The Beginning

It started almost 50 years ago. 49 years and 2 months to be more precise. In June 1966, I took the first steps on the path of medical profession. I was alone when I got down in JIPMER and went to the office to report. I had come bag and baggage from Chennai, as I was in IIT at that time and I vacated the hostel (Ganga) and got on the bus for Pondy. After getting admission in the office, I was told by Purushothaman (a nice Malayalee who was the student clerk—remember him for he will figure later in my memoirs)) to go to the hostel and get a room allotted. Students were allotted single rooms in Harvey house. But as it was full, Ist years were given accommodation in the 4th floor of Lister house, above the Senior House surgeons and Registrars. I, my good friend George Kurian (currently a retired gastroenterologist from CMC, Vellore and a good blogger active on the face book) and a Sardarji - Inderjit Singh Rana were the three Ist years who reported the day after the announcement of selection. All the others had gone home to bring their baggage and were to report in 3 days time. So, the seniors had a field day ragging only 3 of us. Due to lack of victims, they had to resort to group ragging-sometimes as many as 15 or 20 seniors at a time. Since they all were asking questions simultaneously and ordering us to do different things at the same time, we managed to do nothing and say nothing, looking confused all the time. As part of the ragging ritual, I was sent to the ladies hostel to deliver a letter to Miss Leena (was a mythical person, I came to know afterwards). When I expressed my apprehension that I may be beaten black and blue for doing such a thing, I was told that I will be beaten black and blue if I did not. It was a revelation. I was scared to look at those ogresses in their lair in the leisure time. Many a made up beautiful face seen outside, looked like something the cat dragged in. I was promptly told to get lost and equally promptly sent back by the seniors. The watchman whose job it was to prevent boys coming into the girl’s hostel was laughing and staying away. After 3 rounds, an angel in human shape took pity on me and told me that my best efforts will be in vain as there was no such person. When I went back and told the same to my seniors, they brayed like donkeys (laughter) and sent me away. Thus a 3 day period was passed and since my face was familiar to everyone, from the 4th day onwards, I was excused and was given the job of recruiting (bringing my newly arrived classmates to the seniors.) They were casting envious glances at my good fortune to be roaming the hostels freely while they had to sneak around to escape the attention of the seniors. Being early I got a single room (416) while the last to arrive had to settle for double rooms with a roommate. Thus began the career and an eventful first week passed.

HBD Krupakar

Many happy returns of the day.

HBD Krupa!

Many happy returns of the day.

More

wait for more history or rather mystory.

The Answer

The storekeeper/clerk had gone to the DMS office a week before and there he was told that a new M.O. was coming to Katterikuppam. He asked for the details but was given only the briefest description saying that one Dr. Lakshmi Narasimhan was coming from JIPMER. So, the entire PHC and hence the entire village was expecting a daredevil FEMALE who dared to venture to that PHC. Imagine their surprise and disappointment at getting a well mustached MALE. I gave hints—the PHN was carrying the garland and later I was garlanded by the health Inspector, thus making it clear that they were expecting a female. Again I talked about my mustache and sideburns which flabbergasted the staff and villagers. So, you can’t blame me if you did not deduce.

The Doctor Who Disappointed The Village (Part III)

So back to the story. On that day, there was a crowd waiting near the PHC with garlands and fruits to receive the new doctor--M.O.in charge. There was the PHN (public health Nurse), 3 ANMs working under her( fourth post was vacant), Health Inspector, Health Assistant, Attender, 2 ward boys, One Nurse, One storekeeper cum clerk,2 sweepers, a leprosy worker and a lot of eager children to see the celebrity/spectacle. There were village politicians of various hues too. All of them brought Bouquets and the PHN was carrying a garland. They all looked a bit stunned and bemused for a moment. I thought with my large hair ( it is true--I had hair on my head at that time), Big mustaches and sideburns, I may have stupefied them. Or may be I was not looking like their idea of a Doctor. But they recovered immediately and the health inspector stepped forward and taking the garland from the PHN, put it around my neck and all of them said "welcome sir"! we got in and started the various formalities like introductions etc. I had no clue as to why they were disappointed at my appearance. Granted, I am no Cupid or Paris but, I thought, compared to all my Tamilian brethren there, I did look a better human. I asked the store keeper and after hesitating for a while, he stammered out the reason. Guess?

Back to Mary.

"Singampallis, , forgive me , for I do not know what  I was doing.". I know. I was staying away from the blog.  I am back (though it seems you people did'nt miss me much.  ha ha  )

The Doctor Who Disappointed The Village (Part II)

Now to the scene of action. It was, in fact, two villages in one panchayat—Katteri and Kuppam. There was a 12 ft. deep irrigation canal running between the two. The canal was coming from a river 10 km away. It was a village with a population of about 2000 with a high school and a police station manned by an ASI. There was a live stock dispensary manned by a live stock asst (called mattu doctor). Apart from these, there were no govt. Offices and there was not even a single government employee of officer rank from that village. The literacy rate was just 15%. Like all the villages in India, there were frequent power cuts and the day went on without power usually. The only vegetables available were brinjals and potatoes. Ghee was not available for sale and when Sarada visited me and criticized me for living without ghee, I started getting it from Pondicherry. First bus to come there from Pondy was at 9 am and it used to disgorge health dept. staff, teachers and random visitors. It used to proceed a little further and used to return at 10.30 am and that was the first trip to Pondy from there. The last Bus to Pondy was at 5.00 pm and after that we were cut off from the rest of the world till 9 am next day. If you had urgent business, why, all you had to do was walk 5 miles to Valudavur on the Villupuram—Pondy highway and catch a bus. The services on that route ran from 5 am to 10 pm (from Pondy) and from 6 am to 10 pm (from Villupuram). The only hope for a sick person after 5 pm was the PHC with no staff staying there as the quarters were dilapidated and were not fit for human occupation. The road from Pondy was not bad (for a rural road those days) considering the fact that there were knee deep pot holes only once every 100 yards and the buses were pretty old—thus giving an enjoyable ride giving the sensation that we were all being shaken like the dice are shaken before the throw. No TV, only radio and nobody living in the quarters. The agriculture mainly was Paddy, Sugarcane and Casuarina plantations (Eucalyptus was just catching up and Subabul not known.) The PHC was built on government land and hence at the southern end of the village, in fact in the village Smasanam (Grave yard) . It was the next to last campus and beyond that was the Livestock station (Veterinary hospital—but no Doctor there). All round were Sugarcane fields and Casuarina plantations. The two campuses were deserted after 5 pm and came back to life only at 9.10 am next day when staff arrive from various towns and Pondy. The chorus of foxes in the fields was the only sound after 10 pm as the village goes to bed by 9 pm. Listen to them-- HERE. (Picture and Sounds downloaded from the internet) I had resigned my post of senior house surgeoncy to take up this job and had no place to stay. So, I stayed in my friend Ranga’s room in JIPMER for a while- a week or so and moved to the Doctor’s quarters here. They were nearly decrepit, in need of repairs and I pestered the State PWD to carry them out and to repair the other quarters too. I was busy organizing work here, getting to know the ropes, the territory and the staff. I was visiting DMS office, PWD office and medical stores depot for drugs etc. In the night I was busy making Ranga read and help him with Pharmacology. In fact I was BUSY. Meanwhile, I was commuting between Pondy-JIPMER Hostels and Katterikuppam. The commute was also an adventure. The road from the bus stand to the PHC was a mud track and if it drizzled even a little bit, we had to perform feats of balance, just to stay vertical, while walking to the bus stand. We had 2 options— 1. walk with your shoes on and wash them at the “boring pump” in the bus stand but this comes with a need for great skill in balancing as the shoes are more likely to slide and slip. 2. Walk barefoot (for better grip on the ground) and carry your shoes in hand----wash your feet at the boring pump. The road was lined with coconut trees on either side and at a turn in the middle, there was a big mound inhabited by snakes. In fact a typical village of India in the 1970s with minimal facilities and a tough life. After getting the quarters repaired, I moved in. It was a 2BHK bungalow without attached baths. I insisted on repairs to staff quarters and they promised to get cracking “soon.” The jeep attached to the PHC was donated by UNICEF and was doing duty in DMS office. I quarreled, insisted, cajoled and got it back to the PHC with a driver. There was an unmarried nurse posted there, who came to live on campus. Her quarters were next to mine with a gap of about 10 ft. with the road to the garage intervening. There was a ward boy on night duty (permanently as his lungs were destroyed by TB and he could not perform any active duty in the daytime.) In the night the nurse and the ward boy slept in the hospital and I slept in the quarters alone to the accompaniment dogs barking and foxes screeching.

The Doctor Who Disappointed The Village (Part I)

It was mid October 1973 and I was going in the bus with a bit of trepidation. I had finished my MBBS, did my House Surgeoncy, did a Short stint in Dermatology and Thoracic Surgery and was a fully qualified Medical practitioner with a Registration with the Tamilnadu Medical Council. I had a bit of trouble with my college Administration and so did not see my chances of getting a PG seat as bright. So, I thought of putting in a 2 Yr rural service and get back to PG with admission under service quota. I was selected by UPSC for Pondicherry Medical Service and was on the way to take charge at PHC Katterikuppam as Medical Officer –in- Charge.

Why the trepidation? Till then I was confident of support from my seniors and could call on them at anytime if I had a problem. Of course, as a house surgeon in JIPMER, I sat in the Out Patient wing twice a week disposing of patients. I saw them, advised the necessary investigations and after getting the results made a diagnosis and prescribed treatment—the tablets to be obtained from the JIPMER pharmacy.

If a case was difficult or confusing, I call my Registrar or Professor and get their advice. If a case deserved admission, I took the patient to the Registrar for the needful. He was the de facto head of the ward—with 2 to 6 yrs of experience and was looked up to as a guide. The professor, of course was GOD himself, to be approached only in emergencies or for big problems—he was busy with teaching, making grand rounds, doing surgeries or medical procedures, conducting bed side clinics and administrative matters.

On night duty, I can prescribe any drug as needed and the nurses will see to it that the patient gets it. If the condition of the patient is alarming, I can call on the registrar. In fact, on my first night duty shift, I called my registrar, Dr. Sakunthala 3 times. On the 3^rd occasion, she enquired whether I would like my hand held or a lullaby sung since I seem to be afraid to be in the duty room alone. That boosted my confidence much. (She said that on all the 3 occasions my diagnoses and treatments were correct and I needed only belief in my ability.)

From there, I handled independent charge of Cardiothoracic wards (Later gave me the confidence for going on with Cardiac work).

But this was different. I was to be the sole responsible person—Doctor, Administrator (new experience) and drawing and disbursing officer and coordinator for state and centrally sponsored schemes. I had ten villages and 3 subcentres under my control.

I was given pitying looks in the DMS office when I reported and was directed to take charge at Katterikuppam. I was told that it was a troublesome place with people petitioning the governor at the drop of a hat and always causing problems for the govt. officers. In fact it was supposed to be Punishment Post/ Newbie post as nobody else will go there. Since I fall in the second category, I was posted there. This added to my anxiety. But I always had a thing for the poor and village folk who do not get sufficient attention or help anywhere. So, I thought of this as a chance to do my bit. So, there I was going to my first posting –eager, scared and Exuberant.

WRITER'S CRAMP--MENTAL

How does one go about writing a short series?
Start from the beginning--proceed chronologically--and leave the end open!--for a Sequel.
or
Start in the middle--go for a flashback--come back and finish.
or
start in the middle--proceed to the end and write a prequel.

Which one is the better style?
opinions please.
At least 6 opinions needed before start.

Hi!

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