Silver Lining

It was a celebration with a cause. Taking time out from their hectic schedules, as many as 400 doctors from around the world...

The alumni of Government Medical College, Amritsar, batch of ’83, met up for more than a party

It was a celebration with a cause. Taking time out from their hectic schedules, as many as 400 doctors from around the world, the batch of ‘78-’83 of the Government Medical College, Amritsar, spent an afternoon under the sun at the Lake Club today. Organized by the Chandigarh Chapter of the College, Dr Gurmohan S Sandhu played the perfect host, making sure that besides re-establishing bonds, the reunion also highlighted the ailing state of their alma mater and to ensure that some concrete steps are taken to bring it back to health. “Twenty-five years of passing out is a superb occasion to get in touch and with many of our batch mates now doing well abroad, we thought the silver jubilee would be an apt opportunity to get talking about the college,’’ explains Dr Sandhu. With many former students eager to pitch in with funds for the College, for starters, the batch has adopted the lecture theatre at the College, and work’s begun to get in new air-conditioners, projectors, seating, as well as renovations. “It’s a small start, but we’re on a roll and we owe it to the College, for we’re all doing well in our fields and the need of the hour is to support government-aided institutes,’’ Dr Roshan Sunkaria is looking forward to catch up with old friends, many he will meet only after 25 years!

Dr Tarun Gupta, now in the pharmaceutical business in Hong Kong is back after a long gap, “it’s not a good feeling that the place which shaped your future is in a sad state and I think this reunion will help get many things in action.’’ Jaswinder Singh Dhillon, a paediatric critical care specialist back in the US, has been in touch with a larger group, as in the US they have an organization of old students of the college and are also in touch with what’s on in the medical field here in India. “The social aspect of medicine is looking up and India is attracting many people from abroad for treatments, as costs are low and level of care is good. What we lack is standardization,’’ Dr Dhillon feels totally connected to his college and is looking forward to add value to it.

Dr Anupam Sachdeva, Head, Pediatric Hematology , Sri Ganga Ram Hospital has designed the souvenirs using old and new photographs, adding some of families also, “it brought back so many memories and good feelings.’’ So long…