Articles

AN OLD STUDENT REMEMBERS G.M.C.

Dr. Y. SIVAJI

            Despite being a drop out from medical profession, I feel that I am indedbted a lot to Guntur Medical College, for what ever I am now. We  were selected to pursue the course on basis of qualifying examinaiton. Dr. K.Kodanda Ramaiah, Dr. L. Suryanarayana, Dr. G. Ethirajulu, Dr. C. Sobhanadr, Dr. V. Kameswara Rao, Dr. K.Sadasiva Rao, Dr. U. Venkataratnam, Dr. C.G.Rama Murhty, Dr. C.R. RajaGopalan, Dr. M. Gopala Krishna, Dr. S. Chandrasekhara Sastry, Dr. T. Jaya Narasimhulu, Dr. C. Krishnarjuna $Rao, Dr. B. Naganna, Dr. R. Satyabhama Reddy, Dr. G. Joseph, Dr. K.V. Prasada Rao, Dr. V.S.Venkata subbu, Dr. N.V. Row, Dr. T. Srinivasan and the like were among the teachinbg faculty, who were towerint personalities both physically and academically. Dr. d. Bhaskara Reddy and Dr. G.R.K. hari Rao, Were known to inculcate discipline among the students  as well  as in the department. Punctuality was a passion with them. They always taught a lesson, but never delivered a routine run of the mill lecture. Dr. P. Narasimha rao and Dr. P. Lakshman  Rao, were known for their administrative abilities. Dr. K.R.R. Mohan rao, Dr. C. Sambasiva Rao, Dr. C. Mallikharjuna Rao, Dr. P.S.R.K. Rao, dr. M. Ramchander made a mark among the students as well as patients by their humane touch. Dr. N. subhadra Devi, with abundant knowledge, coupled with unparallel skill and simplicity was an authority on obsterics and gynoecology. Some of us like myself, Dr. N. Jaya Prakash narayan, I.A.S.,, Dr. M. Naras Raju, former President, T.A.N.A. used to spend hours with Drs. Sankara Rao and Vasudeva Rao and adjourn late in the night, Only to be continued on the next-day. Those serials are yet to be concluded. Every one among the faculty started their career with major infrastructural deficiencies their and none of them was born with a gift, by birth, but that did not dull the edge of their cheerful debonair sprit. Whether it was silver jubilee o the college or medical and health Exhibition or college Day or Fresher’s  Day or Hostel Day or sports day every body was instrumental in providing necessary in-put and in fact there was a healthy competition to attain perfection and excellence. Most of the teachers started the concerned departments or developed  them. Practically all of us, were privileged with an equal right in the houses of our teachers, on par with their children.

            Inspired by Dr. Sobhanadri after completing internship, I applied for post – gradduation in Dermatology. How ever, by the time the selection were completed, I landed inside the central prison, Rajahmundry for my association with jayaprakash Movement. By the time, I came out of the prison, majority of my classmates and contemporaries migrated to other countries. Panic prevailed at that time that foreign medical graduates were not going to be allowed to U.S.A. and Legislation was in the offing to that effect. Thereby most of the newly graduated boys and girls from our college, hurriedly proceeded to that continent. It is recorded that G.M.C. is the second on the globe to contribute maximum number of medical graduates to American Society the first being Phillipines. Until 1978, no examination or assessment was warranted to get a full registration with the general medical council of united kindom. With just an application G.M.C. students could practise medicine in U.K. Such was the privilege, we enjoyed and I got registered with General medical Council. All our alumini proved to be second to none. By sheer hard work and devotion towards their duty, they achieved laurels everywhere. When I visited lakshaweeps, I was delightedr to come across my contemporaries working in the well equipped hospitals.

            During the last half a century several remarkable developments took place in also fields, more so in medical education. To cope up with the advancement, the specialties are branched to super specialties. To cater to the paying patients, there is mushroom growth of star hospitals. Those days were gone when all in the society, with out any exception could get treatment in “government hospitlals. Government Hospitals are failing to draw the attention of the concerned. This transformaion will furyther aggravate, in the coming future. To over come this, a full time teaching cadre, with attractive salaries is to be created. Another disturbing factor is, that we are going to face a death of teachers in preclinical subjects. To over come this, fresh medical graduates are to be selected, to work exclusively in Anatomy, Physiology, Bio-Chemistry, Pharmacology, Public Health, medical Jurispedence etc., and they should be simultaneousln registered for  post-graduation.

            It is repeatedly mentioned that there is a steep fall in the standards. But, in fact this deterioration is all pervading and no sector could be isolated. When every body is involved with Consumerism, We Can’t expect the specialist or the teacher in medical-College, to be secluded with out any wordily ambition. How ever, medical ethics and related syllabi may be incorporated in the curriculum.

            Almost all of the Alumini of G.M.C. are doing well, both in and ourside the country. With the present financial crisis, it may not be feasible for the government to development eighter G.M.C. or G.G.H. I therefore propose to collect Rs. 10 Crores from the old students of Guntur medical College, Provided the Government comes forward with an equal amount of matching grant, to upgrade this institute to strt training in super specialities.  Once upon a time Dababhai Naoroji said, “ I release that I had been educated at the expense of the poor, to whom I myself belonged. The thought  developed it self in my mind, that as my education and all the benefit arriving there from came from the people, I must return to them the best I  had in me. I must devote myself to the service of the people-‘ Iam  sure that all of the alumini are ready to  contrubute their mite for the upliftment of their parent institute. It is up to those sitting at the helm of affairs, to properly explore and channelise this potential.

            It is matter of pride that this institute produced 8 vice-Chancellors, 3 ministers, 8 Members to the Legislative Assembly, One Member of Parliament, a mayor and a Chairman of Zillaparishat, in addition to inumerable number of professors, directors and academic heads. It is ironical that most of them were not conspicuons during their tenure in the college. A.E. Housman, the great scholar of Greek and Latin and better known as a poet, once failed in the papers of those very languages at the Oxford university. His biographer Richards comments “The Nightingale got not prize at the poultry show-“  One doesn’t know, what the future hjolds.  While congratulating those who bagged the awards in recent Golden Jublee Celebrations, I would like the non-winners  of the awards to keep Rchards comments in mind.