Teachers from early years

It was 1978, November. Medical college that should have started by June started only in November. There were cases in the university against the admission that continued for about 5 months. Finally, after this long wait, we were Medical students! In those days there were only 2 professions that was considered worth joining - Medicine and Engineering. And between the two Medicine was the elite one! (That is what we thought). So, it is with great anticipation and joy that we joined toe college. Of course, there was the fear of the ragging. But much to our relief there was a court order that our batch should not be subjected to any ragging and should be protected by police! This was because the previous year, a physical assault during ragging had ended in loss of life of a student and mental breakdown of another!

But as we entered the college and the Anatomy dissection halls, and classrooms, we were faced with not too encouraging professors.  Or we felt as if they were not too encouraging. It looked as if they were there to make sure that the lack of ragging should in no way affect us in being “broken in”.

For men shoes will be looked at carefully, if not polished well, we would be sent out of the class. Shoes were mandatory, there were no sneakers those days and any other footwear was nonacceptable. Unshaved faces were a taboo. This continued in to the next five years. I remember, a professor who would start the day, in the ward in third year, running his hand over our faces. This included senior lecturers down to third years, and if anyone had a stubble, Rs 1/- would be collected as a fine. (End of the posting he threw a party with the money he collected!). For women, the dress code was also clear – Sarees and hair put up.

Dissection tables and Laboratory were others place where it was made sure that our dress codes and the way we behaved aligned with what the professors expected. If not, in various ways, it was made sure that we align! Of course, there was the constant communication that you are coming into a profession that is different, that a decorum in dress, manners and behavior was expected. The professor’s role was to see to it that this was communicated clearly in addition to the knowledge and skills that were being given to us. There was no compromise allowed in these early years in knowledge and skills – I will share this more in another blog.

As we went through this “breaking in”, it did not make much sense then. Some took it with fear, some took is seriously, some took it very light. These emotions were evident for the professors to observe. So much so that we were 4 Mathews and each of us was given a nick name by one of professors. Serious Mathew, Shivering Mathew, Silent mathew and Smiling Mathew! (you can decide which one was me). We suffered, tolerated, smiled it through over the next few years and we became doctors though these experiences did not make sense then!

But today, looking back today it makes sense! They were not telling us that you are the elite and cream of the society(that is what we thought!). They were telling us, it is a privilege given to you, recognize the same and align your life to what is expected from a person who has been given such a privilege! The identity of being a doctor was not a “earned one alone” but one that is “bestowed up on you”! And live in gratitude to this fact!

They were telling us - earn the right to be respected as you interact with people, by your dress, your decorum, your behavior and your overall appearance itself! We were expecting others to respect us with our white overalls and stethoscope around our neck! We were being told, respect is to be earned by your behavior and not expected to be bestowed on you!

We were being reminded - you can not be a doctor by knowledge and skills alone, (though you cannot compromise these) but who you are is equally important! What we want to become was upmost in our minds mostly – I wanted to be the best surgeon in the town! But the importance of who are and should be, was being instilled through these “breaking in”!

These were not only taught but role modeled by many of these teachers – lives that influenced the young minds that observed these people.

Something that I need to be reminded each day. It is a privilege to be part of this profession! I need earn the respect by living a life that role models gratitude. Who I am is more important than what I have become!

https://www.kottayammedicalcollege.org/