Reflections on my time at Bishop James Hospital, Jalpaiguri
In 2016 I entered Medical College, excited; full of zeal and enthusiasm, blissfully unaware of how my life would unfold in the coming few years. Those 5.5 years flew by, I learnt a lot (I’m still surprised that a human brain can hold this much information, while clearly missing out on some simple common sense at times).
In June 2022, a 23 year old medical graduate came to Jalpaiguri for her rural obligation service (2 years of working in rural healthcare, that are supposed to be the foundation of your career as a doctor); carrying a lot of doubt and worry in her heart, fear about living in a village for two whole years, away from family and friends, in a place she had never even heard of before, about the new duties and responsibilities resting on her young shoulders, but nonetheless always remembering to wear the biggest smile on her face (possibly to mask the horror she felt as she took on this new, very unfamiliar road).
I remember seeing the hospital for the first time, the warm and happy faces greeting me, my first day at work-and the confusion that took over; the first ‘emergency’ I saw and how my hands trembled a little and words fluttered as I dove head first into the deep end of this ocean of becoming a doctor. This was the day I realised that all the big books I’ve read, they were all just metal and raw material. I still needed to work my way, with fire, forging and welding ammunition I’d need on this journey; and that can only come with experience.
I remember the first time I declared death and counselled the family of my patient; the ‘defeat’ I felt in my heart and the realisation that came a little later, that no matter how hard you try, you can’t save everyone.
I remember countless hours I spent at the hospital, working, talking with patients and staff, learning lessons that one could only have the honour of experiencing in a place like this; it was magical, insane, aberrant at times, intensely challenging, even devastating, but as I look back, it was all beautiful, and somewhere in these two years I spent in this place, I grew up; from a kid with a degree to a doctor in the truest sense of the word.
I’ve had the distinct privilege of learning from the best, Dr Sushil Chacko (can be considered a local God, for the people in this village and hundreds of others) and Dr NK Gupta (A man of few words, but with the sharpest wit and the most gentle soul). They have taught me invaluable lessons in medicine and life, the ability to display true strength with gentleness, a work ethic made of steel, and most importantly they have led by example and showed me how to be a ‘Doctor’. They allowed me to make mistakes without letting it stain my morale and to truly learn from them. I’m eternally grateful for these two years, all the lives I got to touch and hopefully change for the better, everyone I worked with and learned all these incredible life lessons from. I know a ‘thank you’ doesn’t even begin to cover it, but I hope they know I’m going to carry these lessons and values in my heart till the very end.
