The Wizard Of Literature

It isn't everyday that a 15 year old decides to write a novel. And it isn't every day that, that 15 year old gets this novel published. To top that, it isn't every day that this 15-yr old, turns out to be your brother!!

Through the single-minded determination, the creative excellence, the thorough understanding of the beautiful subject of Mathematics and the irresistible urge for adventure

Various

I have to talk about so many things that have happened over the past three weeks. Can't wait to get started. Firstly, I was able to watch a live open-heart surgery. We weren't allowed to go into the operation theatre, we watched it on an audio-visual ensemble ( like I had in the Live Laproscopy workshop). Oh My God!, was it breathtaking or what!! I was floored! First time I've ever watched a real heart beat away to glory. It was a Mitral Valve Replacement. The valve had been calicified and stenosed, and they replaced it with a artificial one. The surgery took about 3 and half hours, and I was there throughout. We had to take special permission from our HOU to go and watch it. And, we even had our attendance filed, because of that. Once in a lifetime chance. I want to thank Dr. Inamdar and his team with all my gratitude. Not only did they perform the surgery well, but they also guided us ( half of the 2nd yr batch that was watching) through the entire surgery, explaining even the simplest of steps they carried out. Thank you so much Sir, I will remember this forever! I'll put in some of the pictures and videos we took.

Next on line, was the Medicine term-end. I didn't really get a chance to study a lot for it the preceding weekend. A lot of social obligations:-) But, my point would be, there was no use any way. I suppose you would remember the name of Dr. Dushyant Pawar, who scares the crap out of us, and completely takes our case. Unluckily, we had to present our exam case to him. And, as you would guess, it wasn't very pleasant. I was still able to answer something. But, he totally crapped the guy next to me, out. Well, if I fail this one, it wouldn't be because I didn't know anything. The best part of the entire torture was that I didn't even care how the thing turned out. I just breezed through it all, not feeling one ounce of regret or pain!!!

The Inter-disciplinary Seminar on Thyrotoxicosis got postponed to Jan. I'm a little disappointed. Because, I put in major efforts into the presentation. Oh yeah, this one topples last year's Enzymes by miles and miles. But, on the brighter side, I get to study more for the terminal exam coming up , and after that headache is gone, I can put more effort into this!

Which reminds me, Terminals on our heads now. And the library just beckons almost every second. I wonder how I never seemed to appreciate it before! I'm not worried, but yes, definitely hope to come out better in these terms than the ones last year!!

And there is a change in our timetables now. We have both our lectures in the morning, from 8am to 10am, and the clinical terms from 10am to 1pm. As much as I hated this when it initially started, I end up getting an hour before lunch, which I put into studying religiously. Guess, everything always works out for the best:-)

The posting we have now, is Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM). Not much of a subject, but its a quiet posting.We go to an Urban health Centre, about a 10 min-walk from college, and have a lecture there. Up till now, we've just been into the slums once, to watch a street-play on Dowry, performed by our seniors for the women there. Its nice. I never thought I'd say this, but I seem to like PSM!

Well, thats all I can think of. I am getting irregular with the posts. Just don't have a lot of free time. I hope to study hard, you see. Hopefully I'll write before exams begin ( which would be on Jan 4th, by the way). Otherwise, well, Best of Luck to me, and hope I have a glorious New Year and very good start to it too...

Seista!!

And a very unexpected one too!! We were told that Thursday was declared a government holiday. Alandi yatra. I don't even know why that is a government holiday this year, when there was nothing last year. Any way, point is, Thursday was declared a holiday.
To my utter delight, and the absolute disgust of about 200 other people in college, a low-pressure zone built up in the Arabian Sea. Result: Heavy ( and I mean H-E-A-V-Y) rains, searing winds and dark dreary skies paid homage to the beautiful and warm state of Maharashtra. I remember talking about how much I missed USA, in my last post. And, as if my prayers had been heard, I got New York's climate down here!! Dark clouds, sun hidden behind their thick coat, cold air hitting you in the face as you travel by rickshaw every morning, and rain!!! The feeling of 9pm at 5 pm......I'm telling you, this week has done away with everything called stress and tiredness of last week's.
So, because of the incessant and heavy unseasonal rainfall that we had, the basement of BJ got flooded (as it normally does. But, you wouldn't expect floods in November, would you?), and the PSM department had to cancel our practicals on Wednesday. I decided to attend the Pathology practicals with the other batch. And then decided to bunk Thursday. Of course, at that point, the holiday had been shifted by our college from Thursday to Friday. So, basically, I've got a four day break!! Hurray!!! It is amazing! I already feel all the fatigue ebbing away.
Not that I haven't given myself work to do. I've got Medicine to complete ( rather, START), and I've landed up with one of my favourite things to do: Prepare a presentation!! This one is an Inter-Departmental Seminar on Thyroid Gland. Department of first-year are involved, and I'm doing the Physiology aspect of the gland. It is going to be so much of FUN!! Putting together a presentation on something I loved from last year, is definitely alluring.
And, I started with Immunity in Pathology. Robbins' rocks!! I know it is very long, that chapter, but, it is enjoyable at the same time!!
And, lastly, the weather has returned to normal again. The sun has come out in the open, and yes, the afternoons are again pretty hot as usual. BUT, the past week was one of the best of this year's. I know a lot of damage was done, lot of fishermen are still missing, the winter crops have taken a beating, and lot more.....yet, personally, I probably did need something of this sort to help me pull myself out of the slumber I was in the danger of slipping into.

A Varied Week

This is the first week of second-year, when I've actually felt tired and bored of college. Frankly, I shouldn't be feeling like this at all. It wasn't even 6 days of college. We had a holiday on Monday, and since then its been just 5 days, as usual. But, I am pretty bugged of it all. We haven't done much. In fact, its been an average week throughout. The exception being Wednesday. The day of Borse Unit's OPD has been shifted to Thursday. And our ward is now ward No. 13, as opposed to the earlier No. 15. So we had to go to the ward on Wednesday, instead of the usual OPD.
Sadly, our lecture that day was taken by Dr. Dushyant Pawar. To say the least, he is a little scary. Not lookswise, just the way he speaks. He expects us to know everything, which isn't the case. After all, we're just 2nd year students. And this is our first medicine posting. On top of that, we don't read up a case before taking it. Its always the other way round. So, we were told to take a case to examine Splenomegaly ( the patient also had hepatomegaly. We could actually palpate masses this time, unlike last year) . And, so the first thing we told him was that this was a case of Splenomegaly. But, the chief complaints of the patient didn't match at all. So, to put it in blunt and army-terms, he took our case. Completely. So much so, that the girl presenting the case, ended up in tears, and didn't want to do it any more. If Dr. Pawar is reading this, I'd just like to clarify, I'm not insulting you in any way. I'm just pleading here: We're just students, babies out of first year still trying to find their own footing. Please have mercy, and spare us a little bit.

OPD was pretty good on Thurday. I felt the irregularly irregular pulse for the firt ever time, and an irregular heart-beat too. The girl suffered from atrial fibrillation.

Our case on Friday was one of Pneumonia. This was taken by another lecturer. This experience was poles apart from the previous one. He showed us the systemic examination of Respiratory system. I learnt a lot. And, of course, at the end of the lecture, we had a lot to read up on our own. One thing, however, I do have to mention here. Stuff taught in Physiology is just a baseline. It is applied, not word-to-word, in other branches of the field. And this is true in the case of Clinical Examination of the systems.

Our HOU ( Head of Unit), Dr. Borse himself took a lecture on CNS. He made it look very simple. Of course, its not. But, he has a very different style of teaching. Methodical, concise and ver clear. This was easily the best lecture we've had all term.

Well, so because I was so bored of college, I decided to attend a workshop on Laproscopic Surgery, held in Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, here. Yesterday was the Live Surgery session. Its the first time I've attended it, so obviously it was very, very, very gruelling. We watched 14 cases in the entire day. These included Inguinal Hernias ( direct and indirect), Incisional Hernia, Cholecystectomy, Gjostomy, Rectoplexy, Hysterectomy, Appendicectomy. There was also an MIPH ( Minimally Invasive Partial Haemorrhoidectomy) which got postponed. They were extremely well-done, and all successful. It was definitely a day of learning a lot. But, of course, it did take a toll on me. I don't think I'll be watching surgeries for some weeks at least. :-) However, the session did get me interested, and now I can say, that I would include 'watching surgeries' as one of my favourite pasttimes. And I feel that's an achievement in itself. I, obviously, am developing an interest for them.

The Student Council has finally formed its committees, and everyone is neck-deep into work. We went to our Juniors on Thursday to talk about the magazine. Of course, our reaction was one of " How dead can a batch be?!" Normally, annoucers of announcements ( thats a funny phrase :-)) encounter a lot bench-tapping, ssshhhh noises, claps, chatters all around, and everything that we can do to make them feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, and forced to raise their voices to decibels unknown. But, we got pin-drop silence, a serious and eerie atmosphere, and the feeling that the people we were talking, weren't exactly awake! That's a batch!! A first, really.

And I guess that is it. Studying is part and parcel of the whole thing. I only seem to mention it when things aren't going my way, or I'm simply out of topics to talk about. So, just a line here, its going well. I'm not exactly worried about it. Hopefully, this week would be less boring and definitely more interesting that last week has been. But, then, its probably a case of 'high apple pies in the sky'!

P.S.

1. I'm missing my vacation of last Diwali. Every day I think about that day in the USA last year.....

2. Our college magazine needs a name. We're thinking of a Marathi name or a medical term. Help would be gratifyingly appreciated.

3. Our seniors, exam-going now, are thoroughly bored of their PLs. Give them their way, and they'd finish their exams this week itself..

Students' Council - 2009

I have left out one of the most interesting events of 2nd year. And the event is the formation of the new Students' Council. There are the following posts:
1. General Secretary (GS)
2. Joint Secretary (JS)
3. Cultural Secretary (CS)
4. Sports' Secretary (SS)
5. Ladies' Representative (LR)
This year two new posts have been added. One is of the Academic Secretary (AS) and another of the Magazine Secretary (MS). The latter has come into being, because the BJ magazine has been re-introduced. The magazine used to be published every year during my parents' time. But, due to financial constraints, it had to discontinued. Last year, the Students' Council decided to publish it again, and so, now we have a post and funding from the college for the same.
Now, each of these Secretaries has to form a committee of their own, and there is also a general committee. And, we hope that the Council will help improve the college; more than the previous years.
Of course, at a time like this, internal politics play a very important role. In fact, the change is seen in some of the most unexpected people. Luckily, there are no elections as such. The system of voting for the best guy, with all the campaigning and all was discontinued a long time back. Now, a group of our Professors, including Dean and Dep. Dean, interview the candidates, and accordingly choose the best. This year, there wasn't much to choose from, as almost all the posts had one claimer each to start with. All, except the ones of GS and SS. Mostly, people interested decide amongst themselves before submitting the applications, to prevent any bad blood in between themselves. Well, college is college after all, politics included.
Moving into the academic part of college, Microbiology hasn't yet started with their schedule. Pathology started yesterday ( although the practicals were held before that). The one department that never seems to take a holiday is the Pharmocology department. They are always the first people to start. So, we've started with lectures and practicals, and we even finished a tutorial yesterday on "Pharmacotherapy of Cough". Nice.....also because I'd prepared it pretty well.
Well, I guess thats it. The Medicine postings are turning out to be rather boring. We take a case, and then nobody has the time to take a lecture on the same. But, the situation is definitely better that what we had in Surgery. So, thank God!! We've got a 3 day break and I hope to start studying from the point of view of the terminals coming up in December. And, I WILL make progress here. I swear to myself.

End Of Holidays

It is the second-last day of the Diwali Holidays, and I really look forward to going back to the routine of college-life. The break from college has been good. I managed to complete most of my journal-work, and I look forward to getting them corrected ( and, maybe a few comments of " Nice drawing!!" ;-)) ).
We had the election last week, when I voted for the first time. I haven't received my Voters' ID yet, but, my name being in the list, I was able to exercise the right to vote. It was interesting, although had I gone a little earlier, I wouldn't have had to wait for as long as I did. It took about an hour to complete the entire procedure.
The results came out day before yesterday, with Congress-NCP being the ultimate winners by quite a margin. Not just in Maharashtra, but also in the other two states where the Vidhan Sabha elections were held. The final decision of Chief Minister will be made in a few days time. Till then, we the public, have the reactions of BJP and Shivsena to entertain us. It hasn't been a good year for BJP, with both Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections not going their way.
Among all these proceedings, MNS has had a vital role to play. The ultimate result did show that all the glamour and media surrounding them did have its effect. They grabbed 13 seats.
I'm just really interested because I voted. But, since Politics isn't a strength of mine, I'll stop here..

Happy Diwali!!

A very Happy Diwali and a Prosperous New Year to all my fellow Bloggers.
It seems like last Diwali was ages ago....and well, it sort of was. Last year we didn't spend Diwali here. We were busy travelling through the wonders of USA during this time. So this year, I actually had to rack my brains a little to think back to 2 years ago, when it came to Diwali decorations. The holidays have been very refreshing. I haven't studied much. I still plan to finish one subject ( mostly, Microbiology) before college starts on 26th.
And frankly, I think I'll be able to do it. So here's it is to Diwali 2009.

100/100

Every person strives to achieve that 100/100. In all spheres of life. 100/100 is perfection, it is the ultimate dream, and to some ( like in college), it is a dream that never bothers to come true. Here, in BJ, students attending a 100% are considered mad, insane, eccentric... whatever you may want to pick out. They are not considered 'Normal'.
And so, all these terms are being applied to me. Because, I have managed to garner a 100% attendance in both lectures and practicals in Pharmacology. It actually isn't a big deal. But, I am the ONLY person in a batch of 170 students having these credentials, so, yes, I have every right to feel proud of myself for it. This wasn't intentional. Its just that, I love 2nd year so much, its hard to stay at home, knowing that I have a lecture to attend. Add on the opportunity to drive the car whenever I have an 8 am lecture.....well, who said incentives don't work??
So the result is that I have a perfectly clean sheet, and now, I intentionally want to keep it so. I don't know how long I'll be able to do that, but its worth a try, right? So, keep trying guys...... :-)

College Life

I can't describe in words how great I feel attending college. Even coming back home and having to study for some hours on the trot doesn't seem all that uninviting. The thing about 2nd year is that, you can afford to give yourself time off. I don't bunk college at all. Its an 8 to 5 schedule. So, my day starts off with a mini breakfast before 8 am ( mini, because I am SLOW, and I never have enough time to finish it all), another mini after 9 am, clinical terms from 9:30 am ( umm, actually 9:45 am) to around 11:30 am, if we're lucky or unlucky as you might want to interpret. The point is, I've got a Unit where there are no patients, no OTs, and a boring OPD on every Wednesday. Our Chief-Resident ( CR) wants to teach us, unlike the Junior Residents ( JR) and the Lecturer, who aren't bothered. But, when you don't have cases, you can't help it. So mostly all those hours are free-time, when I do end up studying a bit. We then have a lecture at 12pm, lunch from 1 pm to 2 pm, and practicals from 2pm onwards.
The advantage of practicals is that we have batches of 100. So, mostly, there is absolutely no need to have lab-partners or groups of five according to roll nos., as we had it last year. So, I get more time with my group of friends not only during the lectures, but also during practicals. And friends are the food and water of college life. So, I'm just having so much fun!!!!
Its also the first time, when as a student I'm not under pressure. And the experience of 1st year helps. So, I'm being regular with the academic work, and enjoying myself. It is fulfilling to sleep every night around 11, kmowing that you have done yourself some good. And being around People like Shreya and Neha ( the two up-to-date friends I'm close to) gives me the incentive to work everyday to ensure I keep up with them.
Celebrations of my birthday ( 14th sep) were the best I've had. My group of friends ( 5 out of 8) went shopping on the 12th (Saturday), to buy me a top. They had quite a task at hand, because I'm terribly thin, and the smallest of tops hang loosely on me. But they did it!!! They got me a black and white top, with balloon frills on the sleeves ( love that!!), which fitted me perfectly. But, that wasn't the surprise. I didn't go for my posting so I came around 11:30 am to college. Neha sent me a very innocent message telling me to get my Microbiology journal for her. Incidently, it was in my locker at college. So the first thing I did was go and open my locker. And I found a beautifully wrapped gift on top of all my books waiting for me there. It was a yellow coffee mug. I was so touched!! They know my locker code, but I hadn't expected something like this!! Of course, I called them immediately, and their problem of having to think up of a way to get me to open my locker was solved. ( Neha didn't know the journal was in the locker!) This has been the best birthday ever. It'll be two weeks on Monday, so I just want to thank all of them for being so sweet!!
There you go! When you have a perfect friend circle, everything just settles down. Of course, in Medicine, studying is an integral part of settling down. And, surprisingly, I'm doing well in both!!

More pictures of Ganesh- Chaturthi 2009 in BJ

Dr. Kulkarni performing the Satyanarayan Puja

Another picture of the same

The small ganapati meant for the visarjan

A view from the furthest point in the lobby

Ganesh Chaturthi

Although Swine Flu has been on our minds all through the past two weeks, we were able to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, in college. Our Lord Ganesh has arrived at college, and we've managed to set-up something of a cloth-work explosion for him. Not in the bad sense, it all looks very attractive. We've been given permission to set everything up in the lobby, as always. Everyday, in the morning and in the evening, there is an 'aarti' performed by the students.
I've got some pics, and they will show in the blurest of details, that the decoration committee should be given a pat on their shoulders for doing what they have:

Complications

So, when you step into 2nd year, you see the reality. You move into the clinical side of your course. A walk through the hospital becomes a regular feature of your hours in college, and perhaps, many, after college too. You see people, up close. And you see the pain, the tears or the simple resignation on faces. Suddenly, medicine finally starts living up to the name it has always had: Human.

Medicine is not about books. Its not about having to read 1000 pages of information, to cram into your head. It is all about using that information to do some good to your patients. To people like you. To humans.

In our first year, we're taught about the basics. We're taught about things happening at cellular levels, some reactions happening in the body all the while long throughout life, stuff found in exact locations of the body. We never encounter the real world. It is truly 'college' that we experience during this time. We take a big step, when we move onto Clinical Examination in Physiology. But, at that time, its just a practical. And on people who are, in the end, healthy. Frankly, we didn't even get the point of doing it all, when we'de come up observations that described in many adjectives, the word "normal".

But, doing it all, on a real patient, who is NOT healthy, is scary to say the least. And that is where the fear comes into play. I've been to some of the operations that my dad performed, and, everytime, I'm awed by the simplicity with which he works. A simplicity which has come after years of experience. And I end up wondering, "Will I ever even reach this place?" I think about having to put in RTs, catheters,c entral lines in a few years, maybe months, and I shudder at the thought. Because, I'm rigged down by doubts. "Will I be able to do at least that?", keeps playing on in my mind.

And, I realise, what Atul Gawande has talked about so well in his book, Complications. Its frightening the first time. But you learn. Yes, at the cost of the patient's health, but you do. And in the end, its all for a better doctor to help in the future. All the doubts, young to-be-doctors have, have been so well discussed by him, its really like reading my own mind. I do feel the need to answer those questions. But the point is, there are no answers. Because, unless you get out there and handle situations on your own, you're never going to make it.

I'm still reading the book, and I'm trying to stick to the central story here ( but I never do). I'll obviously have more to say, as I move ahead with the book, and a lot more, when I face those fears myself.

It is, two more days, and back at college. I'm waiting for it, but, there is an end-of-holiday gloom. Swine flu hasn't reduced yet. It will remain so for a few months I guess. Till then, its me with my complications!!

Holiday Extended

Because the city probably wants to ensure a further preventive atmosphere for the spread of Swine Flu, our forced vacations have been extended upto the 23rd. Frankly, I love holidays. Can't ever have enough of them. But, now, I'm actually sick of them all. I hate myself for saying and feeling so. But, I can't even call that wrong, because its all just so BORING. I wish I could meet up with friends, go watch movies, at least get out of the house for fun. But, multiplexes are closed till the same date, and none of my friends are here.
Well, I know I'll be saying the opposite stuff once college starts. But, it is irritating to have time on your hands. It makes you think too much about some of the stupidest things on earth, which actually wouldn't even affect your life in any way. But, thinking about it all, does let it all affect you. And maybe, thats why I can't describe to any one, the feeling of sadness ( trust me, I've tried to come up something else for the 'sadness', but its the only word for what I feel), I tend to have when I sit alone in my room for sometime.
I'm giving my driving test on Thursday. Wish me best of luck. I really want to pass and get my permanent licence!!!

Swine Flu

It has become official now. Pune and Mumbai have been subjected to a total shut-down. All schools, colleges, private tuition classes have closed down for a week, and malls, multiplexes, and cinema-theatres for three days.
Pune has witnessed a sudden rise in the number of positive cases and has the highest death toll in the country, with 10 out of 17 deaths being here, in the past two days. The drizzle we've experienced has only made matters worse.
Swine Flu is quite similar to common flu. And the prime reason why India is being affected as drastically as it is, is because our population is primarily made up of malnutritioned children, and citizens barely living above the poverty line. Add on the number of HIV-positive cases and TB-affected people in the country, the immunity level of these patients is already very low.
It is actually no use shutting down everything in Pune, because the virus has already spread in the air. Most of the recent deaths, included those of people who didn't even have a history of foreign visits, or foreign visitors. But, a virus, spreads in the sir easily and those with low immunity levels get affected easily. What we really need to do, is address the situation, personally. Increase our own individual resistance to the virus. And most importantly, do not underestimate the virulence of this virus. It is , sadly, human nature, and I would also say, the nature of a “true” Indian to decide for himself what is right and what is wrong. And more often than not, the ‘right’ involves doing exactly the opposite of what has been advised.
It had been advised by the government about a month back, that any symptoms like those of H1N1, please get tested at the institute designated. Despite that, people run all over the place, use all kinds of self-medication at times, spread the virus to a few more people, and within no time, we end up having a situation like that in Pune. Citizens have been advised to cover their mouths at all times. By, at least a surgical mask, or even a cloth scarf. Yet, I find more people without any kind of protection on their face, than people wearing masks. Most times, people find distinct pleasure in disobeying and ignoring well-meant advice.
And it all comes down to a shut-down. Trust me, it is not relieving, or enjoyable, having to sit at home, doing absolutely nothing. Well, not exactly nothing. But, how much can you study? And how many boring movies can you bring yourself to watch throughout the day? A word about getting out of the house, and one gets questioning eyes glaring at you, portraying exactly what is in the minds behind: “ Are you INSANE?”
The least I can say is, I hope Mumbai doesn’t face a situation like that in Pune. Hearing about a 13th death in the city, and 11th in a hospital which I call my own, is quite unnerving. I also hope, other cities don’t have to come to the extent of Pune or Mumbai.

• Vedant has been postponed to February. We might be able to celebrate Ganesh-Chaturthi, but we aren’t yet sure. College has been closed down for about a week now, so it will only be after Tuesday, that we’ll be able to decide on something.

Till then, I can only ask my fellow-bloggers, especially in India, to keep safe, and please use masks.

Officially Into Second Year:

Out of the blue, the results rained down upon us, and I am very happy, relieved and pleasantly surprised to announce to the ENTIRE world, that I have officially stepped into the second year!!!
My marks are not the best there can be, definitely not ones that I'm used to. But, considering my plight before the exams ( having to 'cover up' marks in Anat, in the Univs), and my overall, quite a packed year, with activities other than studying for 12 hours a day, I am glad its all over.
In fact, having looked at my marks, I am delighted that I can happily throw those bones away and put away my Anat books never to look at them again. Of course, thats not true. We have a surgery term, and definitely need Anat here. But, the point is, now I can actually LIKE anatomy and do it at the same time.
I got a distinction in Biochemistry ( considered to be quite an achievement by my mom), and I am very happy I could do it. All through the year, I have maintained that Biochem is my favourite subject. Doing well in a subject you like, is always incredibly satisfying. I expected more from Physiology, but I am not in the mood to give my paper for a re-evaluation. 'Be content with what you have' is a motto I quite strictly follow where my marks are concerned.
There are a lot of people who have got more than I have. It is not a scenario I am used to. But, strangely I don't even care, because I was so afraid that Anatomy might just prove to be, what I always thought it to be: My Nemesis.
Plus, my internal points sucked. To the core. So frankly, I've scored a lot more in the final University exam, than a lot of people. But, my internals pulled me down to what I have. Which is 'average'.
Its the first time I'm so satisfied with an average that, try as hard as I can, I can't even be unhappy! I've promised myself that I'm going to study from day 1, and I have started too. Plus, I love Pharmacology. I could read it forever. So its a good start.

Moving over to Vedant 2009, we did quite a bit of work over the past one week. Organising committees devoted to individual events, sending out search parties for potential sponsors, sending out delegations to different colleges in the city to invite them..... it has been fun. I am devoted to the English debate. It took quite a brainstorming session of about 4 hrs to come up with rules. We still have the judges left to decide.
Right now, though, Vedant has been put on hold, with the outbreak of Swine Flu in Pune. It has become a situation and the city isn't quite capable of handling things well. We've had three deaths, and many positive throat-swab results. Colleges have been shut down for at least a week, and we have to wait for our Dean's decision on Tuesday, to decide the fate of our event.
With the amount of work we've put into it, one part of me wants it carry on. But, there's also the less confident second half of me, which fears managing the event, and so wants the stop. We'll see what happens. Till then, hope to enjoy the glory of officially becoming a second year student. :-)

Hmm, First Day Revisited

So a year back, today, I put my first foot into BJ, on my first day. To be truthful, I was shit scared, dead nervous and halleluva worried about going there, a college filled with seniors ( read: authority to rag), meeting about 190 new faces, and ( as I'm accustomed to do) judge a lot of the new people I saw, deciding who to mix with and who not. Don't get me wrong, I'm not very biased or snobbish or arrogant or anything. But, a little bit of it is there in every individual, and I am quite frank about what I think. So, yes, I do tend to be judgemental, and get biased against a person if he squashes his first chance.
It is one of my primary shortcomings, I think. Something that forces me to take time to open up to people and mix around. But, hey, this entry isn't about my character study. Its about my first day.
I didn't go to college today. I probably should have, with the importance of this day and blah, blah, blah.... I just didn't want to. So I have missed out on my first look at the Juniors ( I'm finally a Senior!!!! Its relieving. I can actually look around and talk about people younger to me.).
And it is some look, that. Of course, knowing us ( me and my group of friends), we probably won't go around hunting for a group of 'localite' first years, ready to give our lecture on life in BJ. At least, the girls won't. And I already know some of them, so if they need anything, they'll just hunt me down ( not that we need to hunt people down. Just wait in the Lobby, and you'll have familiar faces walking around you.).
You know, my first day in BJ was BORING. Nothing happened, really.....and reading my entry of 1st August, 2008, I didn't feel very excited either. So, lets hope that these people have a better first day, and don't come to hate us, like we hate some of our immediate seniors.
Best of Luck guys, I'm sure BJ is going to be as great a home to you as it has been to me, in the past one year. :-)

FNAC, An Unexpected Meeting, Badminton, Vedant

So as the title would prove it, I have a LOT of things to talk about. Lets get started then.
Firstly, today, the wards weren't bad. We were given a case of pseudopancreatic cyst, for history-taking. I am dead sure we made quite a mess out of it. And, the patient was irritated too. So, umm, can I please call upon somebody to help us out? Just a brief idea about how exactly we go about talking to a patient. It definitely looked weird and terribly layman, what we were doing. We hardly looked doctors. Especially the haphazard way in which we were going about doing the history.
But, we did manage to get some idea of it all, and sat in a side-room to write it all down properly, where the JR ( Junior Resident ), Dr. Sharad, asked us whether we wanted to watch an FNAC ( Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology ) being taken. Before that, he gave me some forms to fill. Obviously, clerk-work. But, its nice to feel important and helps in making a good impression in the long run. FNAC is a procedure carried out to investigate any lump for a malignant tumour ( cancer ). A very fine needle is pierced into the lump and then the lump is aspirated, onto two slides. This is then taken to the Laboratory for primary investigations. Actually speaking, I'm not very disturbed by the needles now. I am, but not as much as I was about two months back. And thats an improvement. The patient in question had a lump in the neck. We did something worth mentioning today. So, I'm quite happy.
Plus, tomorrow, we're going to the Operation Theatre, and hopefully, will get a chance to watch some good surgeries. Of course, the greatness depends upon the skill of the doctor involved. I'm praying that there is no doubt on that part.
Moving on, we were to have a meeting for the Vedant that we have organise this year, later today. So we had some time on our hands. I and another friend decided we'd accompany Shreya and Lubhna to the badminton court where they wanted to play. I managed a few shots myself. Of course, I'm not tournament material, never was. However, I haven't held a racquet in almost 5 years. So giving that push to each shot I played was invigorating. At least, I know I can get better if I want to give it a try. Felt great. Add on the eraser-throwing session we had before playing the game to get some shuttle-cocks down, was fun too!!
The meeting for Vedant was okay. We have a core committee now, and maybe that will help us a bit. As I have mentioned last year, the Vedant is an inter-collegiate event organised by the II/I batch of students of BJ. Because it is held around Ganesh-Chaturthi, is is named after one of the names given to Lord Ganesha : Vedant. We want to make this event better than it was last year, so it will require maximum efforts and dedication from our side, especially the localites, because we are supposed to know this city better than anybody else in college. Ah, well, we'll see about it. I'm going to enjoy it, I guess.
And finally, it isn't every day that you meet one of your ex-teachers and well, just have two words. I met my 8th Std Maths teacher today. She was the one who made me love Maths like crazy after a dreadful experience with the subject in Std 7. In fact, whatever small amount of love I still feel for the subject, I owe it to her. I'd never have started liking it if she hadn't been there in the first place. I thank God for two amazing Maths teachers in my last three years of school. That's the only thing that prevented me from positively loathing the subject in the 12th, when everything decided to go wrong.
Mrs. Chandy ( my teacher ) didn't exactly remember me. But, she did recognise me as a Maryite, and when I told her my name, she did vaguely remember me. Thats all I need. Just enough to know that somewhere deep down, I am remembered as one of her students. I felt blessed today. I really did. Going face-to-face with the people who created the person that stands in my shoes today, is always humbling. Not to mention, feeling like a small girl again, when they look into your eyes with the same loving and forbearing care. Needless to say, I love the feeling.
Well, today was eventful. And nicely so. Awaiting tomorrow, here's where I sign off.....Good Night!!!

I have noticed, that after talking about the second year dawning in front of me, I haven't exactly mentioned it at all. Truth be told, there is nothing to mention in the first place. We haven't started with anything. In fact, because half of the batch hasn't even arrived in college yet, the rest of us aren't going. I hate to admit it, but I am a little nervous about having to endure the wrath of all those people in the Department of Surgery, when we eventually to go there.
But, since that day is at least three days away from now, I want to enjoy this extended holiday of sorts, and laze around at home, sleep for 10 hours a day, read the same books again and again, and watch some really dreadful movies on TV ( Zee Studio needs some refurnishing......and Star Movies should stop showing those Chinese and Japaneese movies in the evening....HBO is still manageable, but for goodness' sakes, stop showing Troy a hundred times!!!).
Well, it is actually a boring life, but compared to the pace that awaits me, I'd happily want time to stop right now.
So having fun, and wondering how I'm going to get back to college.....

Lavasa: An Experience of its Own Kind

I've been having quite a few road-trips ( you may call them that). But that really ends today ( so it is just two road-trips in three days).
This time we went to a place named Lavasa, near Dasve district. It is still in the process of development, and is said to be a future Indian-Paris. The people concerned with its infrastructure have really toiled to make it one of the most beautiful places I've been to yet ( and it isn't even complete). It is located at quite a height, so the rain pelted down with more force than it would in the city located much lower. The rain and the descending clouds completed a very pretty picture made by the green hills and the many large and small waterfalls we encountered, as we drove through this yet-to-dazzle county.
The cold air that blew the plants planted along the roads and hotels, and the ripples made in the waters in the fountains and the Lavasa reservoir ( although I wish that water hadn't been muddy.....but then, there is a certain beauty in the natural colour, and you can't expect clean snow-white water during the monsoons, especially in a lake that isn't completely artificial), enhanced the beauty.
I've always been a nature-person. For me, there is nothing more exciting and beautiful than Nature at its full bloom, the trees swaying to the rhythm of a fast wind, water flowing along that very rhythm, waterfalls streaming down in various directions and varying speeds, and , the icing in the cake, the clouds descending down to create an unearthly atmosphere. I got the very things I was looking for, right here, and I couldn't have had a more enjoyable trip.
Lavasa isn't complete, so I can't wait to get there again and be encaptured and enthralled by its Beauty. And they say, Amby Valley is much prettier than Lavasa. So, if that's true, I'll definitely be looking through dictionaries to find a hundred words powerful enough to portray my feeling at the end of that trip. But, till then, its Lavasa all the way!!
I wanted to have a Nature encounter before I went back to my schedule in college. I'm satisfied I've had one, even if it didn't exactly include trekking. I'm putting in some pictures I took. The ones with the waterfalls were taken through the comfort of a closed car, so there are quite a few rain drops diminishing the beauty of them all. But, then, Beauty lies in the Beholder's eyes, doesn't it?

The Temghar Dam, seen on our way to Lavasa. It is one of the major sources of water for our city.

Another view of the same Dam

The collection of water isn't yet complete. Courtesy late and bad rainfall. But we're getting there, and it will be filled to capacity before long.

A long-shot of the dam


I've selected the pics I liked most, out of the many I took. These waterfalls don't have names, yet they deserve to be raved about!

Courtyard of The Fortune Hotel, well-planned and very pretty during the monsoons.

Mulshi Dam : A last-ditch attempt to enjoy my vacations

At times, the one thing ,you believe, is going to end it all, actually helps you get back on your feet. And yesterday's trip to Mulshi Dam proved to be just the ride, to help me out of my flu of the past week and a half.
We haven't had a real family outing in almost a year. So this trip on a sunday evening was even more special. Also, having both my uncles and their children ( tiny tots, with whom you can never have a boring day) helped make the trip more enjoyable. Add on, a light rain, the greenery it has helped grow, and small waterfalls to watch as we drove to the usual spot; I was reminded of my trek to Lohagad, last year. We had hot bhajis, in the windy hills, before driving back home.
I wanted to have an experience close to nature before heading back to college. And I'm glad I had it yesterday.
Of course, it made me not want to come back to college at all, but it doesn't matter much. I'm always looking for reasons at the end of holidays anyway.

The entire gang: My parents and me, my grandparents, and my two uncles and their families.

Notable exception: My brother who's the photographer for this photo.

My Dad, My Grandfather, My Uncles and Cousins and My Brother

My Grandmother, My Mom, My Aunts and Me

Second Year

So, with the second year dawning in front of me, I thought, lets make a change. After all, I'm going to be changing into a more conscientious student myself ( I REALLY hope). So, a new name and a new layout should encourage me a little more than I want it to.
I have heard that our clinical postings start from tomorrow ( 20th July). Its a little disappointing, because I was really enjoying myself.....enjoying lazing around at home, without having to do anything, but a doctor's life is never lazy, is it? Well, I guess, it doesn't really matter. I'll rue the loss of vacation for the first two days, and then start enjoying it all ( I'm hoping to, at least).
We'll be going tomorrow to check out which units we've been allotted, and then it is serious business. Looking forward to a new start and a new year and, most importantly, a lot more FUN!!

One year- Part II

One year back, we officially took admission into BJ Medical college and became students of the same, thus fulfilling the dreams that most of us have had for many years. For me, as I have often repeated even in my blog, it was a dream come true of the wildest kind, because I had never expected to get this college, in spite of studying as hard as I had. So, I'm just glad, happy and mostly feel very lucky and indebted to God for the opportunity that He gave me by admitting me into this college.
This year, the list of colleges allotted to students through the CET has been declared again. And there are many students who's dream have been fulfilled. Having experienced that myself last year, I just want to thank God for doing that for these students too. And, as a senior ( I hope, since the results are not out yet..anything can happen...and its me, we're talking about here), I would only want to hope for the best for the batch of to-be Doctors who enter BJ on 1st August.

Examinations - The Chapter

I've tried my level best to try and describe Exam Time in a Medical College....And failed....MISERABLY. Mostly because I didn't have the time to write all that I felt. So I thought, I'd try right now....only a little differently. Through chunks out of my Diary which would describe what I went through them.

* Dates to remember:

26th May, 2009 - Anatomy paper 1

27th May, 2009 - Anatomy paper 2

29th May, 2009 - Physiology paper 1

30th May, 2009 - Physiology paper 2

1st June, 2009 - Biochemistry paper 1

2nd June, 2009 - Biochemistry paper 2

30th June, 2009 - Anatomy Practical

2nd July, 2009 - Physiology Practical

5th July, 2009 - Biochemistry Practical

Excerpts from my Diary:

8/5/2009:

" Well, things aren't going all that well. I just CAN'T seem to FINISH!! I was supposed to end a 1st revision on Sunday. And its just not happening! I'm gonna push to Tuesday and hope I can still manage 3 revisions. But, you know me, Jili. So it all looks a little bleak."

11/5/2009:

" Managed a fair bit of Central Nervous System ( Physiology) and I'm actually on top of the world!! Its funny, how small things just make me smile like anything!!! Things are a little tough, but I'm, well not enjoying, but keeping the humour intact. After all, ur spirits need to be up in the high sky to make it through all this, right?"

19/5/2009:

" Alright, I'm a little worked up here. I knew I'd said I'm not going to take tension, but, wen you are way behind a schedule you've had to change twice to make sure you manage stuff once at least, you are in murky waters there. And, can you believe it, its Physiology that's getting me worked up. Not 'coz, I haven't done it once. Its because, I haven't done it twice!! Anatomy, I have 5 days. I can move the heaven of Anat on earth if I have to. But Physio's getting unnerving here. Ok, girl, cool down. Deep breaths. Remember that weirdly dark sky that you have neen seeing at 2:30 and 3:00 in the morning for the last few days. And smile. They're all there to sail you through. You are gonna pass. I promise."

Well, I really did have it coming to me. Especially since I couldn't move the heaven of Anat on earth in those last five days. But, I guess that happens to everyone. The papers were much better than I thought they might be. And considering that I was pretty much on the verge of puking and fainting just before my Anat papers, I'm glad, I came out with a smile saying " Its over!!" At that time, I knew I'd done well, because I wrote everything that I could remember. Looking back, I'm not so sure. But, its Medicine and this stuff does happen. Physiology and Biochemistry were good too, although the last paper ( Bchem II) was definitely the worst of the five. Point is, you can't expect to have six smashing papers. In fact, we'd been warned that either paper I or paper II is tough. So, since the paper Is went well, there was always the fear that the paper IIs would be disasterous. So, I'm happy that my worst paper was the last, and I didn't even have the energy to ponder much on it.

Excerpt from my entry on 3/6/2009:

" Exam's reduced all the weight I put on. It has worn me down; mentally, physically, inevery way possible. All those 2-3 o'clock nights the week preceeding and all the 40hour sleeps in the past week.... But, its over!! And for the pracs, its not going to be like this. So, I'm dead pleased."

Practicals was a whole different ball game, as I managed to realise, a triffle late if I may be permitted to say. It included our journals ( to be learnt cover to cover) and the ENTIRE portion for the grand viva. So, I got worried sick about Anatomy again. And it was pretty bad too. We had revision practicals and they were definitely better than I thought they might go. But, its me, and I always seem to believe that I am the worst BJ can get, at Anat. Its not true, but its something that has stuck on, despite having decent practicals. So, I'm just relieved that its all over, and praying hard that I don't have to do it again. Physiology and Biochemistry practicals were good too. Biochemistry actually qualified for " Good", in the real sense of the word. They were not exciting, nothing out of the ordinary. Just simple, quiet practicals. It is another matter that we were all absolutely impatient to get over with it all and say " Finally, its OVER!"

So, I'm going to say: The last four months have been the toughest and I definitely do NOT want a re-run of them in the years to come. I've learnt my lesson and its time I start studying from day one....Not as seriously as " I've got exams tomorrow" , but serious enough to prevent blotchy entries in my diary saying " I've got exams tomorrow". We're told that first year is the toughest. I've just put a bit of it behind me. And wait for my results to make sure that all of it is behind me.

Till then, I've decided to catch up on sleep, books and 'time-pass' that I've sorely missed doing in the past few months. They have really shaped my life, and I find it hard to believe that I finally have free time!! So, I'm lazying around. And doing it well. Friends, family and books.....and a new " Learn to Drive A Car".....I've got almost nothing on my plate (compared to the past months)..... and am making the most out of it.

Exams - The Chapter

I've tried my level best to try and describe Exam Time in a Medical College....And failed....MISERABLY. Mostly because I didn't have the time to write all that I felt. So I thought, I'd try right now....only a little differently. Through chunks out of my Diary which would describe what I went through them.

* Dates to remember:
26th May, 2009 - Anatomy paper 1
27th May, 2009 - Anatomy paper 2
29th May, 2009 - Physiology paper 1
30th May, 2009 - Physiology paper 2
1st June, 2009 - Biochemistry paper 1
2nd June, 2009 - Biochemistry paper 2
30th June, 2009 - Anatomy Practical
2nd July, 2009 - Physiology Practical
5th July, 2009 - Biochemistry Practical

Excerpts from my Diary:
8/5/2009:
" Well, things aren't going all that well. I just CAN'T seem to FINISH!! I was supposed to end a 1st revision on Sunday. And its just not happening! I'm gonna push to Tuesday and hope I can still manage 3 revisions. But, you know me, Jili. So it all looks a little bleak."

11/5/2009:
" Managed a fair bit of Central Nervous System ( Physiology) and I'm actually on top of the world!! Its funny, how small things just make me smile like anything!!!
Things are a little tough, but I'm, well not enjoying, but keeping the humour intact. After all, ur spirits need to be up in the high sky to make it through all this, right?"

19/5/2009:
" Alright, I'm a little worked up here. I knew I'd said I'm not going to take tension, but, wen you are way behind a schedule you've had to change twice to make sure you manage stuff once at least, you are in murky waters there. And, can you believe it, its Physiology that's getting me worked up. Not 'coz, I haven't done it once. Its because, I haven't done it twice!! Anatomy, I have 5 days. I can move the heaven of Anat on earth if I have to. But Physio's getting unnerving here. Ok, girl, cool down. Deep breaths. Remember that wierdly dark sky that you have neen seeing at 2:30 and 3:00 in the morning for the last few days. And smile. They're all there to sail you through. You are gonna pass. I promise."

Well, I really did have it coming to me. Especially since I couldn't move the heaven of Anat on earth in those last five days. But, I guess that happens to everyone. The papers were much better thatn I thought they might be. And considering that I was pretty much on the verge of puking and fainting just before my Anat papers, I'm glad, I came out with a smile saying " Its over!!" At that time, I knew I'd done well, because I wrote everything that I could remember. Looking back, I'm not so sure. But, its Medicine and this stuff does happen.
Physiology and Biochemistry were good too, although the last paper ( Bchem II) was definitely the worst of the five. Point is, you can't expect to have six smashing papers. In fact, we'd been warned that either paper I or paper II is tough. So, since the paper Is went well, there was always the fear that the paper IIs would be disasterous. So, I'm happy that my worst paper was the last, and I didn't even have the energy to ponder much on it.

Excerpt from my entry on 3/6/2009:" Exam's reduced all the weight I put on. It has worn me down; mentally, physically, inevery way possible. All those 2-3 o'clock nights the week preceeding and all the 40hour sleeps in the past week....
But, its over!! And for the pracs, its not going to be like this. So, I'm dead pleased."

Practicals was a whole different ball game, as I managed to realise, a triffle late if I may be permitted to say. It included our journals ( to be learnt cover to cover) and the ENTIRE portion for the grand viva. So, I got worried sick about Anatomy again. And it was pretty bad too. We had revision practicals and they were definitely better than I thought they might go. But, its me, and I always seem to believe that I am the worst BJ can get, at Anat. Its not true, but its something that has stuck on, despite having decent practicals. So, I'm just relieved that its all over, and praying hard that I don't have to do it again.
Physiology and Biochemistry practicals were good too. Biochemistry actually qualified for " Good", in the real sense of the word. They were not exciting, nothing out of the ordinary. Just simple, quiet practicals. It is another matter that we were all absolutely impatient to get over with it all and say " Finally, its OVER!"

So, I'm going to say: The last four months have been the toughest and I definitely do NOT want a re-run of them in the years to come. I've learnt my lesson and its time I start studying from day one....Not as seriously as " I've got exams tomorrow" , but serious enough to prevent blotchy entries in my diary saying " I've got exams tomorrow".
We're told that first year is the toughest. I've just put a bit of it behind me. And wait for my results to make sure that all of it is behind me. Till then, I've decided to catch up on sleep, books and 'time-pass' that I've sorely missed doing in the past few months. They have really shaped my life, and I find it hard to believe that I finally have free time!!
So, I'm lazying around. And doing it well. Friends, family and books.....and a new " Learn to Drive A Car".....I've got almost nothing on my plate (compared to the past months)..... and am making the most out of it.

ONE YEAR

I am the kind of a person who believes in holding onto the goodness of the past. And, more so, certain special days. I look back at such days, read my diary entries and reflect. The happiness, the joy, the relief...whatever it might have been. I tend to feel those emotions again and simply live that day again.
I wonder why I do it. I've wondered a thousand times. I have never really been able to answer the question with anything apart from, " Because I am like that!" In many ways, I don't want to let go; don't want to really believe that the day no longer is as important as it was then. After all, do we do that with Birthdays? Or Anniversaries? Even Deaths are remembered. So why not the day when I got my Std. 10 result? Or the day I stepped into the real world? Or the day when Liverpool won the Champions' League? They are special to me. They are days I want to remember 50 years down the line. Because they mean something......and something special.

Thats hardly the introduction I would have wanted for this entry, but never mind. A long introduction always has its magic. Its June 14th, 2009. And today I celebrate the one year anniversary of my CET results. Its very strange calling this an 'anniversary'. So I guess I'm going to say, I celebrate one year since my results. One year since the day I realised that, all that sweat, and toil and ( using my favourite phrase, here) "working my ass off" had finally paid off. I was reserved a Government Medical College seat.....Something I had not thought, would happen to me, all during the time I was preparing for the entrance examination.
I can remember every moment of that morning. Contrary to my usual style, I got up half an hour later. At about 8:30am, instead of the normal 8:00am. Mom had just left for the hospital ( she had an early cataract to cater to). Dad was almost ready. And me? Well, I got up....sat for sometime thinking about the importance of the day, and then said " Chuck it..I don't really expect anything much!" and got out of bed. After all, not all morning dreams actually end up being real, do they?
We had been told that the results would be out by 11:00 am. So I took my time. Brushed my teeth, read the morning newspaper ( end to end, for a change) and decided to get dressed. All through, my dad continued like a stuck gramaphone record really, " Why don't you check your result? It must have come out by now. Come on....I know you want to do it yourself....Please!"
I have a routine. Everytime, I have to see any result, whether its an entrance test, or match score, I make sure I have nothing else left to do, before I sit to check it out. A bath, breakfast, getting my bed tidied up, getting my hair right, saying a small, "Please let it be what I want" to God, taking my Luck-pendant with me...everything.
I said to Dad, I'd do it at 11:00am, and well, I had to do everything else before it. I could sense the desperation and frustration and absolute irritation, in his eyes..... For all the times in the world when I had to stick to my 'routine'!!!
Finally, giving into his incessant nudging ( nagging, really), I decided to check it out at 10:00am. I said it wouldn't even be up on the net yet. The scheduled time was 11:00am. Well, as fate would have it, the result was there. Pretty much what I expected. I had expected a 176 out of 200. I got a 177 out of 200. What I didn't expect, was a rank as high as 545. It made me wonder for a bit. A score as low as 177 and a rank like 545!! Something is a little wrong here.
And, well, Mom came home and things cleared up. It had been a low-scoring test, unlike the previous year, and with 545, I was sure of a Government Medical seat. The rest of the day went by in a blur. Meeting my teachers, distributing laddoos, and smiling!! I had fallen in love with BJ Medical College, the first ever time I saw it. I always put that down to the fact that I was never going to get in there, anyway. But, now I actually had a chance!! I've always thought I have the tendency to perform much beyond my expectations. This was one of them. In a way.
Of course, I wasn't sure of the college I would be getting into, but I guess, celebrating a seat was enough. And we know the story now, don't we? I did get into BJ, and I have never been happier!!!!
So, to June 14th: the day that pretty much changed my life. I had, literally, trained myself to believe I wanted to get into an engineering college, till this day when I saw that 545. Just want to remember how wonderful the world started looking after that one look at the computer screen :-)))

PLs Begin!!

It has been months since I last wrote. Surprisingly, I had so much on my mind, I hardly ever sat down to enter it here. I have about an hour right now, so I thought I'd rectify the mistake of not being able to write.
February was just spent in getting ready for one of the biggest events of the year - " Convocation Ceremony - Batch 2003". It was the first of its kind to be held in BJ, as I have mentioned in my last entry, so we wanted to make it extra special. Having done nothing of this kind before, I can't describe how incredibly satisfying it was , to work on it all. Almost all the first-years, in the Organising committee, were a part of the Anchoring Committee. So we actually didn't have much to do to start off with. The matter to be spoken was one of the last things required, so we got involved into designing of the invitation cards and handing them over to the Guests of Honour, posting them to guests invited from outside the city and meeting the Chief Guests.
As a person, I have managed to learn a lot through it all. Not just team-work and doing all that you can for the greater good, but also evolving as a person. We had to talk to doctors, to their PRs, to a hundred people we didn't know, and would probably never see again. It was enlightening an experience, and I am looking forward to being a part of it all again next year.
The actual convocation ceremony was a Big hit. The interns loved it all, and we, the organising committee, enjoyed ourselves thoroughly, also knowing that it was our blood and sweat that had gone into making this such a grand and fine event. Add to that, the fact that I managed to wear a sari and manage it myself for about 5 hrs, is a success in itself.
The person incharge of it all, Charandeep Singh had told us that with the efforts we took, when we finally saw the output, the satisfaction we'd get would be equal to nothing like anything we had ever experienced before. And that was so true! Now a month down the line, when I look back, I know I did the right thing by being a part of it, and the feeling of completeness that I feel gooing through each and every moment of that evening can't be put into words.
Moving away from the Ceremony, we also had our Cultural week in college. We had a rose-day, a chocolate-day, a twin-day, the traditional day and a gang-day followed by a peace-day. College finally seemed like college then. It was definitely fun and frolic all through out that week. The pictures will definitely show.

An Interesting Week

I haven't been able to get a lot of time all week, to write about all the stuff that has been happening around college. So I'll start right away.
This may sound a little strange, but BJ does not have its own convocation ceremony. I didn't think much about it either, when I first heard about it. But the more I think about the amount of years and days we spend here, the amount of LIFE that we learn and live here, it does seem a poor way of celebrating an amazing 6 years of life, without a convocation ceremony. Mom and Dad said that, they didn't really think about all that when they finished with their course. It seems that there is a huge convocation ceremony at the MUHS, and the certificates are just handed over by post to students here.
Any way, the current batch of interns ( Batch of 2003) decided that they did want a convocation of their own, and wanted to do it all in a grand way. We had auditions for the organising committee, and I'm very happy that I made it into the committee. I'm in the Anchoring committee. For the moment we don't have anything to do as such, due to lack of information. So we're handling the invitation designing. Over all, I'm really excited about it all. This experience is different and , the output of it all, should be very satisfactory. We've had about 2 complete committee meetings, and two sub-committee meetings, and they have been learining experiences all the way. The convocation will be held on the 7th of March.
Apart from the convocation, the Firodiya is being talked about a lot. It is an inter-collegiate art competition. And by Art, I mean Art as in a play, songs, dance, music, fine arts, painting... the entire package. The guys are all deep into practice, and none of have seen a full-stretch of the play yet. We keep our fingers crossed any way.
BJ also won the first prize in an Inter-Collegiate Band Competition, held at Symbiosis day before. It is supposed to be of a good standard, this competition, and our band's lead singer was a first year batch-mate of ours. So obviously, we're a very proud batch, currently.
Yesterday, we finished with the Anatomy Seminar too. I didn't end up participating, but one of my really close friends did our poster. Prabhjot got a special mention for it, and we can't be more proud of her. She's given herself a hell of a nervous night, and the rest of us , some nervous days too. The seminar was more of a celebration of sorts. After finishing with the posters and presentations, we had a cultural program of a kind. It was refreshing to look at the Anatomy department dressed up and really happy for a change. All the participants did really well. Shreya and Mohini from my group of friends got the 3rd and consolation prizes respectively.
The week has been an interesting one, as the title of the entry suggests. I'm hoping that the next week is great too. Two weeks of continuous 6 days of college are pretty draining, so we're all looking forward to the second Saturday of this month, coming up next week. For students in BJ, this Saturday will be more important as a Holiday than anything else!!

Farewell, Dr. Savgaonkar

A Week In Winter

The past week has been just fine. I've finally opened my eyes, and am studying. Regularly. This in itself is an improvement. So I'm pretty happy with myself and the way I've taken things. It eats into my sleep, but I guess, the final outcome should be worth it.
From this week onwards, we have dissection from 11 to 1 in the morning and pracs from 3 to 5 in the afternoon. It isn't a pleasant event to look forward to. Imagine, having to eat your lunch, after finishing dissection. And that means, our break will be an hour only. Usually, if the practicals get over early, we get a longer break. Thats not going to be the case now. So, all that reading up Anatomy in the break and stuff will stop, and we'll be a little less prepared for it all.
It isn't as bad as it sounds. There are things to look forward to. When our practicals get over earlier, we'll be going home early. It won't make much of a difference for me, as such. Most of the times, I wait for one of my parents to pick me up, so I guess, I'll just hang out in the library.
We've started with the examination of the eye in the physiology practicals. It's interesting, and much better than the Examination of abdomen, where, there is really no observation as such. You can only feel the organs, when they are enlarged. You can only hear the vibration when there is fluid in the peritonneal cavity. You can only see the tonsils in the oral examination, when they are enlarged. We had " Normal" written in every column of examination in our journals.
We have a long weekend. Really, looking forward to three days at home.

Back To College

It hasn't been the easiest of tasks really. I actually like staying at home. I guess college is , well, not as great a place as home is. There were times when I used to look forward to going to school. And there were times when I used to look forward to going to class. Now, there's these times when I don't look forward to going to college. I've had to get myself ready, mentally, to just go through the days. That's what I don't like. The going to college thing. If I had it my way, I'd just sit at home and study. Thats way better and much more interesting.
Any way, college has been boring. We got about half of our results. I, sort of, did well in Biochem. 34 in theory and 30 in my pracs. A whole of 64. I passed. And that's what had me smiling. Anatomy marks just told me that I suck at it. And its gonna be much more than mugging up anatomy books thats going to help me there. My marks aren't worth disclosing, as much as I talk on this blog. Lets just say, I've got a lot to catch up in the prelims, and Thank God we have Anatomy for just a year. We're getting Physiology tomorrow and I think I'll pass, unless my pracs give me a big nightmare.
Among the newer stuff, Head and neck is quite tough. And I've sort of gained the will to study. So I'm studying quite a bit. Lets see how long the momentum lasts. It should last till about my prelims, so that I'll be ready by May to give the University exams.
We've now got an Anatomy seminar coming up. I'm quite interested, so I'm hoping that I get the chance to speak. Thats all thats happening. I'm just trying to adjust to college once more. Somehow those five days were so relaxing, my entire state of mind had changed. Its time to come back now, 'coz its show-time!! Yeah, right!