Sewagram Diaries - Orientation Program Program

MGIMS, Sewagram was started by Dr Sushila Nayar in 1969 when she was the Union Health Minister.Badi Behenji as she was fondly called,had started Kasturba Hospital on behest of Bapuji in Sewagram.Later,a medical college got attached to the hospital. I got admission to MGIMS in 1992 after clearing all India enterance exam conducted by KHS( Kasturba Health Society). The uniqueness of MGIMS is the college follows Gandhian principles right since 1969 till date. Staff and students have to wear Khadi. There is a 15 day Orientation Program for all students in first few days of their admission into MBBS course.The college adopts neighboring villages ,and each batch has to take care of community health of the respective adopted village. My 1992 Batch had adopted Suklibai.For 4 and half years of MBBS we paid monthly visit to Suklibai village. About that I will write another day. Today, I am sharing about 15 days of Orientation Program which used to be in Bapu Kuti or Ashram. In month of August first week....40 girls and some 10 boys of 1992 Batch of MBBS landed in the Ashram. This was the place where the Mahatma stayed in Sewagram. Beautiful, serene place, lots of greenery. We had separate dormitories for boys and girls. First time most of us were away from our homes. Feelings were mixed. The entire batch was excited to start a new phase of their life and career. An enthusiastic group of teens in their 17/ 18/19 yrs of age. An Emotional moment saying bye to their parents 😢....... The boys too were emotional that day. MGIMS got students from Pan India.Metro cities and rural both. Delhi,Mumbai,Hyderabad,Nagpur and many places I had heard first time. Different backgrounds ,cultures and languages. I had a cot next to few girls from North.They spoke different accent and dialect of Hindi. I spoke my typical Mumbai Hindi. We all found each other surreal and intriguing about each other. Orientation Program started with Yoga sessions early 6am or so. Getting up so early was quite a task for most of us. The best Asana...the Batch enjoyed was Shavasana. Many actually dozed off that time.One such session...we heard a girl give out a shriek during Shavasana. Even our instructor got worried. She got so embarrassed. Sheepishly she said" Humein neend lag gayii....aur sapna bhi aaya" Wondering how in a few seconds of Shavasana, can a person fall deep asleep and dream too. 😴 He he he........ The Girls dormitory had a big commotion one day.Reason......most most dreaded for a Girl....especially if hair is thick and long.... Lice infestation. All girls got Lice in their heads. Oh my God. Luckily few girls had brought precautionary Licel shampoo sachet with them. Every girl was given one sachet. After Yoga sessions, students were introduced to Gandhian principles of Shramdan and Khadi. We would weave Charkha. We would clean the toilets and sweep the big ground where evening prayers were held every day. Evening prayers had Bhagwad geeta, Bapuji's favorite song Vaishnava Janato and prayers of all religions- Hindu,Islam,Sikh,Christianity. I have learnt Carnatic Music for some years. So myself and few more girls were taken to Pande Guruji in the Ashram. Guruji was a blind aged man who was a Hindustani music teacher.Under his guidance, we girls practiced beautiful songs in afternoon which would be sung daily during evening prayers.I learnt Rabindra Sangeet under Guruji. " Ananda loke ..Mangala Loke".... Evenings, the Faculty in the college, Medical Superintendent and Dean would visit us.Chat with us.We students had to perform some entertainment programs daily. I have very fond memories here. I am a trained Bharat Natyam dancer. So the evening began with a small performance by me.I would sing and dance at the same time....so appreciated by all teachers. One beautiful monoacting was performed by one Delhi student in Hindi.It was a political satire .A small kid throwing tantrums for a small chair highlighting the fight amongst our politicians for power. Our batch had girls who sang very melodious. One of them sung like Lata Mangeshkar. Maa Saraswati resided in her throat. Every body got mesmerized with her voice. One boy yoddeled like Kishore Kumar. Medical students indeed were talented in extra curricular activities too . The last day of this program, we had sumptuous lunch. One of our batchmates, she loved cooking.She made for all of us with help of Ashram cook....Fried Bhindi ( at my behest) and Kadhi Pakoda served with Jeera Rice.Ah .....even today the satiety buds of mine never forget the taste. End of Program, we were all given Khadi handkerchief woven by us. Thus began my journey in MGIMS, Sewagram. The upcoming blogs are going to highlight various activities which happen only in MGIMS, Sewagram. Hoping my dear Friends, u enjoy the reads.