By Dr. C.G. Narasimhan

[Continued from yesterday]

Honorary System means appointing private practicing Specialists in Government Hospitals giving a nominal fee of Rs.100.

Earlier to the Honorary System established in Victoria  Hospital from 1960 itself it was flourishing very well in Madras and Bombay States. It was introduced in K.R. Hospital in 1965 to facilitate Dr. A.K. Gopalarajan, who had just then retired.

At this stage in 1966, the OTs and Surgical Wards were shifted to the newly-constructed ‘New Surgical Block’.

After passing MS in General Surgery, I joined K.R. Hospital as an Honorary Assistant Surgeon and worked in late Dr. H.V. Jeevandhara Kumar’s Unit for 3 years. Here I had an occasion to teach the under-graduate students which I enjoyed.

After working for 3 years as an Honorary Assistant, I got promoted as Honorary Surgeon to start Surgical ‘F’ Unit in June 1973. Unfortunately, the then Health Minister H. Siddaveerappa under some political pressure took a sudden decision in September 1973 to discontinue the Honorary System in all the State Hospitals including KMC Hubli. All the three of us — myself (Surgery), Dr. C.D. Sreenivasa Murthy and Dr. B.V. Rajagopal (Medicine) — heading separate Units were terminated quite unceremoniously.

Over the years, the College, attached to K.R. and Cheluvamba Hospitals, have changed considerably. The number of admission to the college, distribution of subjects by professional phase, years of training, the curriculum, examination pattern, setting of question papers have all changed according to the need of the hour.

Many newer specialties like Urology, Gastrointestinal Medicine and Surgery, Minimally Invasive Procedures have all    been added with their latest technologies. With K.R. Hospital having a heavy footfall of patients, the State Government has taken a right step in establishing a Trauma and Orthopaedic Centre on KRS Road.

Classmates and My Contemporaries at MMC

Many of our batch-mates went abroad to pursue higher studies. They had to pass the entrance exam called ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) to go to USA. It was much easier to go to UK also. Many joined the State Medical Services, some joined Medical Colleges as lecturers and a handful of us joined PG courses in Medicine, Surgery, Orthopaedics and ENT.

Three of our classmates need special mention. One is Dr. G.V. Satyavati, who became the Director of ICMR, Delhi. She published a number of original research papers and garnered many prestigious awards, short of Padma award. The second person is K.M. Annaji, who joined the Armed Forces. After getting M.S. in General Surgery, he took active part in Bangladesh War, Operation Blue Star and IPKF Operation in Sri Lanka. The other person Dr. Kokila Vaidya is from Nepal, who occupied the highest post in public health in Nepal after getting PG training in USA. 

Among my contemporaries from MMC, Dr. Kantha S. Jadhav has the distinction of becoming the first Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.

Late Dr. N. Kannan (Pathologist), Dr. C.D. Sreenivasa Murthy (General Physician), myself as a General Surgeon, late Dr. N.M. Srinivas (Radiologist) and Dr. J.K. Sundar Raj as a Family Physician have completed 50 years of practice in Mysore.

Dr. C.B. Murthy (MBBS from BMC) did MS in our College and served at K.R. Hospital as a Professor of Surgery before starting B.M. Hospital which made a name in Mysore. Dr. D. Prabhamandal from my batch was the first one to start a Private Nursing Home in Mysore in 1973 and I was the first to start Surgical Practice privately in 1970.

[Concluded]

50th year re-union of 1957 batch of MMC

My batch of 1957 completing 66 years now has the unique distinction of celebrating the Golden and Diamond Jubilees of our batch, both organised by me and late Dr. N.M. Srinivas in 2007 and 2017 respectively.

Lastly, having enjoyed the benefit of Full Free Studentship on all 5 years (exempt from paying the annual tuition fee of Rs.270 !), I owe a lot to my Alma Mater. This prompted me to donate the statue of ‘Maharshi Sushruta,’ the Father of Medicine and get it installed in the foyer of the newly constructed Library and Lecture Hall Complex.

I am sure under the able leadership of MMC&RI Dean and Director Dr. K.R. Dakshayani and the office-bearers of Mysore Medical College Alumni Association (MAA) and MAA Trust, the centenary celebration is going to be a great and memorable event.

 I take this opportunity to request all the Alumni of MMC&RI in and around Mysuru to contact MAA President Dr. H.N. Dinesh or Secretary Dr. H.B. Shashidhar on Mob: 94480-89500 and 94480-48774 respectively for further communications.