Articles

G) OLDEN DAYS OF G.M.C.

Dr. V. KAMALA JAYARAM

      I joined the Guntur Medical College in th4 year 1958 and passed in 1963. There was no entrance test in those days. The selection was based purely on merit.

      Before admission into the Medical College, we had a formal interview, which consisted of questions on general knowledge, about the skills in extra-curricular activities and a few other personals and teasing questions. The Chairman of the interview committee at that time was an outstanding Medical Educationist, Dr. D. Jagannatha Reddy, Principal of G.M.C. Guntur.

      We had eminent teachers in the college like sri U. Suryanarayana, Professor of Organic Chemistry; Dr. Vissa Ramachandra Rao and Dr. G.R.K. Hatri Rao, professors in Anatomy; Dr. Setharamaiah, professor of philospphy and Dr. B. Naganna, professor of Biochemistry in Pre-chinical subjectrs.

      Ragging by the seniors was intened to remove the fear and the complexes of the new entrant into the profession. It was never physical and debasing, as it is today. The freshers day and costume dinner were a culmination of this effort, in which the social barriers were broken by the active participation of all the students and faculty members, which set a healthy trend for generations to come.

      The traditinal dress for the girls was Sarees (printed or pure white cotton); while the boys had to wear white pants and shift. Shoes was compulsory for the boys. I can never forget an incident that had happened when we appeared for the Organic Chemistry theory examination in February, 1959. We all heard Dr. D.J. Reddy yelling at a student and sent him out of the hall, for not wearing the shoes. The college timing were from 8am to 4pm no student was  allowed inside the Anatomy dissection hall after 8a.m.

      Our batch consisting of 100 students, was the first to be permitted to go on a picnic to perecherla By dr. d.J. Reddy. We had the unique privilege of organising the first Medical and health exhibition in the year 1959. I wa in N.c.c. for 2 years and attended 2 camps along with my friends.

      Dr. V.S. Venkatasubbu Whom we always recollect, was our Pharmacology professor. He was also a warden to men’s hostel; very kind at heart, sympathetic and soft spoken. He used to start his lecture while entering into the lecture galley and dictated notes at a jet speed. All the students used his notes even for the university examinations.

      DR. D.R. took most of the theory classes in pathology reddy. Boys and girls were made to sit seperately onn each side of the gallery in an alphabetical order. The absentees seats would be kept vacant. He know the name and address of each student in the class. The absentees list would be placed before him by his Asst. professor before he started his lecture the absentees would be questioned as to why they were absent for the previous class. If the reason was not genuine or if he had seen any student roaming around outside or within the college premises without attending the classes, he used to intimate the parents of those through post.

      Another remarkable feature in Dr.D.J. Reddy was to call the student by name and ask questions not only in the subject of pathology, but also in general knowledge, and important issues in new papers. In the hostels, the students used to have a tough fight to go through the current newspapers. He used to make sudden and surprise visits to hostels and college library. No clinical side students, dared to come to the college, before 12 noon because if they were seen by Dr. D.J. Reddy; they would be immediately taken back to the hospital along with him in his APG 10 car to the concerned unit professor. The Professor had to give explanation for leaving the students before 12 noon. Dr. Reddy organized many clinic pathological conferences for the all the clinical & non- clinical straff. Attendance of aoll the students was compulsory. He  was affectionate and sympathetic towards the students, though he was strict disciplinarian. If any one was in need of money or books, he immediately used to raise funds. He was loved both by students and staff. He ws in strumental in bringing up this college, with magnificient buildings, statrues and the fgarden. Every corner of GMC, speakers volumes about Dr. D.J. Reddy. He had performed two or three weddings in the college premises when the boys declined to marry the girls with whom they were in love. We are yet to see a multifaceted person like Dr. Reddy, an unforgettable man!

      Dr. B. Ramanarayana Murhty  was our Bacteriology professor. He was a good treacher but his voice was audible only the students sitting in the first two rows. Dr. K. Rajyalakshmi who was also our warden took parasitology classes and Dr. Kameswra Rao taught forensic medicine was taught by Dr. kameswara rao.

      I stayed in the Women’s hostel throughout my under-graduate course. Dr. K. Rajyalakshmi was a tutor in bacteriology and she was appearing for her MD at that time. Later she became a Professor an held manyh academic and administrative posts. She was soft spoken bujt was strict as a warden. Under her guidance my classmates saraschandrike, K. Suhasini and myself enacted a couple of dramas entitled ‘Modern Sakunthalam’ for the hostile day celebratins. I kust record a few words of my appreciatin on her wardenshjip. Ably supported by her husband Dr. D.R. vevkaiah, she held this additional responsibility with love and affection for the hostel students tll 1961. The subsequent wardens were Dr. S. Kanthamma then an Asst. Pro. In Anatomy and Dr. I. Ranganayakamma, tutor in pathology who were  also dedicated and did their best for the welfare of the hostel students.

      We used to have the college day celebrations every year. Dr. B. Nganna and Dr. G. Joseph were fery much interested in the cultural activities. They had directed one one drama in which in Acted With Dr.  Dhanvanthari Achari my senior (now at masual)), Dr. M.sri Hi (in USA), Dr. P. Konda Reddyu (sattenapalli) who wrer my classmates; and Dr. c. Kam prasad & Dr. P.s.R. Jyosthona (Guntur) who were my juniors.

      The other professors with whom we were associated were Dr. Kaza Krishna Murhty, Prof. Of ENT, Dr. V. Raghavachar, Prof. Of Opthalmology, Dr. M. Ramachander , Prof. SPM. The surgeions who moulded us were  Dr. M. Munuswamy, dr. M. Seetharamma Swamy, Dr. Pinnamaneni Venkateswra Rao, dr. K. Sadasiva rao and Dr. I Chalapathi Naidu and a few others. We had excellent teachers on the medical side like Dr. Kramchetti Suryanarayana, Late Dr. V. Satyanaryana Murhty, Dr. P,. Lkakshman Rao, Dr., C. Sambasiva Rao, Dr. U. Venkataratnam, Dr. c. Mallikarjuna Rao & dr. Y. Ramachandra Reddy & Dr. Y. Ramadchandra Reddy (paediatrician). The superintendent of the hospial was /Dr. S. Venkateswarlu (prof. Of Radiology) who was also considered as a strict and able administrator. Dr. K. Kodanda ramaiah subsequently joined as the Superintendent when we were doing the rotating internship. Dr. A. Sankara Rao, a born artist was the Psychriastrist at that time.

      The two towering Obstetricians under whom we had our training were Dr. R. Satyabhama Reddy and late Dr. N. Subhadra  Devi. All the students who studied under their guidance deemed it a a privilege. IO was fortunate to be a student of Dr. Mrs. Reddy, both in MBBS and DGO. She made a mark as a favourite treacher of the students. She taught several thousands of medicos who are now working all over the world. With  love and affection she used top pinch the erring students (both UG & PGS) and would make them realize their faults. She streered the Department of OBC with courage and dignity.

      The other teachers in OBG at that time were Dr. C. Savithri, Dr. V. Ramanamma, Dr. K. Prasunamba, Late Dr. CG. Ramamurhty, Dr. I. Skunthala Devi & Dr. A. Savithri, who I always recollect.

      Dr. N. Subhadra devi headed the Department of OBG after Dr. Mrs. Reddy was transferred to A.M.C vizag. She was an outstanding surgeon and an excellent teacher and an able administrator. Above all she was a poet and a musician. She never spared the erring student or the Asst. Professor. I can still recollect many of pleasant and unpleasant memories during our Post –graduate training period. As P.G.’s we used to work in the dept. from 7-30 am, till Dr. Mrs. Devi & Dr.Rama Murythy made their night rounds in the wards, with a fond hope of listening to their bedside discussions. She showed a keen interest in orgasising the 2^nd medical and helath exhibition in the year 1971, which was a grand success. Aftern my MD, I had the privilege of being her Asst. professor. When Dr. C.G. Rma Murhty was transferred to Warangal, Dr. A.V.Narayana rao joined as Professor. He was vey methodical & good at clinical approach.

      Some of the my classmates who are on the teaching side as professors are myh husband Dr. V.R. Jayaram, Dr. N. sivarama prasad, Dr. Padmavathy, Dr. S. Rajeswarik Dr. J. Karuana, Dr. P.V. Saraschandrika & Dr. B. Indira Devi, Dr. A. Subba rao, dr. K. Rajyalakshmi & Dr. T.M.V. prasada Rao.

      All the ALUMNI of GMC are today the proud Torch bearers of the good old  tradition of medicine globally in various capacities and diverse fields of medicine. Many of them ae keeping the Flag of GMC flying high all over the world.