Sewagram Diaries

 Sewagram Diaries. 

" If you survive Sewagram, you will survive anywhere,anyhow and with anyone. "

These were the parting words of my Professor on 1st January 1998.My last day in MGIMS, Sewagram. 

1992,a college friend got me to fill the Pre Medical enterance exam of a rural based Central Government aided Medical college in Sewagram, Wardha.

The All India enterance had along with Physics,Chemistry,Biology subjects, a 100 marks paper on Gandhian Thoughts.

The enterance exam was to be held in Nagpur....that too in May.

A Mumbaikar, never seen temperatures above 32deg throughout the year....and a person never traveled beyond Pune till date....

Traveling at 50deg temperatures in 2nd class crowded Howrah Express throughout the day.....

The butter carried along with bread had melted and leaked from the container and stained my clothes in the bag.

The Howeah express was having many students who were heading to Nagpur appearing for the Enterance exam.All were discussing the never read book, written by The Mahatma,My Experiments with Truth and Ahimsa.

Nagpur was very very hot and dry climate made it even worse.Mumbai humidity makes you sweat and cool.

The 2 days exam had 2 papers on each day .Gandhian thoughts being the last paper.Imagine a Science student made to write a Literature based Subjective paper on Gandhian principles for 3 hrs in a classroom at 2pm...peak Hot May Nagpur Summer. 

The return journey train was at night.

So my father and me went to spend post exam time in a Theatre which was showing my favorite Amir Khan movie " Jo Jeeta Woh Sikander". The Theatre was full of mostly girls only....all excited to watch Amir Khan.

This movie had a song " Pehla Nasha".... 

It's a surreal serendipity. This same song I had enacted throughout my MGIMS days....as my batchmates loved it.....it remains their fond memory of me even today after 3 decades too....

The 12th board results got announced .I missed by few marks ( just 4 marks) ,a seat in Mumbai Medical colleges.

Disheartened,I had gone with my bestie to pray to Shitladevi Temple at Mahim.

This temple,I had spent afternoons between 2 coaching classes throughout my 12th standard.Temple was safest place for a girl of 16yrs to pass 4 hours in between 2 coaching centres.

I returned back home and my Ajji handed me the Telegram " You have stood 10th rank in the Pre Medical exam of MGIMS, Sewagram. Report on this date for admission process."

August ,1992.....I was on Wardha Station at 5.30am...

A Suitcase which had 4 Khadi Salwar Kurta,bucket,mattress.

A Mumbai Metropolitan city brought up teen....always in Jeans ,skirts and Tee-shirt....

How will I spend 5 and half years in a rural place which had only the Medical college campus and nothing much around.....and wear Khadi Salwar Kameez?

Sewagram Diaries is special because it's only in Sewagram I have experiences ....never before ...and matter of fact....Never After.

The whole Campus and atmosphere of the place was Gandhian. 

Simple and Grounded.

The first 15 days were spent in Bapu Kuti,( Ashram where Gandhiji spent his days in Sewagram) ....as Orientation Program. 

Yoga,Prayers in morning and evening, Shramdaan were part of daily timetable along with other activities. 

Cleaning public toilets of the Ashram...

Charkha - first time I used Charkha to make Khadi.The threads we had made, were woven to small handkerchief for each of us.

Evening daily there was entertainment program coordinated by us students. 

After the 2 weeks of Orientation Program, started the 5 and half years of MBBS. 

The entire course is long.MGIMS,Sewagram had Village Adoption Program in curriculum for entire MBBS. Staying in a village for 15 days.and later visiting that village once every month,taking care of Medical health along with Community health- building toilets for villagers,conducting Filaria Surveys whole night,Giving education about health in village schools and Panchayat.

First time and never after have I been in a village and interacted with Grassroot. 

MGIMS not only taught us Medicine but also exposed us to Real India where majority stay in villages. 

We not only studied Medical subjects....also got a chance to understand role of a Doctor in Society. Doctors don't just treat ailments, they actually become a family member to the people who come for treatment. 

It was exhilarating when I saw myself, a 18yr Teen,listening to family problems and helping the members find solutions to life issues.

My friends in Mumbai if my age ,were spending most of their time watching movies,having parties,enjoying discotheque.....what any college going Teen was doing .....

On the other hand,I was helping Suklibai village to have safe hygienic environment and healthy life. 

It felt surreal, my parents and grandparents age group was seeking advice on multiple issues of life from me,a Teen Pursuing MBBS degree.

MGIMS, Sewagram had students from all over India.Different cultures,languages, mindsets.....

Interacting on daily basis was challenging indeed.

Obviously, I learnt so may things from each person...but yes...lots if heated arguments, fights...

Some days of laughter and fun....

Some days did make me cry and curse my stay in Sewagram. 

Sewagram Diaries is full of stories...some full of love and warmth....some angry ones too ....some experiences did hurt me.

Friends made became BFFs..

Teachers and Seniors became Mentors.

Hostel life ,throughout an already stressful long course ,is challenging. 

But 

The rural based college, ,Harsh Sewagram weather....( winters went below 16deg,Summer upto 50deg)....

A good restaurant and movie Theatre for entertainment and outing was only in Wardha and Nagpur...kilometers away.

Mumbai and home was missed thoroughly. 

But,yes,Survive I did 

I don't say the 5 and half years in MGIMS, Sewagram was all fun.

It was difficult. 

Lots of adjustments needed.

But 1st January, 1998,I returned back to Mumbai...as a MBBS Doctor, with knowledge and exposure to many lifetime experiences....

In 1992,I came to Sewagram as a brash 17 yr old Teen ..and left Sewagram as a 23 year Matured Adult,set to face new challenges in Life.

Sewagram Diaries has many stories- Some Fond remembrances and lessons to be cherished forever...

While some bad memories to be forgotten about but did teach humanity. 

DR TRIPTI MILIND GALGALI. 

Hubli .

I hope many Doctors will relate to this MBBS and Medical college do teach all of us more about Life along with Medicine.