The journey to becoming a doctor is a curious one. India’s National Doctor’s Day was made in honour of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, who was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1961 for his contributions to society. Bidhan was studious as a boy and his road to medicine was an interesting one. Having studied in Calcutta Medical College, Bidhan had once seen a plaque that read “Whatever thy hands findeth to do, do it with thy might”. Taking these words to heart, he put his life into his profession.
The days of being a student do not last long but in that moment, it may feel like it would never end. 25-year-old Maria De Melo from Porvorim had always dreamed of going into medicine. Having seen her mother’s work, she was inspired to give something back to society in the same way. she explains, “My first two years were tough. We entered clinics in the third year, which was a fun learning experience with a lot of ups and downs as well as adjusting to the various changes due to Covid.”
She says, “Our professors have always instilled in us discipline and a sense of duty. There were many professors who inspired me in different arenas of my learning journey. I hope to study further and maybe set up my own practice someday.”
“Medical college was a roll coaster of a ride, filled with mixed emotions and adventures. Learning takes lots of time, patience and courage, just to be on your feet. I’m focused on making a difference in my patients’ life for now,” says Nupur Tar, a 23-year-old residing in Mapusa. “For any of those wanting to do medicine, I’d say, take it only if you love it.”
When it comes to studying and building a career, the only way you can succeed is if you love it. Saavi Varadkar, a 25-year-old dentist from Vasco da Gama proves this. “I had dental braces and the treatment spanned for over two years. The frequent dental visits, the dental materials, the various instruments and seeing people’s appearance change made me develop a liking towards dentistry.”
She reflects, “The first year was very stressful but as the years passed by it got better. My professors guided me well during my undergraduate years and still do. There is no end to learning and seeing rare cases of what we read in the textbooks is really fascinating.” As someone who is passionate about her field, she also adds, “Many people neglect dental problems until it turns into something severe. I want to create awareness about it and how they can be treated. On a personal level, my goal is to continue to PG.”
She wishes all aspiring dentists luck, saying, “It’s great if you get in but if you don’t it’s not the end! Please don’t waste years and years answering the entrance exam. Keep your plan B ready.”
“I’ve always wanted to be a doctor and see a positive change in the way people live,” says 25-year-old Simran Padiyar from Merces, who recently completed her MBBS and is looking to further her studies in the hopes of specialising in gynaecology and ophthalmology. “MBBS is a lot of hard work. You have to keep studying but there needs to be a balance so you take care of yourself. When you see your patients happy, it feels like all that hard work paid off. Now I just want to get a PG seat and strive to be a good doctor, so I can see that smile on my patients’ faces.”
Many of her professors made an impact of her and she speaks of them fondly, recalling how they’d put their whole life into teaching them. She hopes that anyone looking to pursue medicine will remember that it is a noble profession.
