At the helm: MGIMS Student’s Section Chief

In the early seventies, when MGIMS was just beginning, many people, not just doctors and administrators, played important roles in its growth. Now, as these pioneers retire, their stories are at risk of being forgotten. It’s crucial to record and preserve their contributions for future generations.

Dr. Bipin Amin (1975) recently requested me to write about Mr. Gavli’s story. 𝗠𝗿. 𝗚𝗮𝘃𝗹𝗶 supervised this section for an impressive 24 years, from 1970 to 1994, offering vital support for students.

From a worker earning wages each day to becoming a teacher, and then rising to lead the student section, this journey is truly amazing and worth sharing.

Throughout their academic journey, students relied heavily on the student section for various needs. This man was a cornerstone of their support. For a quarter century.

I interviewed him this morning in the Medicine department, uncovering valuable insights worth sharing.

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Bapurao Krishnaji Gavli—known as BK Gavli to MGIMSonians—was born in February 1946 to Krishnaji and Vithabai, a hardworking couple in Ashti, 100 km northwest of Sevagram, in Wardha district.

Second among four siblings, Gavli attended Hutatma Rashtriya Vidyalaya in Ashti, completing his education up to the tenth grade. He not only passed his exams in first class but also achieved distinctions in Chemistry, a notable feat for the era.

With no funds to spare, he worked as a clerk at his school for a year. Then, he went to Aurangabad to pursue further education, balancing studies with a part-time job. Even with a scholarship, money problems continued, and Gavli struggled to cover expenses.

Back home, the family endured abject poverty. There was often not enough food, and often the family went to bed hungry. To support his studies, young Gavli toiled as a wage earner at the local ginning factory during the night.

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How did Mr. Gavli come to be the head of the student section at MGIMS?

In 1966, a friend, whose name he has now forgotten, invited him to Sevagram. The friend mentioned a workshop in Gandhiji’s ashram that provided lessons to local children. Mr. Satyanathan was the principal of the workshop, and his wife, Shanti Sheela, ran Anand Niketan School.

There was a vacant spot in the school: that of a science teacher. Mrs. Satyanathan asked her husband to find someone suitable from the workshop.

“I came first in the exam for the teaching job,” Gavli recalled. “They hired me as a teacher for Rs 100 a month. Students enjoyed my teaching, and the administrator appreciated my discipline,” he added.

“The school closed after two years because of no grant from the government,” Gavli explained. “I asked Mr. Murthy from the Gandhi Ashram for help. When I had no job, I did any work I could find—digging wells, weaving charpoys, and teaching students.”

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In 1969, MGIMS started, and the first students joined in August. Mr. Murthy talked to Manimala Chaudhary, who was the secretary of Kasturba Health Society at the time. She told Gavli to meet Mr. Shibendu Lahiri, who was in charge of the office at Kasturba Health Society, which managed MGIMS.

Mr. Shibendu Lahiri then introduced him to Dr. BC Harinath, who had just come back from the USA with a Ph.D. Dr. Harinath wanted to start the Biochemistry department at the institute. He asked if Mr. Gavli could learn to work as a technician in the new biochemistry lab.

But, the Government Medical College in Nagpur, where people trained for this job, closed that year. So, Gavli came back to Sevagram without a job.

Mr. Shibendu Lahiri then helped him find a new job. With 60 medical students admitted in 1969 and another batch on the way, MGIMS needed someone to handle student affairs—admissions, paperwork, fees, and attendance.

He told me I could work under Bhausaheb Deshmukh. “But he’s not easy to work with. I’ve sent four boys to him, and he fired them all. You’re the fifth. I don’t know how long you’ll last,” he warned. “Sir, I’ll do whatever his office wants me to do and make sure you won’t have to find a sixth boy for him,” he replied.

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So, Mr. Gavli found himself at the principal’s office. There was no Dean then, only a principal, and the office was near the old hospital, close to the entrance gate.

Mr. Gavli learned the ropes under Mr. Bhausaheb Deshmukh’s guidance. In those early years, he did everything asked of him, from sorting papers to organizing files on shelves.

He also mastered the art of drafting. Throughout his life, he meticulously hand-wrote communications, never relying on a typewriter. Initially, Mr. Deshmukh reviewed and corrected his drafts. Then, one morning in the mid-eighties, Mr. KS Sachdeva, the MGIMS dean, was impressed by his drafting prowess. He entrusted Mr. Gavli with the independent task of drafting letters, circulars, and communications for the student section.

In the mid-seventies, the dean and secretary offices relocated to an area previously occupied by the Charkha Sangh, where cotton was spun and woven. Today, these offices remain in the same building.

Mr. Shibendu Lahiri left in the early 1970s, and Mr. DC Jha, father of Bhavana Jha (1980) and Archana Jha (1982), took over the admin office. He was surprised to find Mr. Gavli in a role called sub-junior clerk, which didn’t really exist, and he was paid only Rs 75. Mr. Jha then helped him get promoted to junior clerk and receive a higher salary.

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In the following years, Mr. Gavli climbed the career ladder, progressing from clerk to senior clerk, head clerk, and eventually becoming the in-charge of the student section. He held this position until 1994 when he was transferred to the hospital side to oversee the registration OPD. From 1994 to 2004, he managed the registration OPD until his retirement in 2004.

Mr. Gavli served under several deans: Drs. ID Singh, ML Sharma, KS Sachdeva, BR Prabhakar, JS Mathur and BC Harinath. And administrators such as Mr. Shibendu Lahiri, DC Jha, and Bhausaheb Deshmukh. When asked about his experiences with them, he smiled and replied, “Almost all of them were nice and kind to me. I enjoyed working with them all.” Despite retiring and the deans having long since retired, Gavli opted not to share their personal quirks or challenges.

His discretion and respect for his former colleagues were evident. I admired his strong character and the enduring bonds forged during his tenure at MGIMS.

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“I did almost everything related to medical students, both undergraduates and postgraduates,” Gavli shared. “From checking application forms for PMT and running exams to collecting papers and making lists, I was very busy. I also admitted students, took their fees, handled university stuff, and kept their records in order. For 23 years, I worked hard, getting to know every student, especially those from 1970 to 1976. They mean a lot to me.”

“I frequently helped students who couldn’t pay their tuition or hostel fees. I ensured that they didn’t miss exams due to unpaid fees. I also knew that many students struggled with the admission fee of Rs 18,000 in the late 1970s, so I gave them extra time to pay their dues. No student during my tenure was denied admission to MBBS because their parents couldn’t arrange enough money at the time of admission. Many students depended on me to help them through their time at MGIMS. That’s why the first 25 batches always remembered to reach out to me during their reunions. They would thank me for the help I provided.”

“I remember walking to the stage,” I would begin, my voice thick with emotion. “My eyes would almost tear up and my throat would feel tight. As I stepped forward, they would garland me and speak such kind words about me. It was overwhelming.”

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Interestingly, Gavli never learned to use a computer or type. Instead, he relied on his neat handwriting and strong math skills, never using a calculator. This was before Nasik University existed, and before computers and the internet were available there. The student section had many old files, some damaged by moths and time, making it hard to find certain papers. Still, Gavli made sure to get everything spot on.

Despite time passing, the strong connection between students, faculty, and Mr. Gavli stayed solid. His hard work, honesty, and dedication never faded.

In Sevagram, Mr. Gavli, now 78, lives happily, surrounded by his favorite memories. Though he’s not tall, he walks with energy and stands straight. When he speaks, he chooses his words carefully to make sure they’re just right.

Grateful for his time in the student section, he looks back on those years with fondness, savoring each memory with eager delight.