English section

English Section

15 minutes

Editorial 'Fifteen minutes' of reading this section is all you need to brighten up your mood!!!

The people who worked to put together this section could not have been more contrasting… Revathy (the evil taskmaster), Tushar (the eternal prankster) and Samuel (the silent thinker) and the result could not have been more interesting…

Our only aim was to come up with something fun and 'feel-good'!

Something you could read again and again and enjoy each time!

A few words about what we have in store for you…

'Fifteen minutes is all you need to live your life'… this is the under-current of our cover feature and we leave it to you to discover this concept as you advance through the pages of this section…

In the first survey of its kind, we caught you unawares with a set of 'fundoo' questions… now…read your own quirky answers!

You did not respond to our incessant pleas for articles! So we went around hunting the 'graffiti' penned by you on the benches of R.R and all the lecture halls! Which ones did you write?!

Happy reading!

Thanking Anshu ma'am for her guidance, Revathy, Tushar and Samuel.

X

Change begins with choice

In de

Meenu Kashyap 2005 13

Cover feature FIFTEEN MINUTES 3

CRY OF INNOCENCE

Revathy and Sharada 2005

THE ALIEN NEXT DOOR Batiston 04

4

CONTRASTING COLOURS Preetam Salunkhe 2008 14

Not My Design Harshal Shinde 2005 4

14

Samuel Lalhruaizela 2005

COMPLIANCE

“

5

Sheetal Bodkhe 2005

15

J O Y R I D E …

RS. 10/- ONLY Sharada Sundaramurthy 2005

About Walking Alone 5

Shashank P Behere 2004

IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS ROCK Samuel Lalhruaizela 2005

From the diary of an Indian Rishi Rajat Adhikary 2006

6

16

PRESENT Meeta Maheshwari 2005

Concept of Decentralization in view of Gandhiji 8 Mansee Vijayrao Bhagat 2008

18

17

Woh kaan thi!

Dr. Kishore Shah 1974

HOW MUSIC HELPED ME THROUGH MEDICAL COLLEGE 9 Abraham Khiangte 2003 Searching for love

20 Tushar Parmeshwar 2005

HOW QUIRKY ARE WE? 10 Survey

ENGLISH Sushruta ‘09

I still remember the day!

Dr. Puja Bang Dept. Of Ophthalmology 12

The Final Level

Ashwini Kalantri 2004

An Ode

22

21

Yeh Dosti...

Ravi Wadke 2005

Abhishek Thakur 2008

NUMBRevathy Krishnamurthy 200513

MILAAP '84 Dr. Prabha Desikan23

FIFTEEN MINUTES

IF ANYTHING CAN GO WRONG IT WILL IF ANYTHING CAN GO WRONG IT WILL IF ANYTHING CAN GO WRONG IT WILL

Revathy and Sharada 2005 When you were out playing with friends and your mom called you in for dinner…

When you are seeing off someone you love at the station and the train arrives…

When you have not revised the whole of parasitology and the attendant at Sawangi threatens you to enter the examination hall…

And of course, when you are sleeping and the alarm rings!

Only fifteen minutes more, please!!!

Now that we appreciate how much 15 mins. can mean to us, all that we want to do is cash in on any quarter of an hour available to us.

You say you're too busy with lectures, clinics, wardleavings and don't have time for yourself.

But can't you gift yourself just 15 mins of your own day?

15 mins. doing only what you really want to do.

15 mins. away from the outer world…into your innerself.

15 mins. with no time-table, schedule or deadline.

Find them any time of the day.

You'll find the pages of this section teeming with suggestions of what can be done. !Take a cool shower !Sit on the terrace !Play an instrument !Read the newspaper !Make a sketch !Check your e-mails !Clean your room !Daydream!!! !Meditate !Speak to your folks at home !Blare the speakers and dance away !Sing loudly !Get a mini-facial done !Brew up a strong cup of tea, sit back and relax !Hit the gym !Do yoga !Aerobics anyone? !Learn a new word !Early morning jog !Night-walks into the moonlight !Go for a ride

MURPHY'S LAW IN 15 MIN… MEET THE GUY WHO RUNS YOUR LIFE! When God created life in seven days, on the eighth day He said, “O.K. Murphy, you take over.”

And dear Mr. Murphy governs us petty humans on the basis of his one ingenious law which statesIF ANYTHING CAN GO WRONG, IT WILL. IF ANYTHING JUST CANNOT GO WRONG, IT WILL ANYWAY! Think for a moment, does this not always happen? ·When you reach the morning lecture on time, either the lecturer is late or the lecture gets cancelled When you don't go, all those who were absent are asked to meet the H.O.D The day you get up early to buy milk from the doodhwaali, she does not come The book you are looking for is always at the bottom of the largest pile Anytime you put an item in a 'safe place', it will never be seen again You will always find something in the last place you look When you wear new shoes, everyone will step on them Whenever you cut your fingernails you find a need for them an hour later The person ahead of you in the queue will have the most complex transaction possible The other line always move faster You will always find the easy way to do something after you have done it When a broken appliance is demonstrated for the repairman, it will work perfectly The day you miss breakfast, clinics goes on till 12.30 The only time you miss a college function, a fine is imposed NOTE: Knowing Murphy's Law never helps.

If for some reason, Murphy's Law fails to operate, it is building up for something big!

So smile today, coz tomorrow will be worse!

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15 Minutes

Cover feature

THE ALIEN NEXT DOOR

Batiston Decruse Waanbah 04

15 Minutes

It was cold and raining cats and dogs and the chill in the air forced me to roll up the window of the car. I was returning back alone to the farm house which was 30 miles from town. The light from the headlights and the to and fro movement of the wiper were the only things I could see on the dark black background of the road. Suddenly a streak of blinding light lit up the road.

I completely lost control of the car and it skidded off the road. I broke through the barbed wire fence of my neighbor, Mr. Jones' farm and landed on his maize field and the engine froze. I switched the engine on and tried to get back on the road, but the engine wouldn't start. I got out of the car and went to inspect the engine. Standing in front of the car and overlooking the car I saw a saucer shaped flying object. It sounded as if I was in the laundry room and a thousand washing machines were on. I noticed the rain had stopped.

Frightened by the sound and the lights emitted from it, I crouched back inside the car. I took out my mobile phone thinking I would call for help but there was no response from any number. Suddenly I realized that the battery was low and the mobile phone went off. With no light inside the car I peeped through the window. From the distance I realized that the light in Mr. Jones' house was also off and so was the flash light in front of his barn.

The flying saucer moved towards Mr. Jones' house and stopped right in front his truck which was parked up front. Thinking of Mr. Jones' safety I thought I should go there. I reached for a torch light in the glove compartment and switched it on.

This too didn't work. I was completely puzzled. I jerked it a bit but it was dead. I looked back through the window and saw a green beam of light coming from the flying saucer. The light ended at Mr. Jones' doorstep. I could see Mr. Jones' shadow and three really odd looking three legged, double headed life forms. They were headed for Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones extended his hand and they shook it. They were talking as if they knew each other. They entered the barn and in a few minutes another flying saucer came out of the barn. Mr. Jones came with three boxes from the house and got in the second flying saucer. The sound of both the flying contraptions caused my car to start vibrating and in a split of a second they were gone and so was Mr. Jones. At the same moment that they disappeared into thin air the car's engine gave a roar, the mobile came back to life and the torch lighted once again. I got to

the front seat and raced back home.

As soon as I reached home I couldn't imagine what I had seen and went directly to my bedroom and landed myself on the soft bed. I thought to myself who I should call to report this. The police will never believe me because I would sound like a kid who had been watching too much of “STAR TREK”.

In such a shock I closed my eyes and fell asleep spontaneously.

“Ding dong” rang the door bell. I woke up and saw it was 10a.m., I had overslept. Thinking last night's incident was a dream; I went down,opened the door and saw two policemen standing there. I invited them in and they sat in my living room.

Before I could swallow my breath one of them took off his cap and I realized it was Mr. Jones in a policeman suit. Then a blinding streak of light flooded my living room and I found myself lying down on the bed. I woke up and saw it was 10a.m. and realized that it was all a dream.

Now that I was certain it was all a dream I went down to make tea. “Ding Dong”, rang the bell and to my surprise it was Mr. Jones. He came in and had tea with me. While we were having tea he said that his fence along the road was partially destroyed last night. At first I didn't want to believe it but when I picked up the local newspaper and read an article of one missing person by the name of Mr. Jones I was shocked and bang went the cup of tea down on my carpet. I looked at Mr. Jones who was sitting opposite to me a couple of seconds back and he vanished in thin air. I pinched my forearm so that I could wake up from this dream but it wasn't one.

Not My Design Harshal Shinde2005 None can live a life apart Untouched by other lived!

To paint a picture in one tone In one hue of single shade and light To play a melody with just a lonely note, To drag oneself along the lonely paths of destiny, A possibility in this human world ?

Life is not a single design, But a little part of all those Who pass your way Who accompany you to distant mile Who encourage you to conquer dreams Who guide you through storm and rain Hence my life is not my own design but a part of all the rest that pass my way in my journey and each of them is a part of mine

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”

Sheetal Bodkhe 2005

When I was at home during the last vacation, I took ill. Though it was nothing serious, I preferred staying in bed, which made me feel even sicker. My friend, who is also a final year M.B.B.S student, came to see me. We had planned to go out but since I denied, we were just chitchatting.

Now, my friend, instead of entertaining me by telling about others (gossiping makes you feel better… you know!) started taking my bedside history. She bombarded me with a hell lot of questions like, how are you feeling, what's your problem, where is the pain, what kind, how severe and so on…

Thank God she knew me, so didn't have to repeat my name 'n' number of times.

It all seemed fun initially but soon it started getting on my nerves. I threatened her to stop but she was quite keen to make the diagnosis.

“You are so non-compliant, just like that patient who spoiled my ward-leaving.” remarked my friend.

She had hit a raw nerve- I mean, I was ill and all she was interested in was my diagnosis! But before I could yell at her she said, “Tujhe toh kuch nahi hua, phir bhi natak kar rahi hai.”

I realized that she was correct. I was not suffering from any big disease but still I was in discomfort, I did not want anyone to disturb me. Then what about all

About Walking Alone When the morning skies look damp and dark, And the world around is falling apart.

When the Sun refuses to shine, And the whole world seems out of line No matter how hard you try, You end up asking, “Why?” Life's paths are long and winding, Who am I to ask, or know, where they lead?

If you want success, then struggles come binding, But I have my weaknesses, I am of mortal creed.

When hope seems lost, And all things start to come at hefty cost, I know a thing or two of wavering faith,

those patients in the wards, who are in so much distress but still co-operate with the students…

So many of us stand around the patient, everyone with his own set of questions and of-course the desire to examine. We do ask the patient all the details about his pain but never empathize with him ‘cause we are too busy and after all, he's just a patient-one among so many…

I remember that few times when my patient was uncooperative, I told all my friends the patient was so bad, so rude. But all other times when I received excellent support from the patient, I failed to appreciate or even to say, “Thank you”. I was being so selfish, so mean!

In the first year, we used to have demonstrations on animals. I still recall the plight of those harmless creatures. I used to feel guilty that for our sake the animal was being sacrificed. Now with passing years, the scenario remains the same, the pain is still there but my emotions have gone blunt.

Today I am more interested in improving my skills, my knowledge but at the cost of somebody's discomfort. I do understand that student-patient interaction is an integral part in learning but still fail to value it.

The contribution of patients is so important in making of a Doctor. But we often fail to recognize the things that deserve our gratitude the most. I do hope, now onwards, I behave as a better human.

THANK YOU PATIENTS!!!

Of questioned belief, of fear, of hate Is there really anyone up there?

Looking down on me, As I drown in my troubled sea, He looks on, so malevolent is he?

But of all the people on the face of the Earth, He chose me for this test, of courage, of will Though my footsteps may echo, with ugly cacophone The truth is I'll never walk alone, He's there for me, of this I'm sure, And will be forever more, ever more...

And if I just believe, I will be freed Teaching me the difference between what I want... and what I need...

Shashank P Behere 2004

Sushruta ‘09

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15 Minutes

“COMPLIANCE

15 Minutes

IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS ROCK Samuel Lalhruaizela 2005!!!

Elvis Presley (19351977) is called the King Of rock and roll, but today if you happen to drop by at Planet M you would probably find it in the Country Music section. So what is rock…what makes it rock and roll? What is it all about? Rock is a trend, a genre, a culture and a lifestyle.

There is a long road down the history lane and rock as a music was born when some white Blues musicians started mixing their beat with a more country style. “Rock and roll” as it was named at first started way back in the late 40s.

However, Chuck Berry was the one to re-write rock music as it is today. He was the first to use the guitar as a 'lead' instrument in his 1955 recordings and introduced the descending penta-tonic double stops (essence of rock guitar). Over the decades, this genre has had many ups and downs, hits and controversies, tales to tell but at the end of the day rock is all about the music and the great songs, live performances and guitar riffs. So if you want to know what rock is all about start looking for some names beginning from The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Deep purple, The Doors, The Who, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Van Halen, Queen and any rocking name you could ever think of. Rock is again made of a big family of some stray, some more classical offsprings -amongst the more popular are what we call Heavy metal, punk rock, acid rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, grunch rock, gothic, the new age modern rock, alternative rock and lots more. There is so much to say…

“Merseybeat” which developed in UK in the early 1960s changed the face of rock music forever.

The huge popularity of this genre led veterans of that scene, or disciples of that scene, to the formation of bands such as the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds and the Animals. The Rolling

Stones became "the" sensation in London and went on to record the most successful singles of the era. The Yardbirds with its experimental music was an important connection of the British Blues and psychedelia. The band conceived great guitarists like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. Clapton, a Blues purist at the time left the band in protest with its move towards pop, later on joined Cream and after that pursued his solo career. Beck's playing style and bent for experimentation pushed the Yardbirds toward a "psychedelic rock” sound. Jimmy Page formed the band Led Zeppelin in 1968 after his departure from the Yardbirds. Led Zepplelin is considered to be one of the first hard rock and metal band with influences ranging from blues and folk genres. They never had huge hits in the US but their songs ruled over the airwaves and were more album oriented and never had huge singles. Their anthemic song "Stairway to Heaven," (Led Zeppelin IV 1971) remains among the most loved and respected songs in all popular music, routinely voted #1 on all-time best lists, possessing a status and reputation unlikely ever to be equaled.

The most commercially successful and controversial band of all time came up in the early 1960s, four young men from LiverpoolJohn, Paul, George and Ringo- The Beatles. They broke so many records and so many barriers and they will be remembered for being the most significant music creators of the twentieth century with 27 #1 singles in the UK and US billboard charts. The boom of “Beatlemania” swept fans across the world. In the mean time bands like The Doors (1965) in America and Pink Floyd in UK were produced whose influence would be gigantic.

Pink Floyd's progressive style influenced artists of the 1970s like Genesis, Yes, and contemporaries like Dream Theater and Nine Inch nails. Queen was a huge hit with its complex vocal harmonies and highly technical studio works. “Bohemian Rhapsody” a song written on bits of paper by Freddie will forever be a

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BECOME A CHILD FOR 15 MINS…THE THIRSTY CROW There was a crow who was very thirsty. It was flying around here and there in search of water but was not being able to find any to drink. After flying hundreds of miles, it finally found a big earthen pot, which had a little water inside it.

Unfortunately, the crow was not able to dip its beak far enough into the pot to drink the water. On looking around, the crow saw a lot of pebbles lying on the ground. Seeing those pebbles, an idea flashed into its mind. The crow picked up the pebbles one by one in its beak and dropped them into the pot. Slowly, the level of water in the pot began to rise until the crow was able to drink it. The crow then drank to its heart's content.

Moral of the Story: IF YOU TRY HARD ENOUGH, YOU SHALL ACHIEVE SUCCESS.

Sushruta ‘09

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15 Minutes

sensation. His mention of names like Bismillah, Scaramouch, Beelzebub and Galileo brought about lots of questions though he himself claimed that they were nothing more than “random rhyming nonsense”. Many, however, believed that Galileo in particular pointed out their guitarist Brian May who has a Ph.D. in Astrophysics.

The rock fever in US led to the resurrection of the Blues. Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin became stars. Jimi Hendrix was a singer and great blues guitarist and influencing a number of rock musicians that followed. His untimely death in 1970 at the age of 27 grouped him with Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison (the Doors) as one of contemporary music's tragic “three J's”. Joe Satriani, then a 14 year old boy picked up his guitar the day Hendrix died. Joe not only played in front of audiences but also taught guitar. Among his older students were Steve Vai, Kirk Hammet (Metallica) to name a few.

Heavy Metal is powerful, loud and fast with loads of everything. When you talk of the early days of Heavy, you talk of Led Zeppelin (1968), Black Sabbath (1968) and Deep Purple. They were a highly talented and innovative line-up who started it all influencing decades of rock bands that followed. Black Sabbath took up a dark satanic and occultic image and I still remember being frightened to listen to some of their songs as a child. But behind all the glads and glamour, the craziness of Ozzy biting off the neck of dummy crows and drinking fake blood on stage, there is art, there is music and great songs with wonderful lyrics. And ironically, songs like “Revelation (mother earth)”, “Children of the Grave” and the latest “Dreamer” carry messages of peace and preserving harmony. Judas Priest (1969) was another band which soon followed with a new face and powerful guitar riffs. Whereas their predecessors were more Blues influenced, their sound had the new age Metal look.

They are dubbed 'Metal Gods'. AC/DC (1973) a band of brothers Angus and Malcolm Young with brutal riffs, soccer crowded choruses and rattling lyrics is an Australian band and are on a “Highway to Hell” (song featured in School of Rock). After all the controversies about the full form of the name, they claimed that it just meant alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) something written on their mother's motor powered sewing machine Angus saw as a child.

KISS was an answer to the call of the Americans at the time when all the great metal bands were from UK. This band is remembered for their glamorous make-up and stunning stage performances. Iron Maiden is another significant milestone, having three lead guitarists playing separate solos in each song with a great Gothic influence. Each of their songs seem to be classical pieces of music compiled together in a song like the ones of Bach or Beethoven. There are countless numbers of bands which followed the path of rockdom, but some are worth mentioning-Aerosmith, Guns and Roses, Scorpions, U2, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, newer generations like the rivals Megadeth and Metallica and the list goes on.

The story never ends. This is how it happened to me and this is how I see it. Music is an art and different people have different tastes in the art. Rock is the one that has been there for generations and is not going to die soon. The fans will never stop growing and the head-banging will never stop. Peace.

15 Minutes

Concept of Decentralization in view of Gandhiji Mansee Vijayrao Bhagat 2008 Late B.B,L. Mathur essay competition winner Today not only India but also the whole world has

profit leaving nothing for the poor. Hence, it is very important even today to follow this concept of Decentralization.

We see that Dhirubhai Ambani group of industries, Bajaj

realized that Gandhian principles are most important for a

automobiles are holding monopoly in business but others are

surviving society. There is no alternative to his concept .

not given any chance to make their way. Saint Dnyaneshwar

Mahatma Gandhi was a visionary personality and he knew

had said “Ata bishwatma ke deve”. This means

what is beneficial for everyone. So, he suggested

that this whole universe is ours and all are the

the masses to follow the concept of

sparkles from the Almighty God. In this way, we

Decentralization. He was totally against the

can say “He biswachi majhe ghar”. Indeed, if

centralization of power, wealth or anything else.

everyone have the feeling that the whole universe

This concept is very useful too in today's

is the same and it is home for us all, then the

mechanical world. We see that now a days

concept of centralization will be definitely

everyone is pursuing the physical and mechanical

abolished from the whole world and it will be

comfort and at the same time they are losing their

called as “Sarvodaya” as every person will have

morals. The burning problem of corruption is

bothering the middle class or the poor masses and in fact, the

his own identity and self-respect and he can earn his livelihood with freedom. Bapu would always trust for

rich are going to richer and richer. This is absolutely

communal unity for this purpose since it is the first step

responsible for economical imbalance or an unhappy

towards Decentralization. This will be very important for us to

environment in the country.

achieve “Swaraj” which ultimately gives “Suraj” which will in

Actually, Decentralization or Globalization is the concept

turn give “Ramraj” of our Bapu's dream.

which we can learn from the nature. Nature is the best

If nature doesn't follow the rule of centralization then why

example of it. The sun rises and sets everyday and provides

should we? We should never consider ourselves as superior

us the light and heat. It never concentrates its energy in a

and one as inferior. Of course, decentralization is the

particular area but spreads it all over the place. Thus, we can

concept which is always complimented with truth and non-

get the concept of decentralization. The monopoly of a single

violence. Without these two values and morals we cannot

person in politics is very harmful. So, Gandhi gave us the

claim that we have achieved globalization. Hence, today it is

concept of “Panchayat Raj” in which the committee was to be

that basic need to follow them. And ultimately, the world had

established of five persons and not a single one. And they too

also realized it and we should always remember “Live and let

have to be changed after some period. In this way, he taught

Live” rather than “Kill and Die”. In this way communal

us to be together as a single soul of the society.

integration will bring us to Decentralization.

Gandhiji would always say that India is a country of villages

Thus, Gandhiji was a Mahatma in a real sense who-

and there are almost 8 lakhs villages. Unless these villages

M— mobilized masses for bringing communal unity for a

don't come together for a noble cause, it will be definitely

noble fight

difficult to proceed further and masses will remain as they

A-Answered every crucial moment by the weapons of truth

were. So, he would oppose the centralization. Gandhiji was

and non-violence

never against mechanization but he would oppose those

H-Handed the whole world a message of “peace”

machines which introduced in big cities and those which

A-Adapted voluntary poverty

were taking the jobs of people. The people were unemployed

T-Transferred the mind of every individual in our society

and it would result in frustration and so on. This is not what

M-made social life creative and dynamic

Bapu expected, so he gave our countyrmen the concept of

A-altered modern civilization into a sustainable community

“Charkha”, khadi and village industries. Those used to be

So, these are the virtues Mahatma belonged to. Thus, we are

small scale industries in which the people used to work in a

very proud to have such a mesmorising personality in our

co-operative manner for the benefit of others. In village

own country and that too who dedicated his own life for the

industries, people would produce those things which were

service of his own flesh and blood, the Indian society.

needed by the masses.

Einstein once said “The future generation will never believe

Thus, this became the key for

survival of the rural people. If such work had not been done

that a man like him had ever walked on this earth”. Thus, we

as a group and only by a single person was a whole and sole

may conclude that he had a very novel thought.

producer, or marketing person, then, only he would get the

Sushruta ‘09

8

Abraham Khiangte 2003

The first time i set foot on this land, there were a lot of questions burning inside me..would i be able to survive here..how were things going to be..would i come out as a sane human being ??

I definitely did pass out MBBS as a sane human being and a huge part of it is i must say because of MUSIC...and here is how...

Music is a huge part of me...my dad used to be a singer...so i basically grew up listening to a lot of old english and hindi music. So it kind of like planted in me a liking for music at a very early stage in my life..And that grew into something more than just liking. Music became more and more influential in my life to a point where i just cant live without it.

To me, listening to music is like living in a dream. I believe that anything is possible.. All my negative feelings, hatred and pain just kind of melted away when i listen to my favorite music..I think there is no other better medium for me to get relaxed other than just listening to some good old music. Music has the power to cause emotions to well up within us. These feelings are gripping, often irresistible, and seem to emerge from nowhere. These feelings color our moods, affect our perceptions and generate a behavioral pattern. The indisputable fact about music is its power to evoke emotions. Is there anyone, for whom, music is completely emotional - neutral? Music has the ability to inevitably tap the still, mysterious deep well of our emotions.

Being a medical student (esp in our college), we tend to get into a lot lof stress. Apart from the enormous books to read and just the pure tension of being in the need to keep up in our studies, we are human beings and we also do have our personal problems to deal with too. Then this is where music come to help me.

A quick rewind to my first year days, i was purely astonished to remind myself of the fact that i was going to spend more than half a decade in a place which seems to be the perfect example for executing "All work no play" ..But alas i was wrong. I was blithely unaware of the fact that there were a lot of other people who share the same plight as mine. And i was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was not 'all work, no play' after all.. because i had wonderful opportunities to portray my love for music through cultural programmes, and intercollege competitions.

And these were the times which will make me look back fondly in the near future to say "Aaah..those were the days"..

Music has also helped me in making so many new friends in my new venture here as a medical student. I mean music is like the universal language,be it in any language, it is an extremely versatile medium of communication. It is capable of exploring all the features that are used in verbal communication.

Moreover, it does so in an explicit and structured way, which makes it an interesting and useful window into human communication, in general. There were so many nights in my UG days where a number of my friends would come to my room to sing with the guitar and we would sing long into the wee hours of the mornings.Then away would go the cares of our busy lives!!

Even in my dealing with patients in the hospital (as per my case), there are times where music would unexpectedly come as a good medium for establishing rapport with my patients. In saying so, let me share with you a little story about an incident i encountered while dealing with a certain patient. I believe it was in my 2nd yr MBBS, and i was having a Medicine ward leaving. It was with a twist of fate that I got a really problematic patient, she was a middle aged lady and she simply refused to talk to me.I tried all the tricks and trade i know but nothing seemed to work. Time was of the essence and i had to complete an entire examination too..Whew!! what could i possibly do now? Then suddenly out of the blue i heard her humming a song, a very old song to be exact, and i was so surprised that it was one of the very song that i had heard of in my childhood, the one which i really like actually, it was none other than "Ajeeb dastan". Then i gently told her that i liked the song which she was humming.That kind of like sparked a rapport between us and for a brief moment of a time we smiled at each other. Then i told her how important the examination was for me and she relented, most importantly, willingly. All because of a simple gesture of kindness and music..the ward leaving went well by the way..

I could share with you so many other instances where music has become my undying companion in my darkest hours. Being an intern now, we have to handle a lot of work and the long hours of duty may tend to keep one tired and out of shape, but music has never let me down..... And there can be no enjoyment more impersonal and sublimating than what it offers.

It prepares the very soul for something higher....

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15 Minutes

HOW MUSIC HELPED ME THROUGH MEDICAL COLLEGE

How quirky are we? wrong; Badshah, Everest , Waghmare it's all there) E)Acrylic 3D pens -Urvashi(05) ( Kya karegi unka??) ##Most common: Condoms once again!!!

15 Minutes

We actually did a survey this year!

We thrust sheets with these questions at unassuming people from 05,06,07 and 08 batches and caught them at their wittiest best!

Sadly many of them decided to remain anonymous with their answers…

Here we have picked out the best for u to read…

Have fun!

1) What is your Dream Possession?

A)University Question Papers a day before exam.

B)Aladdin's chirag - Saima Ansari(06) C)Warden's outfits and accessories(07 Girls) D)Fart collecting machine that will collect all Indians’ fart and release it on terrorists!!

-Nayan(05) ##Most common: MBBS Degree

2) What is the most useless thing you carry in your purse/wallet?

5) How can a medico look 'Cool'?

Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s A)Stetho connected to the coolest of them all earphones, BP apparatus in a mobile.

B)Better watch the serial 'Dil Mil Gaye' for a perfect answer.

C)By 'actually' knowing your Medical stuff - Revathy(05) D)By becoming GS/CS and dancing to 'dard-e-disco' with mashaal in hand!! ##Most common: Never, No way.

Yes master Your wish is my command

Do condoms have expiry dates

A)Moongfali ke daane.

B)Ex-girlfriend's photo.

C)Bills of all fines given to college - Tushar(05) D)Mirror in purse, too small to see anything-- Punam(05) E)ATM slips -Samuel(05) ##Most common: Condoms!!

Mom, I've been kidnapped, send 4000 to my account...over

3) How do you tide over 'end-of-themonth' money crises?

A)I ask my father money for purchasing PG Question Bank of this month.

B)Gulshan to Chinese Corner, ICH to MM,Bourbon to KrackJack and above all, only Missed callsKarthiga(05) C)Boyfriend patalo, paise nikalvao, aish karo (won’t work dears, read the next one) D)Gf ko date pe nahi le jaunga (aisa karoge toh chod dengi) E)Don't pay bai and paperwallah -Sharada(05) ##Most common: Doston mein udhari, Gulab Singh mein account khulwake 4) What do you think is not available in Co-op?

A)Statue of Mahatma Gandhi B)Beer.

C)Jumbo elastic chaddi (80x90cm) D)New faces E)Waghmare masala (You are

6) What disgusts you the most?

A)The fact that person who vomits 'Rattofied' answers gets appreciated.

B)Subah subah doodh wali bai ki awaaz se!!

C)Morning lectures.

D)MGIMS as a school!! ##Most common: Blocked loos and bathrooms in GH&BH.

I think we’d better start defecating in the fields

7) What did your parents give you that needed a lot of pestering?

A)I have preserved my last 'Brahmastra' for accepting the girl of my choice into the family -Ravi Wadke (05) B)Thappad!!

C)My freedom--Sheetal Bodkhe(05) D)Everything I get is only after pestering Please!!please my parents E)The words, “Satan!! Stop possessing my child!! -Samuel(05) ##Most common: Money.

8) Given a chance who would you like to kill?

A)Any politician so that we get a Holiday in college.

B)Murphy for his bloody Law!! -Sharada(05) C)My rank is 30, therefore 29 people ahead of me!!

D)All spiders in my room Punam(05) E)My BF…bore ho gayi hoon…NEXT. F)Hostel mein ghoomne wali billiyan. ##Most common: English Editors of Susruta 09!!

GhajniDharmatma (whatever that means)

Sushruta ‘09

10

A)Jodha Akbar…to save Sujamal, he was very handsome in the movie.

B)Meet Princess Diana--Naemat(05) (Saasu maa banane ka irada??)

C)To Harappan Civilization--Ritesh(05) D)Time when you people were setting such questions so that I could kill you– Yugal(05) Hey gorgeous!! *Wink*wink* E)Flintstones and Jetsons last birth you had promised...

Saat janmon ka saath ##Most common: to my future 14) What do you think were you in your last birth?

A)Amnesia patient, coz I don't remember anything--Sheetal

Kalpana was killed.

Oh Rs.15 Just my luck What wil i do with it?

10)What would you buy for Rs.15?

A)Rs 3 pens x 5 Nitika(05) B)Big maggi+small maggi C)1 dozen kelaas D)1 plate poha bhurji( Rs 13.50)+ 3 polos.

E)Most common: Ice cream Chocolate 11) What is the most tiring job you have ever done?

Sticks by Sharada

Revision...are u kidding me?

AMAZE YOURSELF FOR 15 MINS. CAN'T BELIEVE THEY SAID IT!

A)9:30 pm attendance in GH. B)Completing seniors' journals.

C)Convincing girls about an issue while in organizing batch-- Boys Students Council(05) D)16 hr train journey without sitting--Ritesh(05) E)I don't do any thing that is tiring. ##Most common: Surviving the night before each exam.

12) How can Sewagram become more interesting?

Bodkhe(05) B)I think I am born for the first time--Pankaj Yadav(05) C)Ozzy Osbourne--Robert (05) D)Albert Einstein--Ashish Kamble(05) E)Dhoni Senior--Priyamadhaba Behera(05) F)Ratan Tata's Grandmom--Karthiga(05) ##Most common: Monty Sharma( Himesh Reshammiya in Karrzzz)

Cloud no.9

·A)Demolishing wall between BH and GH -Nayan(05) B)Gulab Singh hatado.

C)Shift Sewagram to my home--Meenu(05) D)Nightclub ##Most common: want Shopping Mall (Wonder where all that money will come from, kitne din tak window shopping karoge??)

13) Given a Time Machine when and where would you like to travel?

HOME

· Theoretically, television may be feasible, but I consider it an impossibility--a development which we should waste little time dreaming about.

- Lee de Forest, 1926, inventor of the cathode ray tube · I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.

- Thomas J. Watson, 1943, Chairman of the Board of IBM · This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.

Western Union internal memo, 1876 · 640KBs ought to be enough for anybody.

- Bill Gates, 1981 · Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous fiction.

- Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872

Sushruta ‘09

11

15 Minutes

9) What tattoo would you like on you? ·A)Stop staring!

B)Hakuna Matata with pictures of Pumba,Timone, Simba and Me -Meeta(05) Wahi tattoo...

C)Shaktimaan (Yay! Woh mela 20 saal pehle...

Bhaiyya!!!

Sewagram has it's own superhero to save us from evil…look out for the tattoo..Pehchaan kaun??)

D)Cardiac cycle, hamesha bhool jati hoon!

E)I am single, straight & available! ##Most common: MGIMS Logo (to honour alma mater)

15 Minutes

I still remember the day!

Dr. Puja Bang, Dept. Of Ophthalmology I was just out of standard XII, all young and naive

But, there was a spark in me to do something brave

And I made a decision which was here to stay That I would be a doctor, I still remember the

But we somehow scraped through, I still

day!

remember the day!

Then, Preventive medicine started taking its

I filled up my forms and paid up my fees

toll

And my new white coat nearly reached my knees

Our incidence and prevalence revolved around the attendance roll

With new instruments in my bag, my head held high all the way

But, in ENT we coughed up ten excuses each day

As I first entered medical school, I still

And we landed up with "Examiner-itis

remember the day!

Externa",I still remember the day!

Seated in the anatomy classroom, we all felt a quiet pride

In Ophthal, we were overwhelmed with optics and lenses

We beamed at each other; we had taken a leap, a huge stride

But the intricacies of squint nearly sent us out of our senses

This is where our foundations, principles and basics lay

It was Medicine that gave us shivers even in the heat of May

We were thirsty for knowledge, I still remember

As we beheld a patient dying with V-Fib, I still

the day!

remember the day!

With the graphs of Physiology, we too rose

Though Obstetrics told us why we must hold women in high esteem

and fell At times the 'pathways' in Biochem would feel like hell But we sailed through the rough waters with Snell’s and Gray's Even when the formalin was unbearable, I still remember those days!

With Skin, Psychiatry, Radio, we began drowning &wanted to scream It was Ortho which 'nailed,fixed' our resolution:we were here to stay!

There was a new spark in our eyes, I still remember the day!

When in Surgery, we were entangled in the study of sutures

But then Pharmacology too wasn't really a

But nonetheless, we dreamt of having shining futures

sweet pill And Forensic actually felt more like a legal drill

Indeed, slowly n' surely we began conquering hurdles, hip hip hurray!

'Slides' in Micro-Path seem like 'roller-coasters' even today

And when we first added Dr. to our names, MY! THAT was THE DAY!

Sushruta ‘09

12

Revathy Krishnamurthy 2005

I call home about ten times a day. The last call at 11.00 pm to say goodnight is my favourite call, it means they'll be cocooned at home safely for at least nine more hours.

You see, my home is in Mumbai, currently the third most dangerous city in the world in terms of risk to human life.

27th July 2005, that was our first day in college. That was also the day when my dad spent 13 hours inside a B.E.S.T bus stuck in the Mumbai floods, totally lost to contact.

Dad reached home the next day and I cried throughout my first day in college.

11th July 2006, we had our last theory univ. exam, Biochem. We got down from the bus at Wardha and when we finally entered the hostel at 8.30 pm after all the fun, the warden was waiting for me at the gate… serial blasts in Mumbai…everyone at home safe?

The phone rang like what seemed a million times. No one was back home.

Déjà vu? Well, it happens all the time. Generally parents follow up their kids but here it's me worrying to death every time they go out. I used to not worry so much when I was there myself… the 2003 Ghatkopar blast was heard at home.

The truth is, I feel miserable and almost guilty for being in a safe place like Sewagram. I feel I have no right to this unworthy advantage over life over my family. I can't wait to go back.

For the whole world, 26th November 2008 was the biggest terror attack on Mumbai- Taj, Oberoi, Nariman House, Ajmal Kasab, ATS, NSG, Hemant Karkare... it shocked everyone to death.

But you know what; this was the first disaster in recent times that did not affect my family directly. I know it sounds frightfully stone-hearted! But this is what happens when you face such a thing so many times; you become numb, almost pitiless to the outer world. You, your family, your friends… that is all is left to it.

Imagine, threat to human life has become an accepted thing in this city! You can't wake up everyday thinking this may be the last. And then the leaders of the nation leave it all to the much lauded 'Mumbai spirit' to put things right.

The movie 'A Wednesday' starring Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah conveys this message beautifully. Now is it really for the common man to take over the safety issue of the city? Be it from terror attacks or the floods…

P.S: A doctor in Mumbai tried to test the security in the city in 'Naseeruddin Shah' style a few days back. He was promptly put behind bars! The headlines? 'Overzealous doctor finds himself in prison'!!!

Change begins with choice Meenu Kashyap 2005 'God please help me today.

Somehow please let me overcome this obstacle. I promise that from now on I will change myself and work regularly and will rock the next time. But please help me today.' Ever heard this statement? I bet you have. I bet you have uttered this statement more than the number of times you can count. But do you do what you promised? Nope, I don't think so.

We keep on blaming the circumstances for our present condition. We keep on criticizing the things around us. We keep on blaming the lack of time. We keep on blaming it on our habits.

We keep on making lame excuses. We keep saying that the things cannot be changed. But let me tell you, it is us who can make a change.

Any day we wish we could discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish we could open the book that will open us to new knowledge.

Any day we wish we could start with something new.

Any day we wish we could start the process of life change. We can do it immediately or the next day or the next week or the next month or not do it at all.

We pretend rather than perform. If the idea of having to change ourselves makes us feel uncomfortable we remain as we are. We choose rest over labour and

doubt over confidence. But while we curse the effect we nourish the cause. We created our circumstances by our past choices. We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today.

Those who are in search of a good life do not need more answers or more time to think for better change. They need the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth. We can allow errors in our judgment, repeated everyday to lead us down the path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make a big difference in how our life works. And then we must make the changes that will make our life work.

Shakespeare once Wrote and I quote, 'The fault is not in the stars but in ourselves.

If we don't like the way the things are, then we can change them! We have the ability to totally transform everything in our life and it all begins with just our choice!!!

Sushruta ‘09

13

15 Minutes

NUMB

CRY OF INNOCENCE

15 Minutes

Samuel Lalhruaizela 2005 I lay beneath the eyes of the watchman, Knowing not my path or troubles to unfold.

Yet, I blindly strive to reach my destiny; Ahead, alone, amidst the tempest.

My eyes cannot see through the mist that surrounds me; Ignoring the silence of the wind that abides me.

When tears go dry life is slowly fading, And the body soon to depart from the conscience of the mind.

The heart grows cold and the soul lay unrest; The light above is slowly fading.

Thinking of life and why we are here…

What art Thou created yet hath so forsaken?

I fly like an eagle On the wings of an angel Free as a river down the waterfall Yet, I see no blue sky so clear as without a storm Just as the rainbow follows the rain, In the end it's a Cry of Innocence.

(This song is about Life and its struggles. Human beings are all like a blindman going forward yet not knowing what is in front of him. He strives ahead in the face of evil and temptations. At times we question why God creates man and keeps him in this world only to suffer and end…

But the truth is that all these are a part of what we call Life. These are just the complaints, the cries, of an ignorant and innocent mind who does not know what life is all about. Life is about Happiness, joy and freedom. Life is about sorrow, suffering and death. This is Life…)

CONTRASTING COLOURS Preetam Salunkhe 2008 T h e paradox of time we are living in is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wild expressways but narrow viewpoints. We are spending more but having less; we buy more but enjoy less. We have bigger houses but smaller families, more appliances but less time. We have more degrees but no commonsense, more knowledge but less judgments, more experts but no solutions! Better gizmos & larger illnesses.

We have learnt to make a living but not a life. We are adding years to life but no life to our years. We have been to the moon but find difficulty

in welcoming our neighbors. We have conquered the outer space but not our inner self. We are doing larger things but not better things.

We have cleaned up the air but polluted our soul. We have conquered the atom but not our prejudice. We have built computers to earn more and more but we communicate less and less.

We have created e-mail and abbreviated our conversations.

These are times of fast foods and slow digestions. Big man small characters. Steep profits shallow relationships. We have fancier houses but broken homes.

The more contrasting colors you search for, the more you find.

Analyze… think…think intelligently! If we change our attitudes towards life then surely these positive and negative extremes are going to be nullified.

Be simply enthusiastic, cheerful, learn to enjoy, learn to dream, live to fulfill them, smile to empower them. Live life king size, snatch away all the joys and then it is your turn to be happy and jolly…ALWAYS!!!

Sushruta ‘09

14

Sharada Sundaramurthy 2005 This is for all those who are not very familiar with the miracle- of-amachine on wheels- The Auto rickshaw. A miracle only in Wardha due to the sheer ingenuity and management skills of the autowallahs. And the rest for whom it is a way of life, just sit back and nod your head. The funda to be learnt is 'Maage pudhe houn basa!!' In Hindi 'Aage peeche hoke baitho!!'

For starters one will never have trouble finding an Auto to one's desired place because the autowallahs incessantly question if your destination is same as theirs. (For e.g. Wardha hai kya Wardha?) The fact that you are aimlessly walking on the road is never ignored.

If you decide to use an auto an important question to ask the autowallah is 'Savari auto hai ki special?' A Savari auto is one where the auto carries at least 8 people priced at Rs 10 per seat… A Special auto is one where you get to travel alone or with one of the autowallah's buddies for Rs 60. Now let me address the fact that made your jaw drop... 'At least 8 people!!!' A seemingly impossible feat accomplished day in and day out…how???

Simple… Maage pudhe houn basa!!!

A technique invented keeping in mind the angulations and dimensions of the human body…The back seat which is built for 3 people seats 4 people wherein, 2 people on one end sit with their backs glued to the back of the seat and the 3rd sits on the edge so that the 4th who gets in, shoves his behind into the leftover space on the seat (a specific technique mastered only with practice) VOILA!! 'Maage pudhe houn basa' accomplished! And while you try to accomplish this he and the other passengers will look on patiently and provide much needed encouragement by chanting 'sarka, sarka, maage pudhe houn basa, maage pudhe, maage pudhe!!' The seating of the other 4 people has variations…2 may sit on the driver's seat (yes makes one wonder where does the driver sit??) 2 others sit on the dividing bar facing forwards or backwards (it is not expected for 'ladiez' to sit facing forwards but if you offer to do so it is only accepted gladly albeit with lot of amusement) And no, the big hearted autowallahs never say no to a traveler on the basis of girth that might hamper their seating arrangement because they have spare space available…the place for luggage!! As it turns out it is the most comfortable seat in the auto because you can sit with your legs stretched out and if tired you can take a nap too!!! The 9 (including the autowallah) fit neatly into each other like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

And if you feel uncomfortable, cramped or doomed he makes provisions for you to chill out to the choicest Himesh Reshammiya songs. He'll start to hum along with his stereo, then break into a sing along 'Naam tera tera' and you can join in too (I have, more than once!!) Though not an avid fan I truthfully believe no other musician's work can do justice to that microenvironment!! But then like a master magician all their tricks are not visible to the untrained eye…how they make 10 or even 11 people fit inside the auto is an unsolved mystery!

I am waiting for the day petrol prices escalate to such an extent that the autowallahs will have to make seating arrangements on the roof of the vehicle to increase seating capacity!!! Now that'll be a joyride I wouldn't want to miss!!!

LAUGH FOR 15 MINUTES There was this case in a hospital's Intensive Care ward where patients always died in the same bed and on Sunday morning at 11 a.m., regardless of their medical condition. This puzzled the doctors and some even thought that it had something to do with the supernatural. No one could solve the mystery ..... as to why the deaths at 11 AM. So a worldwide expert team was constituted and they decide to go down to the ward to investigate the cause of the incidents. On the next Sunday morning, a few minutes before 11 a.m., all of the doctors and nurses nervously

waited outside the ward to see for themselves what the terrible phenomenon was all about.

Some were holding wooden crosses, prayer books, and other holy objects to ward off the evil spirits ... Just then, when the clock struck 11... Phil, the part-time Sunday sweeper, entered the ward and unplugged the life support system so that he could use the vacuum cleaner!!!!!!!

Sushruta ‘09

15

15 Minutes

JOYRIDE… RS. 10/- ONLY

15 Minutes

From the diary of an Indian

Rishi Rajat Adhikary 2006

48th week

NOVEMBER 2008

N SSMTWT FS SM T W T F S SM O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 V 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

THURSDAY

27

It is quite unusual for me to even look away from my textbooks while my university exams are going on. But today, I have things to say, I have a story to tell and a point to make. So, I am writing this.

Today, I have the time. The Forensic Medicine and Toxicology paper that was scheduled to be held today from 1430 hrs has been postponed indefinitely. The reason, a few terrorists had entered the Hotel Taj, Oberoi hotel and the Nariman house at the financial capital of India- Mumbai. The incidence took place last evening. There are already hundreds dead or injured and those that are alive are either apprehended or are in a state of shock. It is hard to believe that this inhuman manslaughter was done in the name of religion, that in the name of religion these youths were misguided. People who have hardly understood their religious texts (or sometimes have hardly read them) go on to become masterminds in various militant organizations. The problems are many.

My intention is not to discuss the problems. It would be the topic for the TV channels and the media for the next couple of months. I have just one intention- to tell my story- the story of an Indian. The story dates back to November 21, 1988- the day I passed out of my mother's womb into this world. My mother recalls, it was 1428 hrs- the time I cried for the first time. What a paradox is life! You cry at your birth, others smile; and you smile as your soul departs, others cry.

It was nearly 2000 hrs when, as my mother recalls, the doctor got time to do the postpartum duties. That makes five and a half hours delay-the height of negligence on the part of the doctor! Besides, my mother was also given a packet of distilled water that was meant to be my first food (a usual practice of those days, totally wrong according to the concept of “exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months”). Yet, I was nearly 6 hours old and my tiny stomach was totally empty. My stomach needed something to be filled with. On the other hand, my mother was fearful of feeding her first child with her then inexperienced hands. So, there I lay with an apprehensive Ma and a packet of water. It is a situation that is still common in this country, with only one and a half doctors for every 1000 people. But my Ma has always been an excellent manager. So, there she lay in the labor room with no professional help by her side and the family members had been sent home. However, there was someone else in the room- a Muslim woman th having completed her 4 delivery.

My family despised Muslims-the cause was the partition of India and the subsequent migration of a penniless family into this country. But the time had come where this age-old enmity, probably meaningless, needed to be resolved. It needed to be resolved for the sake of the stomach of a few hours old baby- yet unnamed, unexplored, uncorrupted and most importantly unfed. So, my mother requested and the lady smiled and readily accepted to feed me with the packet of water. Thus, I was transferred from an apprehensive hand to a more experienced one.

There I lay, in the hands of that angel and it was there that I had the first meal in my life- a packet full of water. Yes, a Hindu Brahmin by birth, I was fed for the first time by an angel who happened to be Muslim. Today, nearly two-thirds of my body contains the water that had its origin from the hand of a benevolent Muslim lady.

Later I was sent to a Jesuit society school. I was imparted Biblical values at school. Many of my teachers have been Reverent Fathers and Brothers. At the same time, my family members imparted Hinduism to me. And so, 2 great religions impacted me in my impressionable school going years.

Sushruta ‘09

16

“Art is long and time is fleeting.”

So let us fight together as Indians, dream together as Indians and win together as Indians.

Let us consider ourselves, Indians first and Indians last!

-'Jai Hind'

PRESENT Meeta Maheshwari 2005 Moments go by in the current of time, Just as Life goes on and the world goes by.

Just as the tide goes by, with us standing about, …Wishing always that it could be another day or another night.

Anything other than the moment that we are in…

do not know, It is present that counts..

Neither the past nor the future…

Because it will be a part of our future Because it is what we have in our hands….

Because it is only present we can influence…

Only the present we can make…

Only this moment which is now….

With which we can play.

Just waiting for something more to come by….

Waiting for someone else to walk beside…

Never living in the moment that we have now…

Never happy with the life that we have for the moment…

Waiting to seek happiness in something we have never seen….

With someone we have never known..

In a moment we may never have…

In the life we may never live…

Rather trying to find that happiness in present We keep searching in the future…

And when the future comes we regret the moment that is past….

But never do we realize that it is the moment now that will be our past And that will be the one making our future…………

It's the present that counts …Not the past….

Because past is done and past is gone….

It's present that counts, …Not future….

Because future is unknown and what it stores we

Sushruta ‘09

17

15 Minutes

Thus, my life may be a perfect example of the southernmost point of this country-the coast of Kanyakumari, where three large water bodies converge. The waters form waves that become inseparable and constantly wash the feet of this unique country. I am Hindu by birth, Muslim by an act of sheer compassion and Christian by education. Besides, I am Bengali by birth and was brought up in Maharashtra.

Today, I am dedicating my life understanding medicine at a rurally located medical college, watching closely, the heart of India- its villages.

As an Indian, I think that we need to come together in support of the people of Mumbai. Come together, as Indians, leaving behind all the conflicts we have. Today we need each other to make India a superpower.

15 Minutes

Woh kaan thi!

Dr. Kishore Shah 1974 Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Matruseva Hospital,Pune

My wife is an ENT Surgeon while as I am a Gynaecologist. (In fact, we had nearly called our hospitaThe 'Holey' Family hospital but are now waiting for our son to be Proctologist and marry an urologist.) This can lead to some complications, as I recently learned to my anguish. A General Dr. Kishore Shah Practitioner phoned me up and told me that she as sending a patient of hers for an abortion. Unknown to me, she had also referred a female with earwax for removal of the wax to my wife.

I duly informed the receptionist to send the patient right in as she was expected (and expecting!) As Murphy lays down the laws of our hospital, it was but natural that the patient who wanted the wax removed from her ear, anded up with me. This is the conversation that I had with the patient.

"Please come in. Be seated." I said with a big smile. I always have a big smile, when I am going to earn some money. The patient gave a feeble smile and sat hesitantly on the edge of the chair.

"Relax."

"Doctor, will this hurt a lot?"

"Not at all.”

The patient relaxed visibly. "You know something, Doctor; we tried removing it at home, but failed."

I was shocked. "Thank God. Trying this at home can cause serious complications.”

"I first tried to remove it by jumping up and down, but it just wouldn't budge."

I smiled and said, "If it were that easy, who would need doctors?"

She gave a cute smile and said, "Yeah! My neighbour tried to remove it with his finger, but the hole is so small that he used a hair pin."

"Oh my God!" These people really had dangerous neighbours!

"Yes! My mother even tried a matchstick."

My blood pressure was shooting skywards. I just sputtered without uttering a word.

“Tell me, doctor, how do I avoid getting this dirt inside me?"

I knew that it was an unwanted pregnancy, but calling it dirt was too much.

I replied a bit angrily, "There are tablets which can prevent this happening. Or you could use protection at night."

Now it was the patient's turn to be confused, "You mean to say that it happens only at night?"

I saw her point. "No! No! I meant anytime of the day, whenever you are in the mood, you should use protection."

She was even more confused, "It depends on my moods?"

Again I saw her point. "My mistake. You need not be in any sort of mood. It just happens."

"My neighbour advised me to go to one of those chaps who sit by the road side."

"You mean that pin man?"

"Yeah!"

This neighbour of hers seemed to be a very dangerous man. Besides usingpins, he was sending her to such quacks. The only safety he knew was among the pins. "You were wise not to heed his advice."

"But I tried his other advice. He told me to put warm oil inside and wait.

However, that also did not work."

This was getting more and more bizarre. Her neighbour deserved to be locked up either in a padded cell or a barred one."But have you taken your husband's permission?"

Now the patient looked confused. "Do I have to take my husband's permission? Because if you need his sign, he is working in Dubai. We were not able to meet for the last one year."

It was my turn to be shocked. I gave a sly smirk. It was one of 'those' cases. The pin-wielding neighbour seemed to me the usual suspect. I reassured her. "No! No! The husband's sign is not at all needed."

"However, I did inform him on phone.”

Her husband seemed to me a very broad-minded fellow. I didn't know whether to congratulate her or to commiserate with her. So I hastily turned to other aspects. "It's good that you came a bit early.”

"Actually I wanted to come early in the morning, but I had some other work."

"Oh! I did not mean early today. I meant that if you had delayed this removal, it would have started moving. Then it would have developed a heartbeat."

Sushruta ‘09

18

"Oh, only slightly more than your menstrual period and it will continue only for a week or so."

By now the patient was clutching her hair in her fingers and staring at me wide-eyed. I asked her soothingly, "Why don't you lie down on the examination table? Remove your underclothes and relax."

This was the final straw. "WHAT?!! I need to remove my clothes so that you can see my ear??" She didn't even wish me goodbye. I saw just a blur of motion leaving my consulting room at top speed. She didn't even stop to hear my "WHAT?”.

I too rushed out behind her, but she was long gone. I turned to my receptionist despairingly and said, "Who Kaan Thi!!!”

SOUL SEARCHING FOR 15 MIN… GOD, WHY ME? Pranali Thool 2008 Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was diagnosed with AIDS. He received letters from his fans all over the world, one of which said, “Why did God have to choose you for such a disease?”

To this Arthur Ashe replied, “All over the world more than 5 crore children start playing tennis, 50 lakh learn to play tennis, 5 lakh learn to play professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the Grand Slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 the semi-final, 2 the final. When I was holding the cup I never asked God why me? And today when in pain should I ask why me?”

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15 Minutes

The patient was staring at me wide eyed as if watching a horror movie. Looking at her face, I decided that she was not fit to listen to the grotesque details. I decided to relieve her a bit. I said, "You will bleed a bit, but only for a few days."

By now, the poor patient was trembling, "How-H-How much bleeding?”

15 Minutes

Searching for love Tushar Parmeshwar 2005

“Hey, hi Wipin, how are you?” I asked him …Wipin is my friend of 4 years, since the time of PMT coaching.

“I am going on a date!” he answered in an excited tone.

“WHAT, but you were crying last night over your break up with Shweta!!!” Shweta was his girlfriend of 6 months. Nothing was serious until they broke up last night.

“Yeah I liked her” he said in a plain note.

“Thank God!” I was relieved that he was back to his normal self and there would be no more stupid tears.

“With whom are you going out?” I inquired.

“I am going speed dating” he answered.

That was the time I just couldn't help but admire the new concept of ''Speed dating!!'' Living in big cities helps you to get first hand knowledge about stuff like dating but it was not until that day that I realized its worth. I mean though there is something like 'true love' and 'soulmate', you still have to interact with others to find them.

Not more than half a decade ago, a break up would have meant tearful eyes, red cheeks, an inflamed nose, a choked throat and ample profit for Jagjit Singh. It would have continued for months in most break ups even though it would be just mutual flirting. In the past, Wipin would have faced loneliness for a long time before he would find a relationship to get into. But not any more, thanks to an age where Maggi- the 2 minute noodles rules the stomach, the heart too doesn't have to wait any longer. There are big boons like speed dating,blind dating, and internet dating.

In a world where variety is the spice of life, speed dating is the coolest thing to happen. Some say, sometimes even a lifetime is not sufficient to know others, but sometime even a second is enough to find out someone. Speed dating provides both. In it you can meet a number of other sex, but you have just 4 to 7 minutes to interact with them. And then you can decide with whom you want to have a relationship and find out whether he/she is the one made for you. It is nothing new, but just a modification of an old Jewish dating technique to work in today's world. Those who don't believe in love at first sight should try it. I bet they will start believing it (not that you will experience it).Speed thrills and love sells. Combine them and you get a super combination of love in the fast lane, speed dating.

“Blind dating”. It is something very age old which you would all have done sometime or the other, but just didn't know what to call it. I will give an example, all of you in your high school or college

would have surely asked your friends to introduce you to their female friends. If they did arrange your meeting with her- congrats! You had just gone for a blind date! Who doesn't love surprises and I tell you blind dating can spring up more surprises than you can ever imagine.

Talking of surprises there is something called internet dating, popularly also called as cyber dating but I will prefer to call it “cyberia” (I always wanted to coin a new term) with ample potential to surprise you. Beneath the subliminal layers of metro sub culture, where you don't know who lives next door, cyberia provides a perfect platform for souls to unite. But let me tell you-- be prepared to witness differences in perception. What people write about themselves and what you actually find out, are poles apart.

People say dating is not Indian culture, agreed. They say it is not a good thing. Sorry we don't agree. When we can ingrain western movies, food,

education, clothes then why not dating? It's only helping you to find your better half and in the process make some new friends. Nothing is wrong if done within limits and intact morals. What we call a crowd on a railway station becomes 'atmosphere' in a night club. What needs is just a change in perception.

People complain that new generation does not value relations. What they fail to see is that we are making new relations, but not leaving old ones.

There's someone with whom you feel different, you feel wanted, you feel complete, you want to spend your whole life and till you find him/her keep enjoying with others. But if you find her like I have (details will be in next edition), don't ever lose her.

Till then ……..KEEP DATING……!!!!!

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The Final Level Ashwini Kalantri 2004

Talking about pregnant… there is Obstetrics and Gynecology. As if dealing with girls isn't enough, now

..An X-ray on Bladder stone,

you have to study their health problems. And honestly,

luckily a specimen of bladder

why would a girl come to you and tell you about her

stone, a clamp, autoclaving,

menstrual irregularities? But if she does come…

hernioplasty, fibula, the

congratulations for reasons more than one!!

Austin Moore hip prosthesis

They even go to their doctors even when they are not

and I was done!!! That was

sick. Dude, who goes to a doctor when you are fine?

the final 20 mins of my last

They just have a faulty body, but lets not go into that.

exam. And what a relief it is. I

What I am trying to tell its no easier than the other

came out of the surgery seminar room at about 5

subjects. And when then the examiner asks you how

and didn't realize what just happened. This is what I

does a couvelier uterus look like, you think you were

have been waiting for not just for the last few

better off with your girlfriend asking you if she looked

months, but for the last 4 years, maybe longer.

fat in her new dress!

As most of us know, getting past this torturous

Lets have those hands together for… Surgery! In the

obstacle race is no easy task. To add to all this, you

beginning its so cool. No matter what the problem is,

have the professors. They lurk in the darkness of the

all you have to do is cut! That must be easy. Cut

hospital corridors. Constantly observing your every

Resect Close! That's an easy drill. And its so manly!

move, and when the time is right, they would pounce

But by the time you have finished reading about the

on you. And as you go further ahead in the race, the

kidney and the man organ, you will have no idea what

harder it gets. Its just like that video game we all play.

so ever about what to cut, what to resect and what to

Well… a lot harder!! And what's hardest is … The Final

connect!! Its all just Blah-Blah-ectomy.

Level.

And finally… Medicine. Thinking of this as 'just a

When it starts, you don't know what's in store for you.

subject' would be a blunderous mistake. That's right…

You are all cheerful having just passed the pre-finals.

that's how big a mistake it would be!! It's the mother of

Its 3/4th done you say… just one more year and

all of them. It's a real cocktail. You add up everything

BAAAM!!, I will be a doctor. Folks! Its easier said than

you are supposed to learn about the human body

done. Back then in February, you are carefree, hoping

how it works, how it doesn't work and how to make it

to organize a function or two and have your share of

work and mix them well and you are done! That's

fun at the Gathering. Its just 4 more subjects, what's

medicine for you. But the problem is, unlike a cocktail,

all this hype the seniors are creating. I can handle

it just doesn't go to your head.

that… right? Wrong!! Those four subjects may look

That would be the study part, I didn't even mention the

harmless and simple, but believe me, as your exams

fortnightly ward leavings, the case taking, the clinics,

approach, you are going to wish you had

the classes, the peer pressure, parental pressure, the

never…ever… even thought of wearing that white

short attendance… and the list goes on…

coat or putting a stethoscope to your ear.

But that's nothing to worry, everyone goes through

Let me tell you what I am talking about…

that. So can you… RIGHT?

Behold… Pediatrics!! Now don't go by the name. This little boy will pull hair out of your nostrils, cry all day, poop all over you and finally make you feel like you are full of it. These children, even when they are normal, they aren't! They are this alien life form, completely different from the adult human. They act differently, they sleep differently, they even get sick differently.

When you thought the children must be the easiest to handle, look at the expression on the face of a mother

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15 Minutes

of two who just found out that she is pregnant!

Ravi Wadke 2005

15 Minutes

Yeh Dosti….

Staying miles away from your home makes you feel nostalgic and you miss your old friends, especially those who are not medicos!

You miss them for the different fields they are working in now, which brought them to a life that is totally different from yours. Here I would mention my friend Omkar, who is a team leader in an international call center. His biological clock is also now ticking according to the Australian time (besides the thing that, I cannot make out anything from the Australian ascent he has developed ).Then there is Sujoy pursuing training for commercial pilot licence in USA (I bet he is also after a hot firangi air hostess).

You miss them for the respect they have in their eyes for you and of-course for the unforgettable moments you spent with them. In junior college, I used to get into fights and then Rohit D'costa (a boxing champ with a six feet tall frame) used to act as my saviour. I owe a lot to him for my present normal functioning body. In school, I used to make fun of Shweta Balan and complained about her to the teacher. But she herself is a school teacher now( I fear she may use her wooden ruler to take revenge on me).

Most Medicos would be sharing the same feeling (rather a tragedy) with me when I say that ,our nonmedicos friends start earning far before we do. My friend Uttam Vyas is a full-fledged businessman now. He respects me, for he thinks that a doctor is himself not less than an entrepreneur in the ever-growing health care industry. Nisha Singh is a manager in a reputed firm (she is buying a car, all by her own salary and has promised me a long drive in it).All this really makes us feel envious, but then the brighter side is that, they pay for the treats till we start earning.

I know that, all these friends would help me in their own way(in future) in capacity of their profession .Like, Kaustubh is a bank manager now (waiting for the right moment to ask for a loan for my future hospital). This made me realize that, I would obviously be their first choice as a doctor, when they need one. Thus they would be placing their lives in my hands, with full faith in me. This fact scares me, but also motivates me to work harder and attain perfection.

My mom and dad too are my friends who are not medicos. They have done a lot for me. I just love them!

If the new saying would be “ a medico is known by the non-medicos friends he keeps” then surely I am the luckiest guy to have friends like these. But I apologize to my medico friends including my sister for not mentioning them & I promise to do justice with them in my next article --my medico friends.

I can conclude by saying that, both medico and non-medico friends are equally important in the life of a medico!

An Ode Abhishek Kumar Thakur 2008 When I die Bury me not more than six feet deep Well below the learned so none can peep For I died neither of shock nor pain But death was easy and life not at all a gain When I die Bury my books along with me And pray, insects devour them before chewing me, For I hate anything that crawls under shoe, Particularly something that comes gnawing at you

When I die Keep my notes just under my head For nothing got inside as if it were lead, After lunch periods were the toughest to tread And I ended half conscious then and now dead When I die There will be funeral, mourning and cry And you rather come this way than shy away And please tell my darling teachers not to cry After all they are the ones who made me die.

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A few days ago, while I was still floating in a world conjured up by the bonhomie at the reunion of the MGIMS batch of 1984, a dear friend asked if I would write about the reunion for Sushruta. I promptly agreed because this friend of mine has an infectious enthusiasm that is hard to resist. So, here I am, writing about an event that has given us so many fresh memories to cherish, an event that we had eagerly awaited for years together.

Ta l k i n g a b o u t reunions, did you know that Réunion is the name of an island located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about 200 km (130 miles) south west of Mauritius? I didn't, either, till the early summer of 2008, when committee meetings were going on fast and furious to get plans in order for the MGIMS 1984 batch reunion. I was trying to do my bit to help Vijayashree Deotale, and was trying to locate some batch mates on the net when I came across this bit of information. Strange name for an island but I guess everyone is entitled to their choices.

Coming back to the more familiar reunion, Vijayashree was the pillar around whom our batch mates had rallied to bring the event to fruition. She had spent long hours designing an event that was memorable and thoroughly enjoyable. While we were all praise for her, we did realize that it was the quiet support of her family that enabled her to go ahead and manage everything right from scratch. God bless them, and the hard-working organizing team - they deserve every word of praise showered on them.

At the reunion, it came home to us that it was 25 long years since we first entered the portals of MGIMS. It was in this institute that we grew from wide eyed adolescents to confident adults, made long lasting friendships, imbibed values and learnt the art and science of healing. Having said that, it is also true that we have all moved on in life, have passed through some of life's extraordinary journeys, and with that, our roles too have changed. Consequently, we now find ourselves meeting the personal obligations that our parents once were responsible for only a short time ago. Nevertheless, with all these changes, we still eagerly converged on Sewagram in the last week of 2008, to renew old friendships and associations, and to make new ones.

Reunions are great, but nothing compares with the excitement and the curiosity we conjure prior to this Hug Fest. Whether we admit it or not, in our wildest dreams, I am sure all of us wished we could walk into the Big Reunion looking like a million dollars, and with luck, look like we've just stepped out of the pages of Vogue! Very optimistic wishes, in spite of the extra pounds of weight, the receding hairlines, and the streaks of grey hair …… Be that as it may, it was truly awesome to see everyone having matured for the better. The commonest comment doing the rounds was “I didn't know he / she was such a nice person !! How did I not notice that all those years ago?”

Some of us, like Shyam and Seema Kamath, Om Prakash and Nita Sharma, Aradhana Gupta, Chandan Agarwal, Dhananjay Deoskar and Renuka Kulkarni had migrated to foreign shores but they still braved the skies to make it to the reunion with their families in tow ! Distance does make the heart grow fonder !

Then there were those among us who had found their soulmates within the batch Atul and Madhabi Dev Burman, Sanjeev and Surekha Kishore, Shyam and Seema Kamath, Ashok and Renuka Bhaskar and Om Prakash and Nita Sharma. It was such a joy to see them with their children! I am sure the children were most excited to see the place that had brought their parents together all those years ago.

Talking of the children, it was really fascinating, and heartening, to see them getting along with each other as if they had known each other all their lives ! The camaraderie was aptly summed up by Renuka and Ashok's son, Aditya, who, after leaving Sewagram, asked his mother if they could have a reunion every day!

Brajpal Tyagi, Murtaza Amreliwalla (Irfan), Prashant Fulzele and Prasad Deshmukh had worked hard to help Vijayashree put things together for the reunion God bless them ! Nishi Bala Gupta, Amarchand, Ashwini, Karan Balani, Fateh Singh, Jagmohan Gulati, Sanjeev Sharma, Vijay Deotale ,

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15 Minutes

MILAAP '84

Dr. Prabha Desikan Consultant Incharge, Dept. Of Microbiology Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre

15 Minutes

Alka Borkar and Rajshri Jawade all made certain that the reunion would a memorable one. Irfan had designed a special, unique momento for the batch a clock, with pictures of all batch mates on it it now has pride of place in our drawing room.

It was wonderful meeting our teachers they all looked just the same as they did so many years ago! I am glad that we were able to express our love and gratitude to them for all that we have received from them.

The reunion would not have been possible without constant support from Dr. A.P. Jain and from senior alumni like Dr Poonam Varma Kumar, Dr Badole, Dr. Nitin Gagne and Dr. Dilip Gupta, and many many other well wishers. Special thanks is due to Dr. Shiv Kumar for going out of his way to make us all feel at home. Both Dr Poonam and Dr Shiv Kumar had taken many of our batch mates under their protective wings during their stay in Riyadh so it was a reunion with them again.

COOK IN 15 MINS. RECIPE FOR PANEER TIKKI

masala, turmeric powder & salt. In another frying pan shallow fry paneer pieces and add slit green chillies.

Add the paste to it. Garnish with fresh coriander.

Gunjan 2005 Ingredients:-Paneer, chopped onion, tomato & capsicum, mustard, jeera, green chilly, garlic, dhania powder, chilli powder, garam masala, turmeric powder, coriander, salt.

Add edible oil to a frying pan. Add mustard and jeera.

When mustard seeds pop add chopped onions. As onion become golden brown add tomatoes and capsicum. When cooked add garlic. Stir the paste on low flame. Add chilli powder, dhania powder, garam

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