In the good old days, life in Sevagram was simple. The roads were dusty, the air always hot, and the village felt far removed from bustling cities. Yet amidst this simplicity, something rare filled the airโhumility.
Once upon a time, the heads of departments and deans were more than just figures of authority. They were approachable, connected to the people they served, and didnโt hesitate to step down from their offices to do the little thingsโlike meeting a young applicant at the railway station.
Dr. Rajkumar, the head of Surgery in the 1970s, was one such leader. In the summer of 1973, Dr. Ravinder Narang, a young surgeon trained at PGI and AIIMS, had come for a faculty interview for the position of Reader in Surgery. After spending a night on the boys’ hostel terrace, battling mosquitoes, he was certain of one thingโhe wanted to leave. The dusty roads, bland food, and hut-like homes held no allure for him.
After the interview, with his suitcase in hand and selection letter in his pocket, Dr. Narang stood at Wardha East station, ready to board the GT to Delhi. ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ข๐ด๐ต ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ท๐ข๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ฎ, he thought. But then, he heard the roar of a Lambretta. Dr. Rajkumar appeared, his face filled with urgency. โPlease donโt go,โ he pleaded. โStay for six more months. We need you. Things will get better.โ
Dr. Narang hesitated, but Dr. Rajkumarโs sincerity won him over. He agreed, and before long, Sevagram became his home. Dr. Narang spent the rest of his life there, becoming known for his extraordianry surgical skill.
Was this just an isolated story? Far from it. Ten years later, history was destined to repeat itself. In 1983, young Jayaram Anbalagan, an Anatomy teacher from Vijayawada, arrived for a faculty interview. As the train stopped, he was surprised to see Dr. K.S. Sachdeva, the dean, waiting for him at the railway platform. There were no phones, WhatsApp messages or emailsโjust a telegram and an old-fashioned, warm welcome.
Anbalagan was selected, quickly grew fond of the college, and spent 23 years teaching at Sevagram, where his students still remember his unforgettable lessons.
Without the Deans, their scooters, and that human touch, would Dr. Narang and Dr. Anbalagan have become a part of Sevagramโs legacy?
