By Anum Zehra Raza - D'18
I dedicate this post to my dearest friends:
the ones who made me bunk classes,
the ones who made me bunk classes,
the ones who were the reason I remained Kangaal all year,
the ones I used to come to college for, even when my timetable had two self studies,
the ones without whom I would have had a terrible time.
Last to last Saturday marked the end of my 1st year- MBBS. As many folks cherish the fact that we are 20% doctors already and that 1/5th of the torture is over, I find myself feeling increasingly overwhelmed by nostalgia. This very realization that an entire year has passed by makes me sad (or probably it's just that I have a habit of reminiscing too much).
The memories are all jumbled up. I cannot recall chronologically and being inherently lazy I am not even in a mood to try. So, I'll just write as it comes to my mind.
The memories are all jumbled up. I cannot recall chronologically and being inherently lazy I am not even in a mood to try. So, I'll just write as it comes to my mind.
The Campus
The first few days were spent exploring the campus, which was at first a letdown due to its limited expanse. Most of us had had bigger college campuses!
"Shuru hote hi khatam hojata hai", Maanu sighs every time. But soon salvage came as we discovered all our campus’ ‘hotspots’.
"Shuru hote hi khatam hojata hai", Maanu sighs every time. But soon salvage came as we discovered all our campus’ ‘hotspots’.
It was the Anatomy museum that carried the greatest attraction for freshies. Almost everyone got their pictures taken with those skeletons. Some later added effects to give them an added haunted appearance.
Then there was the 2nd floor Library/reading area which remained flooded with Firsties throughout the year. I broke up with the place right after the first module and hardly went there again.
In summers, when the weather became intolerable, every heat tormented soul of Dow would take refuge in the Digital Library owing to its better air conditioning. DL (as it’s commonly referred to) had an extra charm because of wi-fi availability.
My group's mainstay remained the stairs of the Admin block throughout, after its initial shift from the stairs of Moin auditorium.
All of us were afraid of this, more or less. I didn't get ragged so I do not have a firsthand experience to share. But I constantly got to hear ragging stories.
A crazy friend of mine volunteered herself for ragging. They made her ask lame questions from seniors such as, "Which hair oil do you use? Why do you have this same hair style every day?’’ etc.
Then there was ragging done in medical style:
Friend : Oye! How were you ragged?
Dowite: They asked me to lie in supine and prone positions.
(source: Dowite Tips- facebook page)
Dowite: They asked me to lie in supine and prone positions.
(source: Dowite Tips- facebook page)
As the myth about medical students being 'shareef' goes, there weren't any serious incidents of ragging to report, none that came to my knowledge for that matter.
NLH-1
NLH-1
NLH-1 remained our home for the entire year owing to its selection as the venue for all our lectures.
Initially, it was very difficult to sit there for 1/1.5 hours continuously. Just after 20 minutes or so, most of us would feel mentally saturated apart from the front benchers whose concentration level miraculously remained optimum at all times.
Like Mary O, many of the students were found sleeping at the end of the lecture. Some, like me, slept with open eyes (an art it is, I tell you) and zoned out frequently.
Like Mary O, many of the students were found sleeping at the end of the lecture. Some, like me, slept with open eyes (an art it is, I tell you) and zoned out frequently.
Attendance in the lecture hall remained appreciable during the first few months. A large number of students used to take notes in the beginning, but later realized it doesn't help much (as everything is given in books+ lecture outlines available online). Towards the end of the year, attendance fell greatly because Dowites'18 had important realizations such as "Parhai tou ghar mein hoti hai, University tou hum party karne jaate hain"
For some odd reason, all the air conditioners of NLH-1’re fixed to one side of the room (which naturally attracted students towards that side.) This caused right axis deviation every single time (seen more in summers).
The lectures usually went boring. It was only when someone got scolded by the professor or someone was asked to come in front of the hall, when smiles appeared and giggles could be heard.
This reminds me of the time I had been sent out of the class for drinking coffee in a class by Professor Saud. It must have been entertaining for others. I laugh at it now but back then I felt really ashamed and I had thanked God that there were less students in the class that day for it was raining outside.
What else was there for fun in the lecture hall? Umm..Tablets and cell phones! Every bench had at least one student playing games on these gadgets like a boss. Then there were some, like me, who would idly draw "not-so-artsy-doodles" to kill time without bunking class.
Some times Maanu, Mary O and I had written conversations in order not to disturb the neighboring students, who would be engorged in studying, or in some cases, snoring.

Modules and Semester exams
Towards the exams it always became hectic. Not leaving anything from the syllabus before exams has remained a dream. After leaving entire Biochemistry and Micro biology in the first and second modules respectively I have been leaving C.M and Embryology in the last two modules.
Things are not getting any easier but I feel we are getting better.
First module's question paper and the result was a real shocker, considering how tough the paper was for our first module experience.

What's amazing is that those who never scored less than 90s even in their board exams, eventually became content at 50s and 60s and in some cases even lesser (out of 100).
Semester and module result treats and celebrations remained mandatory. The one who got the highest was to to treat the rest. Aik tou bechara mehnat bhi kare and looto bhi uss he ko. *Such injustice*
The Dharna for the extension of the First Semester exams’ date is another epic memory. A large number of emails were sent to the VC and pro-VC (to no avail) and desperate attempts were made to get an appointment with the VC who deserted us even after promising us a Skype session.
Semester and module result treats and celebrations remained mandatory. The one who got the highest was to to treat the rest. Aik tou bechara mehnat bhi kare and looto bhi uss he ko. *Such injustice*
The Dharna for the extension of the First Semester exams’ date is another epic memory. A large number of emails were sent to the VC and pro-VC (to no avail) and desperate attempts were made to get an appointment with the VC who deserted us even after promising us a Skype session.
Confession Pages Saga
The time that marked the end of our first semester exams also marked the beginning of confession season. Confession pages were sprouting from every nook and corner of facebook. So, naturally, a few pages were made for our university as well. But soon these pages, which were initially created for fun, became the source of public mocking.
While some people confessed about themselves and their friends, there were others who took these pages as a platform to express ill sentiments towards fellow batch mates. This started to create rifts in our batch and people went mad on the anonymous admin.
There was a heated debate in favor or against such pages, which ultimately ended up convincing most people against them.
PWA
PWA remained the best part of first year as it engaged us as a batch. Without it we wouldn't have had such a wonderful time. From the orientation to the duties in the drug bank to road side campaigns to handicrafts to banners to the bake sale itself to the Blood Donor Day to the countless other events, everything is so memorable.
PWA
PWA remained the best part of first year as it engaged us as a batch. Without it we wouldn't have had such a wonderful time. From the orientation to the duties in the drug bank to road side campaigns to handicrafts to banners to the bake sale itself to the Blood Donor Day to the countless other events, everything is so memorable.
I remember how I used to take half an hour to give one single prescription to the people queued up at the Drug bank. I had to ask several times before I could find the medicine on my own. I miss the time when we used to make friendship bands in class, breaks and even in points.
Our PWA seniors made us feel special with all the "best of luck mujahideens" text messages before the modules and "ghazis" and "shaheedon’’ messages after.
Not only was PWA fun, it also satisfied the soul like no other! It brought us closer to our real purpose of becoming doctors. It involved us in helping save lives in all possible ways.
And above all, PWA family is love. They be our bajis and bhais and we be their bachay =')
(There is so much more to write about PWA but it will consume the whole post. So, I am leaving it here for now.)
DOW Management
You cannot expect much from a Government institution. DMC administration kept disappointing us throughout the year. From our ID cards (which we received after a month or two from our admission) to our enrolment cards and admit cards. Then there were hardly ever clear cut procedures for form/fee submissions which created a lot of confusion every time.
(There is so much more to write about PWA but it will consume the whole post. So, I am leaving it here for now.)
DOW Management
You cannot expect much from a Government institution. DMC administration kept disappointing us throughout the year. From our ID cards (which we received after a month or two from our admission) to our enrolment cards and admit cards. Then there were hardly ever clear cut procedures for form/fee submissions which created a lot of confusion every time.
I had heard stories about the infamous Admin in-charge long before my admission in DMC. The very first time I saw him was on the second day at university, when he stopped my point midway and gave a bashing to the driver. He is THE FIGURE of DMC, always threatening to snatch our cards. I am sure each one of us has had at least one not-so-nice encounter with him.
But maybe the Dow admin isn’t as bad as we think. (Just saying!!) . Once, I was bunking Patho, when Ahmed Sahab appeared suddenly.
Sir: Why aren’t you in class?
Sir: Why aren’t you in class?
Me: Sir! I don’t understand anything in class. It’s of no use.
Sir: Which class?
Me: *mortified* Patho
Sir: *laughs* No one understands Patho. It’s okay.
Me: o_O
Just then, the H.O.D was passing by. Sir called him.
Me: *gasps*
Sir: Which class?
Me: *mortified* Patho
Sir: *laughs* No one understands Patho. It’s okay.
Me: o_O
Just then, the H.O.D was passing by. Sir called him.
Me: *gasps*
Sir then talked to him about changing the teacher and he agreed.
*What's going On moment* #NotAlwaysShitHappens :D
Then there were Guard aunties who had a problem with virtually everything. "Lab coat please" "Lap coat pehnen" "Aap log yahan kyun kharen/bethen hain" "Class me jaen".
Probably they suspected us of planning to bombard the campus whenever we were found outside the lecture hall. (source: Dowite Tips- facebook page)
Once she even snatched a flower khushfehmist had. I mean, what potential danger can a flower cause or how was the flower violating any rule?
In birthday bashes, these aunties used to ask us for their share of cake, which we did give happily.
Chote Chote Maslay
Chote Chote Maslay
- B.D or KLM or Grays or Snells?
- Basic or Basis?
- Dr Nasar’s demo or Dr Sabahat’s?
- Dr Fahad’s CBL or the CBL of your respective group teacher?
- Self study in the DL or class OR nothing in both? :P
These were more than chote motay maslay for me (read: Peer Pressure), and there’s more to come on these in future posts in this blog.
Hangouts
Atrium Mall is to DMC as Dolmen Mall (Hyderi) is to KMDC.
Although Hyperstar, Portgrand and Boat Basin were frequently visited, Atrium mall remained the most popular and easiest to visit spot for our hangouts.
DMC's immediate vicinity didn't have much to offer except Food centre, Fresco’s dahi bare, Dilpasand’s ice cream and if nothing else, gan'na (sugar cane) ka juice (available right outside the university gate).
The only batch hangout was the Nashta at Boat Basin. It was followed by our batch’s one month completion celebrations. The cake was later distributed to the patients at Civil Hospital, much to the torment of the admin. :p
The only batch hangout was the Nashta at Boat Basin. It was followed by our batch’s one month completion celebrations. The cake was later distributed to the patients at Civil Hospital, much to the torment of the admin. :p
These were some flashbacks of the Good Old times. My friend, Mary O has reservations on that. She corrects me every time, "It's still all good and it's not even old. Things will remain the same, In sha ALLAH.
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