A Visit to ALMA MATER

On Visiting the Alma Mater

Prof Inian had told me I must attend a farewell few months ago and followed up with a few polite emails. So, just for a day, I visited my alma mater- Christian medical college hospital, Vellore on 10.9.11. The occasion was to attend the felicitations to my friend since 1970- a famous Professor of Surgery who later on became Principal of the college. Department of surgery held a series of lectures from 8 am to 5 pm for surgeons from all over in honor of the retiring surgeon , Prof George Mathew.

The hospital campus had changed over the decades. Concrete buildings had replaced the green gardens. So many tall new buildings! Ocean of people and numerous pedestrian paths had replaced the wide roads of the past. Large posters of the farewell festivities were everywhere. The buildings bore little resemblance to the institution I trained in.

In contrast, when I walked into the auditorium, I was taken back in time to the 70s. Many of my former professors and teachers were there. Some who trained with me are now professors and surgical unit chiefs there.

To my surprise, the program read that I was to chair the second session in the morning. When you are back with your teachers who have taught you how to hold the scalpel and how to take your first stich, after a lapse of so many years , one feels tongue tied and very self conscious .But it got easier after the session started and my two presentations on thoracoscopic(keyhole surgery of) esophageal cancer and laparoscopic achalasia( cardio spasm) went down well.

I met many of the surgical trainees. There was definitely something similar about all these guys, which has not changed over time. Apart everyone wearing half sleeved white or light blue shirts with no coats, there was also the polite demeanor, which surrounded them. Not once did I hear a cell phone ring; nor did anyone walk out after a lecture began. No loud conversation or backslapping! Polite applause after every lecture as it always was and will be! The new things were of course a lady surgeon who was the master of ceremonies and the gifts for the speakers. So after all, the changes had been only exterior and much of the traditional spirit was the same.

At five thirty pm sharp, the director of the medical college and hospital (my room mate from first year of medical school) and the medial superintendent walked in. Over the decades, punctuality and simplicity of the speeches were maintained. All the former professors were also on stage and they had some anecdotes of note to share about the retiring George. The George I knew in medical school was a quiet, simple guy with no airs, who went about his work with no nonsense. From the remarks of everyone, that is the way he had remained over the years. After taking over the post of principal of the medical school, he made his highest contribution by getting the medical council of India to make way for more medical graduates, post graduate programs in the most ethical way.

Sitaram Chief of liver surgery who had been close professionally and personally to George spoke of his contribution in surgery and research. George in his own way responded by attributing all his achievements to the co-operation of everyone. Over the years he had been to many of my conferences. His tone and content of the talk of naturally with his fully grey hair was professorial and he remained quiet even on his last day after 42 years of service.

At night, we the shifted out to another part of town to a poolside dinner. Much of the evening was spent in anecdotes by other departmental chiefs, songs from other surgeons and a slide presentation of George.

Speeches from the heart full of dedication to the profession and God, with no flashy superlative statements. That left me to wonder if I had missed out by not getting back to my alma mater. Had I missed all this out by not working in this ivory tower?

Then I mused of all my non CMC colleagues and junior doctors I had worked with in the mission and corporate hospitals. The experience of being with surgeons of various medical colleges had made me broadminded and I had friends all over India. And I have met some terrific, brilliant, dedicated doctors from all over the country and abroad during the course of my life. And in our own way, we had kept the CMC flag flying high. So working out of the ivory tower was not a bad move after all.

I had wanted to leave back by road by 6pm, but managed to quit only by 11 pm to reach Chennai by 1am. I had only a three hour gap to catch a flight by four am to Madurai for another surgical meet. But what does a little loss of sleep matter when you have just managed to meet so many of your friends who have laid a foundation in your life? This was yet another moment in time when I met so many, who had taught me so much, so many years ago!