MBBS EXAMINATIONS : ECSTASY AND AGONY
Dr. Gangadhar Sahoo
Examination system in MBBS course was the most stringent in the 1970s . The principle of the examination was that a medical student can do no wrong because those who will qualify will treat patients to cure them. So during their training period they should be trained to be perfect in every aspect. At that time failure in the examination was the rule. Unlike today's system at that time any mistake committed either in theory or in practical examination was taken seriously. If one fundamental mistake was found, the candidate was destined to fail. Therefore 50% pass was a rarity.
I was appearing the Anatomy practical/oral examination in the year 1972. Prof. Basu was the internal. Prof . Hazari and one from outside the state were the two externals. They were giants in Anatomy. Thought of those stalwarts was inducing palpitation out of fear. Different parts of the practical were over. I had done reasonably well in every part. At last I was to appear the oral (grand viva). When I entered into the hall all the three examiners were enjoying cups of tea and snacks. Other faculties were standing surrounding the examiners. All were discussing something which was faintly heard by me, most probably about the answer given by the previous candidate and how many marks to be given . The environment was totally relaxed and jovial.
So I got a bit relaxed. I was asked to take my seat.
"Thank you Sir."
"Are you a good student?" asked one of the externals.
“Yes Sir.”
Prof. Basu went through my answer sheet and other practical marks and complimented, “Yes! He is a good student. "
All the three examiners asked me many tricky questions which I could answer. At last one of the externals handed over the skull bone to me. "Show me the base of the skull and name the bones which form the base."
I showed the bones correctly with their names.
“Can you tell me when do the ossification centers appear?
If you can answer you will be awarded with honors. "
I thought that I was trapped.
One of our Madam demonstrators standing behind showed me six fingers. I said boldly SIX. Yes, very good, complimented the examiner, “You are right. But complete the sentence. What SIX? What is the unit of six? Is it weeks, months or six years? "
Now I was in a dilemma. Looked vacant to the teachers standing behind expecting some hints. At that time the story of fool Kali Dash became live in front of me. I thought that it will be repeated today. Surely I was going to be the second edition of Fool Kali Dash. After taking my time I made a gambling. By method of exclusion I excluded “Years" from the three options.
Then between weeks and months I made a toss and chose the middle path “Months”, neither weeks nor years. It was the wrong answer. All laughed. I missed the honors by a whisker. Honestly speaking one cannot be genius by copying and rich by stealing. I did not deserve it. Three of my friends got honors in Anatomy. I congratulated them. This was my first experience of greed of tasting and frustration of missing the taste of honors. But it acted like as a stepping stone for my future. I could assess my strength and got motivated to do well in future.
In the 2nd MBBS Examination we had two subjects Pharmacology and Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (FMT). FMT was one of the toughest subjects to clear. Pass percentage had never crossed 50%. Prof. Gopi Mohanty the HOD and Dr. Bishnu Dash loved to fail the students. A few days before our university examination Prof. Gopi Mohanty got promoted to the post of DMET, Odisha. We were his last batch of illustrious students. On his farewell meeting he declared that all students were passed to mark his promotion to the highest position. It was an all time record in the history of SCB Medical College. We all were surprised to hear this. Really "A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. "
Pharmacology was a wonderful subject because of the excellent teachers. It was one of the subjects I had never referred to a textbook. The class notes were more than sufficient. In the oral examination I was introduced for honors but failed to score
The last hurdles between a MBBS student and a MBBS doctor is the final MBBS Examination. In 1975 we had to pass General Medicine, General Surgery, Eye-ENT (One subject) and Social and Preventive Medicine (SPM). It was the toughest Examination in the medical course. In the previous batch there were 60 % casualties in Eye-ENT alone. That subject was relatively easy and therefore commonly neglected by the students. But a large scale failure enhanced its importance for our batch. We were more concerned for that subject. In the Ophthalmology oral practical examination when I entered to the examination hall I first met Prof. Kulamani Mishra, a terror in that subject at that time. The first question he asked (exactly I can't remember) I gave a wrong answer. His face turned angry red and he frowned at me, “You don't know ABC of Ophthalmology. I will not mind to give you a big zero. Now I will ask you 10 questions. If you answer one you will get 10, if you don't you will get 0. “Fortunately I was 100% correct. I scored 100 out of hundred.
I did well in the ENT oral examination. There was no gap between the Examinations. Our SPM examination was going on, when there was search for the candidate bearing Roll no.136. Mine was 136. I was very nervous especially why I was the most wanted candidate in that subject. The frowning face of Prof Mishra with his roaring voice, “You don't know ABC of Ophthalmology . " started playing hide and seek in front of me . Anyhow controlling the emotion I reached the ENT department and met one Assistant Professor. I introduced myself to him as the candidate bearing Roll no. 136. He became excited to see me. “Congratulations. You have made history this year. You have got honors in Eye-ENT. Don't disclose it please." I was too jubilant to express anything. "Thank you Sir!" I ran away from there to concentrate on other left out subjects.
Department of Surgery had undergone many challenges just before our oral clinical examination. Prof. Sukumar Das was transferred from MKCG Medical College Berhampur to our college as HOD. He was the founder principal of MKCG Medical College. He had built the institution from bricks and sand to a campus . He was a great surgeon, teacher and administrator. He was a terror for the students. No student had the guts to stand in front of him. With that reputation he had been transferred to the premiere institute. But Cuttack was different from Berhampur. SCB was different from MKCG. Prior to his joining there was a student unrest resulting from a student teacher conflict. He was for the first time facing such a situation in his life. He couldn't dream of such a situation in MKCG. It was quite unprecedented. So he was carrying a very bad impression on the students. The All India Surgeons conference was being hosted by SCB Medical College that year during that time. Apprehending trouble from the student’s side it was organized in the famous Barabati Stadium around 5 km away from the college. This was for the first time such a mega event was organized outside the college. To the students bad luck there was a fire tragedy in the conference where many of the scientific stalls were gutted. The rumor spread that the students were behind this fire incident. The anger got multiplied against the students. Our batch was to face the brunt of his anger because ours was the senior most batch and we were appearing the final MBBS Examination. It was the best opportunity for Prof. Das to take the revenge.
On the day of the examination we were given clinical cases in the surgical ward. In came Prof Das into the ward with the stamping footsteps of Ambassador shoes. Came out the voice of a grave tone, "My boots care them." I was anxious, apprehensive and nervous. Any how I did well in the clinical examination. In the afternoon oral examination started. When it was my turn I gently entered into the room. The examiners were enjoying the snacks and gossiping. One examiner showed the specimen of a stone. I described it as gall stone and replied all the cross questions. I came out satisfied. But later I came to know that the specimen was kidney stone not gall stone. I was shocked to know this. I was sure that I was going to be failed. The final result sheet is always signed by all the internals and externals. If any modifications are to be made it should be made before the final signature. The news we got that total 62 candidates were failed. After giving one mark grace finally 46 candidates failed in surgery. Everyone was apprehensive of failure. I was not an exception. "Let us wait and see ." was everybody's voice of consolation.
When the result was out, I was in my village. I was taking my lunch with my mother when my father reached home from the nearest town. It was about 10 km from our village connected by fare weather road. Bicycle was the best convenience. My father had gone to receive his pension. He got to know my result from my uncle (his younger brother) who was working as a medical officer in the Sub divisional Headquarters Hospital of that town. He was too ecstatic to stay there for a minute. He purchased sweets and bicycled in one breath. The moment he reached home he started distributing sweets and announced in a loud speaker voice with tears of joy rolling down his cheeks, “My son became a doctor. He is the only doctor getting honors in EYE-ENT. He is the 2nd best graduate. He is the pride of our village.
Jai Jagannath." His joy crossed all boundaries. I hardly finished my lunch, when I joined my father to share his ecstasy. I touched the feet of my father, mother and all my seniors and took their blessings. The much awaited anxious moment was over. I got relaxed. Next day I came to my hostel to complete all the formalities before joining my internship.
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