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It amazes me to think that I had such
a long association with LHMC, I joined in 1953 and retired
in 1993. The bond was established even before that as I
was born in the associated hospital, the Willingdon Hospital
where my grandfather Dr. Narain Singh (a FRCS from Edinburgh
in 1910 or so) was the Head of the hospital.
After passing my matriculation examination from Punjab University
and being placed in the merit list I joined Govt. College
for Women, Ludhiana for a premedical course to be able to
enter a medical college. The only courses open to girls
were medicine and teaching. Luckily, the present generation
has so many other options for those who do not want to see
suffering all around. It needs a lot of determination to
study and practice medicine.
Getting my first division in F.Sc.,it ensured me admission
into a medical college. There were very few in India at
that time in 1950's or so. I got admission in Amritsar Medical
College, without appearing for an interview. But there was
a problem. Relatives advised my affectionate and caring
father that any good looking girl (pardon my saying so but
that was for which I was often complemented though not aware
of it, looking back it feels good to remember those days)
is not sent in a coeducational institute. Those times all
marriages were arranged and any love marriage was considered
as indiscipline by children. Lady Hardinge has produced
very beautiful girls as doctors like Dr. Shanta Bhargava
and Dr. Gauri Bajaj Malik, a few to name, but many more
are there.
LHMC admitted only girls and 40 of them from all over India.
I was lucky to be one of them. It was the start of my journey
in LHMC in 1953.
Hostel was compulsory. A very spacious hostel campus, big
rooms, one for each student, air conditioners or air coolers
were rarity, and I do not remember having seen even in senior
faculty rooms. But never felt the heat.
Perhaps because of high roofs with ventilators which are
missing in buildings these days. There was a big lawn in
the center around which rooms were spread. There were some
with double occupancy with attached bathrooms and a verandah
in the back, one could choose ones room-mate, which was
not to be chosen by the warden.
Our Warden was Mrs. Bedi, a pleasant lady who stayed in
the hostel campus with her three pretty daughters. Naughty
students bothered her but she managed them well.
One of my early memories is that of the freshers' party.
It was held in the lawns of the hostel, the lawns had four
fountains, and four of us were put in the fountain waters.
I for discovering that one of the senior students who was
posing as our batch mate was actually not so, and I informed
our batch (she was too familiar with the environment). I
was punished and drenched in the water pool. It was a pleasant
entry with our batch, so innocent we all were, friendly,
appreciative and helpful, stayed together with senior and
junior batches around us. Some girls were humorous, some
more helpful but all kind hearted (does the present generation
believe this could be true?).
The college departments had learned faculty as Heads of
Departments, all trained postgraduates from abroad, PG courses
were not available in India.
Prof. B.K. Anand was Head of Physiology Department. The
lectures he gave were complete in topics; one did not have
to refer to books, but had to write fast which was possible
at that stage. Dr. S. Achya was Head of Anatomy Department.
We were terribly scared of her. If she found us wandering
we had to pray to God to save us from her anger, which was
of course occasional as we did not make our appearance in
front of her except when we had to, during the examinations.
Dr. S. Padmawati was the Head of Medicine, commanded a lot
of respect for her progressive approach. Dr. C.L. Malhotra
known as 'Chuchaji' because he had ptosis of eyelids, he
would give complete subject in pharmacology lectures. We
did not have to read a book.
Clinics were held in the evenings in wards with our registers.
Dr. Kasturi Malik in medicine made us learn a lot. Patients
were examined by us in the evenings, mornings were spent
in O.P.Ds. Lectures in clinical subjects were from 8 to
9 AM. We were fortunate to be taught by learned teachers.
I completed my studies in 1958 having joined in 1953. One
year internship was compulsory and was completed by me in
1959. Internship training was started with batch just senior
to us.
I joined the department of Physiology the same year. Now
Dr. V.D. Mullick was the Head of Department as Dr. B.K.
Anand had moved to AIIMS, where he was the pioneer Head
of Physiology Department. Dr. S.I. Singh was Reader in Physiology
Department. So the department now had two Dr. Singh's. To
distinguish between the two the naughty students called
me Dr. Sweety Singh. This name was passed on from one batch
to another and till I retired after 33 years the students
had not known my real name and continued to refer to me
by the same name.
With Dr. V.D. Mullick who was progressive in his approach
as Head of Department, the discipline was well maintained.
The new lecture theater was built up as the student strength
had increased. New building came up for large batch of students
for practicals.
We the demonstrators were popular among those student batches,
as they found us nearer to their age and tried to gain knowledge
of our fresh graduation. The examination system was harsh.
After two years of study only one paper with six long questions
all compulsory to be attempted. If one failed to attempt
one of the six questions she would flop. Not a good test
of knowledge gained. One had to pray that luck did not disfavor.
But it did make the students alert if it is to be judged
from the fact that when some of them had gone abroad, they
did very well and occupied important positions. Sometimes
when they visited India and met us it was a pleasure to
know that from them.
We the demonstrators enjoyed having coffee together with
gossip for a short period that gave time to talk about our
senior teachers in the department.
During the years I spent in the department of Physiology
in different Faculty positions and retired as Professor
and Head of the department, I had special concern for resolving
students' difficulties and also that the Hardonian standard
in academics and discipline must be preserved. The changes
that came up were that the duration of the first Professional
Course was reduced from 2 years to 1½ years and later
to one year. This gave the students more time for clinical
subjects. The pattern of examination in Physiology changed
to two papers in Physiology with only a few long questions,
which enable detailed test of knowledge and eliminated the
chance factor as far as possible.
It was a pleasure to hear from one of the Addl. Medical
Superintendents that when LHMC graduates were appointed
they responded more responsibly in reporting for duty and
sent timely information whenever unable to attend. Some
of those admitted that discipline during the initial few
years was important part of training and they did give credit
to our department for their behavior.
My love for Hardonians resulted in my working for a number
of years to arrange old students' annual functions in the
college. The students enjoyed visiting their Alma Mater.
The participating ex-students increased in number from a
few to 100 and then to 150. Our Principal Dr. S. Chawla
also a Hardonian would take a lot of interest in their participation.
I enjoyed inviting and making arrangements for about 15
years, first as a Secretary of the Old Students Association
and then the President. Dr I Kohli, Dr Mohinder Kochar and
their other batch mates, often joined in great numbers took
pride in that. Dr Basant Puri, very senior Hardonian very
often joined us. Dr M Chaudhari, ex Principal also joined
sometimes. Dr Leela Keshwani always joined us with her husband
and she took lot of interest in the functions.
Yoga was started in our department in 1980's, beneficial
effects were reported. A number of students did M.D., and
even Ph.D course was started.
A small lecture room down stairs and small practical rooms
were all replaced by new large lecture theatre and practical
labs as student strengths increased from 40 to 60 and then
to 100 and in 1970 to 130. Entrance examination replaced
the direct entry based on marks from different universities.
LHMC has offered me a life time association. I wish good
luck to All Hardonians, past, current and future ones. I
wish that they keep the dignity of the profession and be
prepared to serve humanity to earn the blessings of those
whom they cure.
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