The Doctor Says..

Redemption.

Exams Over. MBBS Over.

MBBS is tough. Very long. Exhaustive.
And exams sure do take a toll on a student's health and psyche.
Hurray!  I survived and am alive.

You see, firstly, there are written exams -  theory papers that are more a part of a fixed curriculum than an aspect of testing knowledge. There is a format. Short and long answer type Q & A.
Of course one sure does get a preparatory leave for the same. But I'll be damned if I disagree that any amount of time is insufficient.

Too many subjects. Quite a bit of cramming. A tad bit of logic and innovation.

They drench your soul. A battle between heart, body and mind.
Most of us tide over the waves. But some have to face the sweet chin music. I have the best of kids cracking up, almost willing to give up the endeavour, even with the coast in sight.

Health issues galore. Food and sleep habits crash. No time for social chit chats. No time for family. Festivals and events all secondary.

The very moment where one gets the question paper in hand is inexplicable. Some smile. Others swallow.

And secondly, we have the world famous 'Practicals'.
The word is scary in itself. One is judged and assessed by a board of external examiners, who form a panel alongside the dear good old internal examiners.

A gamble of all sorts. No one can be perfect. Errors are common fold. And the intense atmosphere in the wards. It can shatter confidence and destroy logic, while transcending time and more time.

I feel there is often a decent 'setting' between the externals and college, i. e. an informal deal wherein maybe.. I say maybe.. goods, benefits, pleasantries, beverages, gifts, cash and kind etc etc. might be traded in exchange for a promise, a vow to PASS all the candidates, whatever might be the circumstances.

All is settled, they say. Just be calm and answer somewhat correctly. And you'll see the magic unfold.

In the end, perhaps all I can say is that this kinda exam feeling can't be experienced by any Tom, Dick & Harry. You have to be within the system.
It's a cocktail of emotions, that has to be savoured by the bold and the valiant. A chalice of aged wine for the ego.

Years pass.
Seasons pass.
Moments pass.
So will we.

The Doctor Says..

Sorry guys. Was away due to university exams.
Couldn't blog. YOU KNOW HOW IT IS !

But here's my retournée with a picblog :)

Keep following for updates.
Ciao

The Doctor Says..

Antidote #3

At med school,

Accept defeat. It's usually a victory for the endeavour.
Accept criticism. It's generally an appreciation for the thought.
Accept sarcasm. It's basically politeness for the contempt.
Accept anger. It's simply a celebration for the ego.
Accept greed. It's purely a satisfaction for the oblivion.

What medicos love

Everybody has a hobby.
Pretty natural..we all love to do that one thing that we are proud of.
At med school, hobbies are like a hidden treasure -  difficult to find, difficult to inculcate, almost impossible to accept and project in front of them nerds.
It's almost as if one has to forcefully own up to an alleged crime, committed in corpos mentis!

<< Log kya kahenge? 
Haww!! You sing??
Arey bro! You won't laugh at my paintings na? >>

The list of anticipatory questions is endless.

Thankfully, I have come across some really awesome chaps who have proudly exhibited their hobbies across domestic and social domains. They have received accolades and appreciation alike.
[ Special mention and shoutouts to :-
Altaf Raje, Nachiket Pargaonkar, Faizal Pokar, Ravikant Bhogshetti ]

What's there to feel shy about? After all, the art defines you.
It adds a flavour to your personality and glamour to your skill.

I myself write poetry in various languages, something that has become a passion now.

After having explored the 'passion vaults' in my college, I hereby enlist the hobbies, in no proper order, that students love to pursue, apart from sleeping, bunking lectures and using pdf during examinations :--

1.Photography
Age old, tried and tested. Doctors love snapping around, both literally and symbolically!  I'm not talking about selfies. The game is all about extravagant and scenic panoramic shots, with prior dslr adjustments. The thrill that one derives after a perfect shot is inexplicable.

2.Painting/Drawing/Sketching
Pencil, charcoal, water paints and the like. Conceptual yet
powerful. Art that is self explanatory. A well executed sketch or a waterpaint not only does catch the eye, but also invokes the mind.

3.Dance and Music
Traditional and Modern. A perfect blend of emotions. We do have smart and talented performers around. They swing and they sing. Instrumentalists form the inhouse band. Girls definitely rule the thump, but a few chaps are equally skilled. The costumization, song selection, timing etc are crucial aspects of the act. Beautiful vocal cords with beautiful faces.. ah!

4.Travelling and Biking
Needless to say, docs love riding. An instantaneous, impromptu plan works very well. All you need is bling bling cash, fuel, transportation, and a navigator/google maps.
An unplanned rainshower is most welcome. Hiking, trekking, camping or just 'lafantargiri', bring it on.

5.Poetry and Writing
This is one of those hobbies which people try to hide. Maybe it's not in everybody's league to comprehend stuff, but I personally feel docs love to write. Any topic can spark an idea. And when it comes to poetry, I can bet you, we can be an instant hit at a party, or generally when hitting on the opposite sex.

6.Sports
We are Indians. Period.
All of us love to play sport. May it be cricket, volleyball, shuttle, football or carrom -- no one can have just one.
A live telecast can fill the evening's void in an instant.

7.Reading
I know quite a lot of people who simply love to read, basically read anything. From Sheldon to Coelho, autobio to science fiction, yahan sab bikta hai. A free ebook is as pleasurable as a newly purchased hardbound from Crossword or a duplicate haggled from the railway station.

8.Gastronomy (Eating)
I don't know whether this qualifies as a hobby, but I'm pretty sure food is the ultimate sin one can indulge in. Chaps here undertake hour long journeys just to grab a bite at their fav eatery. Fruit cream in Pune to seekh at Dehu, dhaba food to cheap buffets.. there are no limits to cravings here.

9.Gossips and Bakchodi
*coughs incessantly*
Yahan baatein aag ki tarah failti hain.

10.Ramp Walking
Funny yet true. Folks here love to do that. Obvious from the interesting fashion shows organized each year.
Swag or ThugLife? Maybe both.

11.Movies and Serials
Oh yes! Buffs everywhere. From HouseMD to GOT, docs love watching and following all sorts of serials. No, not Indian telly soaps. C'mon.
Avid sitcom fans and movie collectors. Takes a couple of hours to finish a movie. Takes a few hours to finish a season.
I know a guy who now proudly owns almost 5 TB worth of amazing stuff.. #respect

12.Minor and trivial activities like online shopping, styling, PC and PS gaming etc. add to the list.

At the end of it all, I can conclude the blog by suggesting that docs are humans. They have desires and interests. The best thing is to pursue these hobbies proudly and enthusiastically.
It's like a stress reliever if I can put it this way.

Never flinch fellas. Do what you gotta do.. Have fun :)

Antidote #2

Half knowledge kills.

At medical school, you have the accept the fact that it's not about what you have studied or what you know that decides your fate in an examination.. instead it's all about what you haven't, or don't know, that judges the result.

Keeping mum in front of the examiner is a gamble.
Some earn the jackpot.
Others crumble after the loss.

After all, silence is golden, ain't it?