I am very proud of my gene pool and like many others from my Alma mater, I too believe that I have been a witness to a golden era, which will perhaps never come back. I know, this is what seniority does to you, makes you nostalgic and brings out the good old stories from your cerebral library. So here is one such story I have heard from my seniors.
A senior colleague of mine, who is senior to me by quite a few years and has been holding the post of the Head of the Department in a premier medical institution for over a decade now, was the topper of the Combined Pre-medical Test (CPMT) of his year of admission. He did not belong to Lucknow, but as every topper would do, he chose to join King George’s Medical College. He came from a very modest background and though in those good old days their tuition fee was Rs. 16.00 and the mess bill was around Rs. 40.00 even that was a burden on his family! To top it, he needed books and clothes and as there was no mess service on Saturday evening, and he did not have the money to eat out……. he would simply fast! This process continued for about a month but soon he came to the conclusion that this was impractical and as there was a Medical College in his native city, he wrote an application to the Principal of our Institution and requested for a transfer to his native city.
Now, the story takes a twist. What do you think was the response of our Principal, who besides being the Head of the Institution with all its academic, social and administrative responsibilities was also the Head of the largest department of the College? Do you think that the high and mighty had the time for a nervous and aggrieved freshman? He surely did. What struck him was why should the topper of CPMT choose to leave his institute and opt for something lesser? What is bothering him? Why is he not feeling at home in his institution? Fortunately, the Principal’s son too got selected through the CPMT that year and so was in the same class as my senior colleague. He made some enquiries about him and came to know that the CPMT marks were no fluke, this fellow was truly brilliant in studies and extremely polite and soft spoken. So he did the next expected thing, called him to his Principal’s office.
He made my senior colleague sit comfortably and read his application, which was in front of him. In very few words he reminded him about the glorious traditions of our institution and how blessed he was being a member of our family. Then asked him why he wanted to give up this family without giving it a chance. With moist eyes my senior told him the truth, his family background and how it was very difficult for his father to run two establishments, one at home for his siblings and one in Lucknow for him. In his deep and concerned voice the Principal asked him if this was the only reason for his request. And when my senior said yes, he curtly told him that it was not a good enough reason and he would have to stay in our college. He granted him full scholarship i.e. exemption of tuition fee as long as he would study in the college, book allowance for all semesters for purchase of dissectors, manuals, books and stationeries, and finally told him that every Saturday afternoon after college he will have to come home with his son, so that they both can study together. He reminded him that just as he had a father back home, in the campus he, the Principal, was responsible for his wellbeing and will remain his father. He then folded the transfer application and returned it to my senior and asked him to rush back to his class.
This is how he nurtured the gene pool!
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