AM I VICTIM OF MY PROFESSION? VOLUMEVII

AM I VICTIM OF MY PROFESSION? VOLUMEVII

Dr. Gangadhar Sahoo

I left my ad-hoc posting and joined back at my previous station so did my wife. Her year marked lady assistant surgeon  quarters was lying vacant. Since she was on leave she had not surrendered that quarters. So we came with our belongings from Sambalpur  and unloaded at the quarters. Almost after  four months of mental,physical, social and financial torture in the Dept. of OBGYN, VSS Medical College Burla, I returned back to my old station Deogarh and joined against the same post of specialist ObGy ,Post Partum Center. As before I continued to work with more cohesive manner with other doctors to make the hospital an ideal institution. 
There was an advertisement in the local newspapers to apply for recruitment to medical colleges as faculty through PSC(Public Service Commission). I had decided not to apply because of my past bitter experience during my ad-hoc posting . But all my well wishers pressurized me to apply. Their view was not to leave an opportunity, “Opportunity never comes again and again.” Nobody knew whether I would qualify or not . If by chance I did qualify then the option of joining would arise.
At last I applied to the Chairman, PSC as per the advertisement with necessary documents. After around 6 months, I got a letter from the PSC to appear before a board for interview for selection. I was again in a dilemma whether to appear or not . Same pressure from all corners was exerted on me to appear, which I couldn't withstand. At last I agreed. Without any preparation I faced the interview. Prof. Nanda was the head of the expert committee. He was my professor and guide in my postgraduate course who had advised me to join medical college if I get a chance. When I entered into the room those words of my professor were echoing in my ears. I was a bit conscious. However my performance was satisfactory if not extraordinary. After facing the interview I came back to my work field.
I appeared the interview and forgot as I was determined not to join medical college again. I did not bother about the outcome and continued my work as before. I was enjoying my work to the fullest following the principle," Better be the head of a jackal than to be the tail of a lion." In the mean while I had forgotten that I had appeared such an interview for selection for medical cadre. One day , like a bolt from the blue I got a letter from the Government that I had qualified to join the medical college cader as clinical tutor. Total three were qualified . The 1st and third were posted in SCB Medical College and I was in MKCG Medical College Berhampur.I was reluctant to join medical college . But because of pressure and pursuance from all my mentors and well wishers I couldn't refuse . To make-up my mind  to join medical college, I decided to buy time. First I applied for extension of date of joining a few times which was granted. Then I applied for a change of posting to VSS Medical College Burla. That was also allowed with a condition that if I didn't join within a month then my appointment will be canceled. That process of buying time almost took more than one year . By that time I had changed my mind and decided to join again in VSS Medical College. After getting relieved from the Subdivisional Headquarters Hospital Deogarh, I went to join my place of posting on 23rd December 1985 . 
I met the Professor and HOD Madam Usha Das and submitted my joining letter with necessary documents which she refused to accept. Her plea was that  the person against whom I would join was on leave for which there was no vacancy. She asked me to wait till he returned back from leave . I pleaded my inability because 23rd January was the last date for joining , failing which my posting would be forfeited . But she was not in a mood to listen. I was helpless. Senior faculty members advised me to meet the principal. Prof. Das , HOD of SPM(social and preventive medicine). I had known him from my UG carrier in SCB Medical College Cuttack. He was our examiner in final MBBS examination . He was a man of principle, strict and disciplined administrator . I told him everything which he patiently listened to. Then he ordered me to join in his office and asked me to hand over the copy of the letter of joining to the HOD ObGyn. I did so.  That hurt Madam HOD.  She felt offended by my action. Most probably it hurt her ego. I had heard about her nature from the seniors how vindictive she was. 
After joining in the department, I  applied for leave from 24th December to 31st December, which she allowed. After seven days of leave, I returned to Burla on 1st January . I came to know that I was posted as labor room officer for 3 months. My duty was from 8am to 2 pm on working days. On Sundays and public holidays I was free. From April 1986 I was posted in the 2nd unit under Madam Pani. 
HOD Madam was always in search for my mistakes, irregularities and complaints against me. Dr.Rath one of the senior facilities and one or two postgraduates were engaged to report her about my shortcomings. But nothing she could find against me. However while writing the confidential character report (CCR) of the employees for the year 1985-86(from 1st April 1985 to 31st March 1986) she gave  an adverse remark against me from the period 23rd December 85 to 31st March 86. Out of that time period I was on leave from 24th to 31st December 85 and next 3 months in labor room duty. I had never met her even once during that period. Still then she wrote, "Dr Sahoo had no acquaintance in modern literature." It was against the rule to write any adverse comment in the CCR of an employee for a period of 3 months . Therefore I didn't respond to that comment and remained silent. But that adverse comment gave me stimulus to build my career. I was determined to  take up three challenges at a time, teaching, patient care and research. I excelled in every field. Prof Usha Das was transferred after a few years. But I was on the right track. During the next promotion  for Assistant Professor , research activity was included as a criterion for selection for the first time. To everyone's surprise I had the honor of having maximum number of publications. What a turnaround ! The man who was black listed with no acquaintance with modern literature  had come out with record breaking performance.

In this anecdote I was a victim in two situations. First one was at the time of joining in VSS Medical College after conquering PSC. The HOD was hostile in her behavior towards me by refusing to accept my joining report. The order of the principal added insult to her injury and she developed a hostile attitude towards me . The second was for no reason she put an adverse remark in my CCR. By the grace of God I was on the right track. 

Prof Gangadhar Sahoo is a well-known Gynaecologist. He is a columnist and an astute Academician. He was the Professor and HOD of O&G Department of VSS MEDICAL COLLEGE, Burla.He is at present occupying the prestigious post of DEAN, IMS & SUM HOSPITAL, BHUBANESWAR and the National Vice President of ISOPARB (INDIAN SOCIETY OF PERINATOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY). He has been awarded the BEST TEACHER AWARD of VSS MEDICAL COLLEGE,BURLA in 2013. He has contributed CHAPTERS in 13 books and more than 100 Scientific Articles in State, National and International Journals of high repute. He is a National Faculty in National Level and delivered more than 200 Lectures in Scientific Conventions.He was adjudged the BEST NATIONAL SPEAKER in ISOPARB NATIONAL CONVENTION in 2016.