Remembering 'ma'

Today morning, in a mental state when you are awake but not out of bed, i suddenly remembered my mother. She died some 15 yrs ago-May her soul rest in Peace-.What i was trying to remember was our life in 70s.

My parents were both Doctors, GPs in Mumbai. They had pretty busy but comfortable life. My father died of Heart Attack.At that time my mother must be 53 or so. I had just passed my MBBS and was doing MD. i was staying in Hostel. My sister had moved to USA. At home only my younger brother was staying.

For the next 5-6 years I was pretty busy as resident Doctor. i hardly had any time. Even when off duty i had to stay in Hospital,at most could get 3-4 hrs off to go out,or visit home. It was difficult to spend any quality time with mother. she used to go for movies, outings, long vacations with my father but after his death suddenly she was isoleted and alone. Ofcourse she had her practice where she met people( It was a time when your Family Doctor was part of your family). But for her Social needs there was no one.She was young widow and Social norms of the time did not allow her to go out alone for movie. I dont remember any movie that i might have seen with her. We did go out for vacation together, but mostly it was short vacation to nearby hill stations or to Nashik-Shirdi. She had my other relatives for company but they would go out together for social functions in the family and she was not very comfertable as she was from different community- she was Saraswat from coastal Maharastra married to Guju Brahmin. Those 10-15 yrs must be really hard for her.

Looking back I feel guilty. In those days we were brought up in joint family and we did not have much communication or interaction with parents. Her being busy doctor didnt help as she would be busy in the evening upto 9 pm. We spent most of the time with friends.At home other relatives were there to take care of day to day issues. We had our vacations,outings etc with friends. I dont remember even thinking about how her social life must have changed after my father's death.she loved touring and she did visit Europe and USA for very long 10 weeks. I used to coax her to go for vacation, but it was with other relatives. I didn't have time or inclination to go out on long vacation or tours.It didnt make sense as well for just 3 of us ,with different interests and outlook of life to go for Family Vacation. Besides at that time going out with parents for movie or outings was not very common. Things did change after I got married. We had family vacations,outings etc. but by then she had got used to her life i guess and was very reluctant to join us. --- PK

Diplomas from CPS.

Last week a PIL was filed by Dr.Arun Date against College Of Physicians and Surgeons in Parel. Lawyer representing the Petitioner claimed that CPS established in 1913 has been handing out Fellowship like FCPS and Diplomas like DGO,DFP,DOMS,DORL,DVD etc. It is alleged that CPS doesn't have Hospital,faculty or Infrastucture. petitioner have asked Court to direct Govt. to withdraw recognition to CPS.

I have failed to understand the purpose of this Petition. All the Universities for MD/MS and Diplomas,,National Board of Examination Delhi for DNB also have no Hospital of their own. they have Faculty and Infrastuctue. same is the case with CPS. For Post Graduate Degrees and Diplomas all the state Universities, National Board have CET, then Students have to apply for Post Graduate course and according to Merit List they are assigned Degree or Diploma in a Subject as per their preference ,a Teacher and Hospital where they have to do Resident Doctors post for 3 years for Diploma and 4 years for Degree. They have to write Theses under the Guidence of the Teacher and finally take the Exam. pass it to get either Diploma or Degree.

As far as I know CPS follows the same pattern. With One Teacher one Student policy adopted about decade ago, number of Post Graduate Teachers/students for Degree course of state universities and national Board has gone down. One has to have 'Teaching Expirience' to be teacher for Degree and Univ.Diploma. That is the Teacher has done Post Graduate Training(resident Posts) in Teaching Hospital like KEM,Nair etc. If one has done Registrars Post of 2 years in Cooper or Bhabha,Nanavaty,Lilavaty Hospital in Mumbai then one do not have 'Teaching Expirience' and he/she can not become post Graduate Teacher.!!.No teaching is involved as such.

CPS recognises these Doctors as their Teacher for Diploma Course and assign students to these Teachers and are posted in Hospital like Cooper Hospital,Bhabha Hospital in Bandra,Rajawadi in Ghatkopar,Bhagwati in Borivali etc etc.

Normally there are no takers for these Hoseman/Registrar posts in Peripheral Hospitals if they are not recognised for any Degree or Diploma. Resident posts of these hospitals go vacant and few that are filled are by those who are in transit or by Doctors who want a place to live in Mumbai. (All Resident posts are 24x7 with Resident qarters.) More often than not in all these peripheral hospitals patients are looked after by AMO's. and Patients care suffers. But if these posts are Recognised for Diploma by even CPS then Resident doctors doing Post Gradute courses are available,Honarary Doctors take Classes, arrange for Seminars on one Sunday in a month, and teaching for student is provided. Hospitals like Nanavaty, Lilavati,Somaiya, etc get resident Doctors because their posts are recognised for DNB and Diplomas of CPS.

If the undisclosed reason for this PIL is well known secret that all these posts are sold than this is wrong approach. unfortunatelly all the Post Graduate Degree and Diploma courses in Medicine,dental are allegedly for Sale and at present, price varies from 30 Laks to astonishing 90 Lakhs for Opthalmology and Radiology degree course. There is even 2 year Advance Booking of the Seat !!

If the Court,acting on this PIL withdraws recognition of CPS,many hospitals in Maharastra will loose resident Doctors and finally patients will suffer. Its ironic that there is News item in newspaper that panel has recommended recognition to Coaching Classes on par with College for undergraduate degree.---PK