doing poornahuthi. We were blessed with Lord Ganesha’s image in the fire of homam. It was a supernatural experience.

At 3 pm we had a final pooja and aarti of Ganesh. Then we started preparations for Ganesh visarjan.

At 6 pm, we had dahi handi ceremony {utti}.  A clay pot which had a coconut was positioned at a convenient height prior to the event.  People stood on top of one another attempting to break the pot by hitting with a blunt stick.  Their efforts were thwarted by splashing water on them by those gathered around.  There was a great competition between our medicos and it filled amusing enthusiasm as they go from one handi to another.

We had a crazy joyful battle with gulal.  The colors, the noise, the music, the beats of drums, the dances and the smiles filled the college surroundings. Our Ganesh’s nimarjan procession started. We bid farewell to our BAPPA with heavy hearts and with reassurance that he would come back soon in the next year.

            *******************************************************

We enjoyed the group support and have benefited from sharing ideas and working them into activities. Ganesh Chaturti lifted our spirits and helped in binding stronger relationships among us.

           

SAY NO TO CONSANGUINITY!!

July 1, 2013. Monday

This is my first day in pediatrics in 4^th semester. Today I met a mom who is struggling for her twin daughters’ life.
This 28 yr old woman, from Guntur had a consanguineous marriage. Her husband is a government teacher. She had a twin pregnancy and gave birth to 2 premature female babies at 29 weeks. The babies were in intensive care unit for about 2 months.

            

Now, the children are about 2 yrs. But unfortunately, they are congenitally deaf and dumb {because of malformations in inner ear}. They are suffering from CIPA {congenital insensitivity to pain and anhydrosis}. As they are insensitive they used to bite their tongue and bleed a lot. They landed up in anemia. They don’t sweat. They don’t shed tears. They can’t stand. They can’t walk. They can’t do any activities on their own. They had repeated lung and urinary tract infections. 

Knowing that his children are crippled, their educated father abandoned them. She fought against her husband for her children’s life; she left him and came in search for a better treatment to Hyderabad.

            

As the children are suffering from Genetical disease, there is no treatment for them. The cause for their suffering is their parent’s consanguineous marriage.

             

Parents get attached to their children through dreams, fantasies, illusions, and projections into the future. Children are their second chance, their ultimate "life products” the reflection and extension of their very being. By bringing a child into the world, if they have a short life expectancy and will have to endure great physical pain and cannot be helped, the suffering of those parents will be so unbearable.

            

Facing the devastating and continuing loss of having an impaired child, many parents are dropping their disabled children and some have even ran away from their marriages because of this.

           
 I believe that prevention of such incidences is better than having to deal with them. The only way to prevent this is to make people know about consanguineous marriages. Awareness is one of the major weapons that will help in this field.

            

The most appropriate and convenient time to instill the importance of preventing close marriages is the adolescent period and therefore it will be useful for every school to be alive to this problem and take the necessary steps to advise them. Parents must be advised of the dangers of close associations of their children with the children of their brothers and sisters during their adolescence.

           

The need to forge a close and friendly relationship and rapport with one's children at this stage and giving them the right advice will play a crucial role in the reduction of the frequency of such close marriages.

            

By decreasing the proportion of consanguineous marriages in the society, the amount of suffering would decrease. We, as an Indian citizen need to stress upon the individual awareness. {Hope everyone who reads this, will support me in making people aware}.

My second year!!

Finally, after 16 months my MBBS second year is at the end. {Oct 2011- Jan 2013}

In this 16 months time changed a lot and life kept on moving without a pause… new people came… some went off… some really low moments… some extremely high… anyhow life was so beautiful in its own way!! 

 I was attached to many…. And worked and enjoyed with everybody I came across…. I discovered a different me…. More altruistic, good and self abnegating me…

I met many who contributed to my life in one or the other way…. I was encouraged, appreciated, criticized and discouraged time to time…. But it always added towards my learning and helped me to learn and become better with every step…

Starting with surgery postings in October, I still remember the day when I wore my OT dress for the first time the amusement I felt was ever lasting. The long standing lectures in the wards, the flirts with the P.Gs, denounces from the professors, the emotional bondage with the patients everything was eternal.

Our successful strike for the referred in November is our greatest triumph in second year. During OBG postings in March, every day was amazing. The enthusiasm to hear a fetal heart sound, the startling moment when I saw a moving fetus in the ultrasound scan, the goose bumps I got on seeing a natural delivery for the first time, the exhilaration on holding a newly born baby who is yet to open his eyes, the a lovely conflict with a housiee in the labor room, the exceedingly large birth register… hmm… every moment was most memorable. 

The next 4 months of Medicine Postings in unit 2 were outstanding. The Tom & Jerry fights with my unit mates, beautiful clinical experiences, some parkinsonian faces, some angry birds, the numerous case studies we discussed… all these engrossed me towards this defective physiology. 

The buzz of EEGA in July, the Fresher’s in August made us even closer. 

 

September is the month of ecstasy. During the college fest, every day was splendid. Our wonderful volley ball match, the hilarious hairstyling, our victory over seniors in dance and cricket, the buffoonery ball badminton, the wondrous love letter writing, the striking singing by our singers… the whole were fantastic.

Coming to Pulse, it is a pile of memories!! The fortnight I spent with my friends created bonds which often last forever.

In October, I was being jerked to and fro by some gigantic events; I was caught in an emotional clutter & had a series of changes in my life. I was pissed off with such an enigmatic life. Finally, I learnt that life is a string of hits and misses, hard moments are necessary to make us perfect and we have to choose a path of individual responsibility and maturity rather than letting grief take a different course. 

In the last three months, we are engaged with exams. Everyone was busy cramming… night outs, residing in reading rooms, discussions, altercations; hmm… time went off very slow and sluggish.

To conclude, my second year is remarkable. I thank everyone who made my journey such a beautiful one and I hope that it would be the same in our clinicals too.

.