Dr. Peon, PhD
and our DEGREES
and our DEGREES
Writer : Dr. T. Rama Prasad
At the outset, I would like to say that India is full of bright students who have the potential to prove their capacity as the best in the world. Many did so, and many Indian PhDs elevated the standards of teaching and research admirably. But many more couldn't excel due to the 'not-praiseworthy' educational systems and lack of opportunities. Unfortunately, they ended up like the "watchman" below.
The best joke heard in the recent years:
Parents asked a college watchman: "Is this a good college?"
Watchman: "Must be the best. I studied BE here & got this campus placement."
Opinions and projections connected with this subject are loaded with bias and logic as well, as it is difficult to draw a line between what is right and what is wrong, and between common and uncommon. Readers may draw their own conclusions depending upon their experience and perception.
To my consternation, I read the news that 255 doctorates (PhD degree holders) are in the race, out of 23 lakh applicants, for 368 peon posts in the secretariat of Uttar Pradesh government in India. And while more than 1.5 lakh graduates have applied for the jobs, the number of post graduates is 24,969. (The New Indian Express)
Click on:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/73677278.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Equally shocking is the news in TNIE, May 31, 2018 :
What does this mean ? India has the highest number of highly qualified people in the world.
Er. Waiter, B.E.
"On his resume, engineer M. Rajesh from Tirunelveli is a mechanical engineer, but for a living he works as a waiter at a restaurant in Chennai."
For 14 posts of sanitary workers in the Secretariat, nearly 5,000 persons applied including engineers and postgraduates.
Civil engineer R. Maheshan is loading and unloading goods in lorries, and also appearing for bank and competitive examinations. More information is in the photo below.
REEL and REAL
Did they study MBA to sell kerchiefs & doormats to the passers-by on roads ? The situation is real. Out of curiosity, I entered into conversation with some graduates pestering people coming out of restaurants to buy books, kerchiefs, etc. One BE graduate told me that he was in a 'software' job for sometime, and that he is more comfortable and earning more by selling the petty items on the road. Some sales girls & boys in malls told me that they couldn't get a job related to their graduate degrees.
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| The Times of India. January 28, 2020 |
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/73677278.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Equally shocking is the news in TNIE, May 31, 2018 :
What does this mean ? India has the highest number of highly qualified people in the world.
Er. Waiter, B.E.
"On his resume, engineer M. Rajesh from Tirunelveli is a mechanical engineer, but for a living he works as a waiter at a restaurant in Chennai."
For 14 posts of sanitary workers in the Secretariat, nearly 5,000 persons applied including engineers and postgraduates.
Civil engineer R. Maheshan is loading and unloading goods in lorries, and also appearing for bank and competitive examinations. More information is in the photo below.
REEL and REAL
Did they study MBA to sell kerchiefs & doormats to the passers-by on roads ? The situation is real. Out of curiosity, I entered into conversation with some graduates pestering people coming out of restaurants to buy books, kerchiefs, etc. One BE graduate told me that he was in a 'software' job for sometime, and that he is more comfortable and earning more by selling the petty items on the road. Some sales girls & boys in malls told me that they couldn't get a job related to their graduate degrees.
An applicant for a Grade IV job is an MBBS doctor !!!
Read further below about FALLEN STANDARDS and SCAMS in MEDICAL EDUCATION.
A survey by Wheelbox Employability Skills Test (WEST) showed that only 34 per cent of our graduates have employability skills. Another survey indicated that only 19 per cent of engineering and 5 percent of non-engineering graduates are employable. Most of our schools and colleges follow the theme of rote-learning and scoring high marks sans thinking, creativity and innovation.
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So, we shall have more Ph.Ds applying for PEON posts, and we may boast that our country has the highest number of doctorates in the world !!! |
OUR SACRED TEMPLES OF LEARNING
Corrupt practices in the field of education grabbed headlines in news media in February 2018 with the arrest of the Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University on February 2, 2018 on charges of accepting a bribe from an assistant professor. His predecessor was also alleged to be involved in corrupt practices and had been under the scanner of the DVAC. And, a former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University, Coimbatore was convicted to five years of rigorous imprisonment on charges of demanding and accepting bribes. And read the following about research guides and PhD bribes.
'GURUDAKSHINA' in 2024 of the 'KALIYUGA' !!!
COST of a PhD
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/73677278.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tns-phd-factories/articleshow/73677278.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/73677278.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tns-phd-factories/articleshow/73677278.cms
Dr. Constable, MBBS
I may write hundreds of pages on this subject, but you are already sleepy. Stifling many a yawn you had patiently read this crashing bore. Thanks. Goodnight.
Dr. T. Rama Prasad
‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic
PERUNDURAI, Erode Dt., TN, India
Former Medical Superintendent (Special), RTS & IRT Perundurai Medical College
and Research Centre, Perundurai
THE VALUE OF OUR DEGREES AND EDUCATION
“It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.”
--- Niccolo Machiavelli
We have eminent and excellent scholars who hold only Indian educational qualifications. And we have the kind like Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google Inc. According to the Times Higher Education (THE) magazine’s “Asia University Rankings -2014” survey, as many as 10 Indian institutions (6 are IITs) were in the top 100 in Asia.
But, sadly, there was no Indian institution in the top 200 in the THE world university rankings for 2014-15. Even the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Punjab University were in the 276 – 300 range. There was no Indian Institute for engineering and technology in the list of top 100 universities. And we have the dubious distinction of having more number of engineering institutions and producing more number of engineers than any other country in the world. However, It is gratifying to note that IISc, Bengauru, and IIT-Delhi made it to the Top 200 of QS World University Rankings of 2015-16.
A survey by Wheelbox Employability Skills Test (WEST) showed that only 34 per cent of our graduates have employability skills. Another survey indicated that only 19 per cent of engineering and 5 percent of non-engineering graduates are employable. Most of the schools and colleges follow the theme of rote-learning and scoring high marks sans high-order thinking, creativity and innovation. The shackles of archaic methods of education are to be broken to widen the horizons of young minds. Please read the ‘Scribblings’ under the headings of ‘Dr. Peon, PhD’ and ‘SCHOOL EDUCATION’ on this blog.
At the IISc convocation in 2015, the iconic Infosys founder Narayana Murthy lamented that there had been no breakthrough research of any significance from the IISc in all its years of existence. This is because research productivity in our institutions is usually measured by the number of publications in journals which lead to a culture of individualism, secrecy and mistrust. Tacit knowledge can’t be fully shared in the absence of epistemic equality between differing kinds of knowledge repositories. The microscopic research may well result in a marginal increase in the huge stock of scientific knowledge, but may not fulfil the wish of J.N. Tata who founded IISc. He wished that the research would bring about the well-being of the nation through advanced scientific research and large-scale industrialisation.
Even the Indian Science Congress(ISC) is in for criticism (2016). India-born Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan termed it “a circus where very little science was discussed.” B.G. Sidharth, Director of BM Birla Science Centre called it a “Kumbh Mela of science.” It was questioned in an editorial: “So, has it become a platform for pleasing political masters, an annual jamboree sans serious science ?” (http://www.newindianexpress.com/editorials/Stop-The-Circus-Stick-to-Science/2016/01/09/article3218376.ece )
In India we have intelligent youngsters with high knowledge quotient who have no idea how to go out and work in the field and who have the Indian desire for a white collar job. Somebody said that Indian education is all about marks and documentation, not about skills and application. Yes, we are bemused by what is happening. We have to have a relook at our education systems and ruminate on the subject. One may take a hint from the extraordinarily successful movie "Three Idiots" which is a satire on India's structured education system and the social pressures.
LITERATE COOLIES
It is no wonder that we are considered to be very good literate ‘coolies’ (labourers) in India and abroad, in various fields including software industry and medical industry! According to the National Employability Report of Engineering Graduates prepared by Aspiring Minds (2011), out of the five lakh engineers passing out every year in India, a dismally low percentage of 2.68 of them are employable in IT product companies, only 3.51 are appropriately trained to be directly deployable on projects, and a mere 17.45 are employable for the IT services sector! One can judge the quality of the education dished out, from this scenario.
And it should be shocking to know that 255 doctorates (Ph.D. degree holders) are in the race for 368 peon posts in the secretariat of Uttar Pradesh government. And while more than 1.5 lakh graduates have applied for the jobs, the number of post graduates is 24,969 (TNIE, 17 September, 2015). Passing the fifth standard examination and knowing how to ride a bicycle are the minimum qualifications for the post of a peon.
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Like 'Votes -for -Cash', we have 'Marks-for-Money'. |
And, in the Karnataka Health Department at least 2 engineering graduates and 4 post-graduates have been selected in January, 2016 for Group ‘D’ posts for which the minimum qualification is SSLC pass, and the duty obligations include menial work like cleaning mortuaries, labour wards, operation theatres, etc. The State Health Commissioner is reported to have stated that the scenario is the same across the country. (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/engineers-postgraduates-vie-for-karnataka-group-d-posts/article8176694.ece ).
Sacred Vice-Chancellors
Sacred Vice-Chancellors
And commercialisation is built into the system. The NIPFP study pointed out that private education is soaked in black money. Mediocrity is glorified and money is minted. It is no secret that political influence and monetary strength played a role in the appointment of some Vice-Chancellors in universities. “Former Vice-Chancellor sent to jail” is the headline of a news report about a Vice-Chancellor who is accused of indulging in corruption and acquiring assets disproportionate to his known sources of income (The Hindu, August 24, 2016). A former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University-Coimbatore was convicted to five years rigorous imprisonment on charges of demanding and accepting bribe (The Hindu, November 6, 2016).
"When politicians or money helps a person to become a Vice-Chancellor, the universities are caught in plain open corruption,” said Mr. S.Krishnaswamy, Tamil Nadu Federation of Universities Faculty Associations (The Hindu – Education Plus). Former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University, Dr. Kalanidhi alleged that Vice-Chancellor posts were ‘sold’ for a huge amount, resulting in denigration in the quality of education and research (TNIE, June 11, 2011).
Assistant professor Nirmala Devi seems to have thrown open a can of worms after being taken into judicial custody for allegedly luring a few girl students to do "certain things" at the behest of senior Madurai Kamaraj University officials. The case has been transferred to CB-CID. Commenting on the events of this case, R.Murali, former Principal of Madura College and State General Secretary, People's Union for Civil Liberties (Tamil Nadu & Puducherry), said, "It is indeed true that the post of a Vice Chancellor in Tamil Nadu is up for grabs, quite akin to bidding, where money and political influence are the key factors determining the appointment. The highest bidder gets the post." And, S. Vanchinathan, an advocate at the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court and the State Coordinator, People's Rights Protection Centre is reported to have said that the Vice Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University was appointed at a time when a case of attempt to murder a retired professor of the university was registered against him and that the appointment of the previous Vice Chancellor was in violation of the rule which stipulates that a candidate should have 10 years of professorship at the university (The New Indian Express, 18.04.2018).
Assistant professor Nirmala Devi seems to have thrown open a can of worms after being taken into judicial custody for allegedly luring a few girl students to do "certain things" at the behest of senior Madurai Kamaraj University officials. The case has been transferred to CB-CID. Commenting on the events of this case, R.Murali, former Principal of Madura College and State General Secretary, People's Union for Civil Liberties (Tamil Nadu & Puducherry), said, "It is indeed true that the post of a Vice Chancellor in Tamil Nadu is up for grabs, quite akin to bidding, where money and political influence are the key factors determining the appointment. The highest bidder gets the post." And, S. Vanchinathan, an advocate at the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court and the State Coordinator, People's Rights Protection Centre is reported to have said that the Vice Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University was appointed at a time when a case of attempt to murder a retired professor of the university was registered against him and that the appointment of the previous Vice Chancellor was in violation of the rule which stipulates that a candidate should have 10 years of professorship at the university (The New Indian Express, 18.04.2018).
CORRUPT PRACTICES
Conduct and evaluation in examinations is bogged in the mire of malpractices, from the elementary level to the top across the country. One recent (2017) example is that of an IPS officer who was caught red-handed trying to cheat during the main examination of UPSC. He was using very sophisticated methods to copy through mobile phone, Bluetooth earpiece and some other electronic gadgets concealed in the folds of his shirt, with the help of an IAS coaching centre (The Hindu, November 5, 2017). You may read more about such things elsewhere on this blog.
CORRUPT COLLEGES
Lucrative business in education brought about a mushroom growth of substandard colleges. It is appalling to see in a newspaper (TNIE, June 8, 2011) that the apex regulatory body, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has found that only one per cent of the 1,450 technical institutions, including 486 engineering colleges in one State in India met the prescribed standards ! Several institutions, hardly having any training facilities, lure candidates with a false guarantee of placement in India or abroad and use them as free manpower in their institutions The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has recently (2015) pulled up some institutions which projected a guarantee of 100 per cent placement.
“ACTING” FACULTY !
It is an open secret that many colleges, including engineering, medical and paramedical colleges, employ “acting” faculty members for a few days and show “hired” equipment when University affiliation or Council inspection teams visit the colleges for the purpose of certifying for grant of recognition. Tutors, lecturers, professors et al land one day before the inspection date, sign the fake attendance registers/documents, collect the “acting fee” and pack off at the end of the day. Don’t ask the silly question:“Can’t the inspection teams easily find this fraud ?”, forgetting that the world is driven by money ! Sometimes, the same drama is enacted officially by government colleges by transferring staff and equipment from one of its colleges, for a day or two, to one of its colleges undergoing inspection. The inspection dates are notified in advance by the inspection teams.
At last, after being nudged by the Delhi High Court, the Medical Council of Indiahad (February 2014) decided to conduct only surprise inspections in colleges, giving the managements no room to hoodwink the inspecting teams. Don’t say ‘No way’ !
Analysis of data from the All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE) showed that over 90 per cent of engineering colleges in eight major States in India have at least one teacher whose name also features on the rolls of another college, and that there are at least 50,000 such ‘duplicate’ teachers (The Hindu, May 11, 2015). The ‘open secret’ is now proved to be true.
VALUELESS DEGREES
As such, deplorably, degrees of most of our Indian colleges and universities are not considered to be equally valuable abroad, though recognised officially. Even most of the research degrees like Ph.D. are of mediocre standard and products of ‘copy-cat’ and‘me-too’ type of research. S. Ignacimuthu, former Vice Chancellor of University of Madras said: “Most of the research work done in India is repetitive. It is unfortunate that people are adept in copying even published data. We do not have the self discipline and ethical standards” (TNIE, 14 Dec. 2012). “Swaranjit Singh Cameotra, a senior scientist at the Chandigarh-based Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) lab, was removed from service early this month (July 2016) for fabricating data in three papers published in 2013 in a scientific journal PLOSONE. All the three papers were retracted by the journal in July 2014” (The Hindu, July 23, 2016). The University Grants Commission’s stipulations for teaching appointments and promotions is the main cause for the mushroom growth of Ph.D. ‘scholars’. One goes after Ph.D. not out of passion for research. It is for climbing the career ladder. Collaboration with high profile foreign universities is shunned as it would require transparency and commitment to quality.
Even otherwise, degrees have only a symbolic value, not intrinsic value. They only mean that one had formally passed the examination – not necessarily that one has the knowledge necessary to earn and hold the degree! This is a well-known fact, at least, in India. Even if the degree holder has the required knowledge at the time of passing the examination, the degree does not ensure updating of knowledge as years and decades pass by when the knowledge acquired at the time of passing the examination would have become obsolete at a rapid pace. An ability to learn and unlearn, quickly, after obtaining degrees will be crucial for good knowledge and wisdom.
“Knowledge comes from learning; Wisdom comes from unlearning.”
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.”
--- Alvin Toffler
FALLEN STANDARDS and SCAMS in MEDICAL EDUCATION
HEAL THYSELF -- RICKETY MEDICAL EDUCATION & ETHICS
Once, the Editor-in-Chief of the British Medical Journal said: "The private medical schools that are burgeoning in India need to be properly overseen so that the new generation of Indian doctors coming through have proper ethical and moral codes and as said in the editorial, if that doesn't happen, there are ways in which other countries in the world where Indian doctors want to go and practice can say we won't accept you unless your bodies make the necessary changes. …” ( http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/stoi/all-that-matters/Stop-corruption-or-other-nations-could-turn-away-Indian-doctors-Fiona-Godlee/articleshow/44372779.cms (October 5, 2014). )
Governments and private bodies vie with each other in establishing more medical colleges which may mostly be of a substandard quality. In course of time, a day may come when medical colleges may meet the same fate of some of the engineering colleges of today -- many seats may not be filled up, and some private colleges may have to be closed.
Deteriorating standards in medical education and ethics is a matter of grave concern. Recently, in March 2024, one State Health Department formed a committee to probe a flurry of complaints by students about POOR QUALITY of teaching at 11 medical colleges. And, it is reported (May, 2024) that the National Medical Commission had sent notices to several medical colleges (both private and government) across India of a fine for deficiencies in faculties and clinical material. It’s an open secret that over a very long period the deficiencies were made up by ‘ghost’ faculty members and patients as and when ‘Inspection Teams’ arrive (https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-medical-education-in-india .).
It's obvious that one doesn’t teach ethics in medical schools. Public trust in the quality of the ‘Noble Profession’ thus melts away.
And here is a long-standing and historically reputed public medical college in Kolkata in West Bengal, RG Kar Medical College. Read the report below about the alleged sordid happenings in this medical college -- threats to fail in the examinations if money is not parted with, physical and mental torture, sexual misconduct, etc. Are these 'noble deeds' ? This is the same college where a post-graduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and killed inside the campus. Various unethical things may be going on in many medical colleges, but only very rarely they come into the public view.
BITTER P
Irregularities in medical education is one of the issues which prompted four senior Supreme Court judges to call for an unprecedented press meet to publicly criticise the Chief Justice of India on January 12, 2018. INCREDIBLE JUDICIARY ! "NO, YOUR. HONOUR !" is the bold headline on the front page of a newspaper (TNIE, January 13, 2018). "Perhaps, in a first in the annals of Indian judicial history, four senior Supreme Court judges publicly criticised Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra over the allocation of cases at a press conference in New Delhi on January 13, 2018. The revolt against the Chief Justice has been months in the making when in November 2017 he declared himself as "the master of the roster" and overruled an order by Justice Chelameswar assigning a five-judge bench to look into allegations of bribes paid to senior judges in a medical college scam. This is an extraordinary event in the history of any nation, more particularly this nation, and an extraordinary event in the institution of judiciary.
"And, one president of the Medical Council of India was in jail for allegedly amassing wealth (Rs. 1,800 crore) through corrupt practices in medical education like facilitating official recognition to some substandard medical colleges.
"And, one president of the Medical Council of India was in jail for allegedly amassing wealth (Rs. 1,800 crore) through corrupt practices in medical education like facilitating official recognition to some substandard medical colleges.
Read more of it in : https://drtramaprasad.blogspot.com/2024/05/the-noble-profession.html
We are completely flummoxed to know that our unenviable standards of even those who studied at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) were exposed in a despatch in the Guardian (U.K.) by Geoffrey Moorehouse, as early as 1970s. He stated that a British telecast programme equated Indian doctors to "senior nurses" in proficiency (The Hindu, May 28, 1975) ! That was about four decades ago.
Even in 2014, more than 40 years later, “Indian doctors in the U.K. are worried by recent media reports that have questioned the competence and training of Indian doctors. The Daily Telegraph in a report on May 6, 2014 used GMC-generated figures to claim that doctors from India are four times as likely to be struck off the U.K. medical register than those who are trained in U.K.” (The Hindu, May 11, 2014). And, shamefully, newspapers carried the news that the CBI has unearthed a racket in the recently held AIIMS postgraduate examinations and manipulation in Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets, with the arrest of seven persons (The Hindu, Vol. 134, No. 135, 2011). This reflects our standards !
THE TIMES OF INDIA newspaper (July 16, 2018) reported: " Students with -ve marks in NEET admitted for MBBS ... 400 students with single digit marks and 110 with zero or negative marks in physics and chemistry have been admitted for MBBS in 2017, mostly in private colleges ... tuition fees was about Rs. 17 lakh per annum showing how rich students with abysmal NEET marks have effectively been able to buy their way into medical colleges ... NEET, promising a merit-based selection, was meant to prevent exactly this ..."
THE TIMES OF INDIA newspaper (July 16, 2018) reported: " Students with -ve marks in NEET admitted for MBBS ... 400 students with single digit marks and 110 with zero or negative marks in physics and chemistry have been admitted for MBBS in 2017, mostly in private colleges ... tuition fees was about Rs. 17 lakh per annum showing how rich students with abysmal NEET marks have effectively been able to buy their way into medical colleges ... NEET, promising a merit-based selection, was meant to prevent exactly this ..."
An editorial comment in the BMJ in 2016 focussed on the deplorable situation, and called for a radical revamp of the MCI (http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/british-medical-journal-calls-for-radical-revamp-of-mci/article8418954.ece ). The BMJ praised the parliamentary committee and urged the Indian government to take immediate steps for the overhaul of country’s medical education regulator, the MCI (http://www.ibtimes.co.in/british-medical-journal-urges-indian-govt-overhaul-medical-council-india-673095 ). The report is a severe indictment of the MCI and the Central government for failing to stop ‘sale’ of medical seats, having conflicts of interest influenced by corporate hospitals, sanctioning recognition and accreditation to unworthy institutions, etc. By government’s own admission, the systems are considerably corrupt (http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/medical-council-needs-urgent-therapy/article8423556.ece ).
It may be recalled that the president of the MCI was arrested by the CBI, and the President of India signed an ordinance on May 15, 2010 to dissolve the Executive Council of the MCI. The president of the MCI who was supposed to be the highest controller, guardian and watchdog of the standards of medical education and the ethics of medical profession all over India was alleged to have gorged in enormous sums to the tune of Rs. 1,800 crore (as reported by media) to facilitate official recognition to some substandard medical colleges through illicit means. One is completely flummoxed by the scandalous 'Mother of medical scams' of the 'Father of medical ethics’! This episode appears all the more squalid as it involves the highest guardian of medical ethics who embraced hubristic power.
The Medical Council of India, which is supposed to be the nation's conscience keeper when it comes to medical education and services, suffered the ignominy of being "fined" to pay up an "exemplary cost" of Rs. 1 crore by the Madras High Court for indirectly helping private medical colleges its on code on 50 - 50 medical college seat surrender (docoplexus, May 4, 2017).
The famous Latin query “QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES ?” (meaning “Who watches the watchmen ?”) is very relevant to the systems wherein it is often the wrongdoer who is authorised to correct the wrongdoers. And it is like Satan quoting scriptures !
The Medical Council of India, which is supposed to be the nation's conscience keeper when it comes to medical education and services, suffered the ignominy of being "fined" to pay up an "exemplary cost" of Rs. 1 crore by the Madras High Court for indirectly helping private medical colleges its on code on 50 - 50 medical college seat surrender (docoplexus, May 4, 2017).
The famous Latin query “QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES ?” (meaning “Who watches the watchmen ?”) is very relevant to the systems wherein it is often the wrongdoer who is authorised to correct the wrongdoers. And it is like Satan quoting scriptures !
The Honorary Secretary, PPLSSS of the Indian Medical Association, TN, wrote in a publication of the Indian Medical Association, TN that “... Acquiring medical degree is now become very easy. But empowering knowledge is not that much easy. Degree can be purchased knowledge cannot be. As you know, little knowledge is always harmful. ” (TIMA News Letter, vol.03, issue 11, December 2010). To know more about the “Great Medical Education Bazaar” in India go to http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/the-great-medical-education-bazaar/article4841270.ece . And there is a much bigger “bazaar” for paramedical courses offered by institutions with no proper facilities for educating and training.
The “Vyapam Scam - 2015” – medical college admissions and examinations fraud, a series of mysterious deaths and powerful figures on the dock – is a blot on our systems ( http://www.thehindu.com/sunday-anchor/autopsy-of-a-scam/article7411616.ece ). A conservative estimate of the ‘Dental and Medical Admission Test (DMAT)’ scam, which relates to admissions into private medical and dental colleges in Madhya Pradesh, is said to be around Rs. 10,000 crore (The Hindu, August 15, 2015).
FAKE LAW DEGREE RACKET
In contrast, the standard (there are fake ones there also) Western educational centres, especially those in the US, stand out as institutions of excellence. Read on this blog the letter of Prof. V.S. Ramaswami, MBBS, BSSc, MPH (Johns Hopkins, USA) (Professor at various medical colleges) written to me as long back as September 9, 1987, to see his caustic remarks on this subject. For immediate reference, I quote just a few sentences from his letter:
Dear Dr.Rama Prasad,
"... There is no place for scholars and intellectuals like you. And liars, Nixons and their like have their heyday. Medical and other professions have reached their lowest ever levels, and ethics and professional efficiency have no place in the commercialisation of the profession. A generation of teachers has been wiped out and so there is none eager or competent to teach and none eager to learn ... "
--- V. S. Ramaswami
ABERRANT
It may sound strange, but I didn’t have a nameplate displaying my name, until recently, outside my consultation chamber. Also, my degrees of qualifications are not printed on my prescription papers. And I did not even care to collect the University Prize certificate and prize material of Dr. R. Viswanathan (Father of Chest Medicine in India) Prize awarded to me for top performance at my post-graduate university examination ! Eccentric, did you say ?
Decades ago, my colleagues said that without displaying a string of high-end degrees at the end of one’s name, one cannot be considered as an outstanding medical specialist. I threw a challenge to them that I would create that image without using any degree. After several years, they conceded that I had done it. Even then, I decided to continue the same characteristic -- not using degrees. It may be that I am not using the degrees because I have an image larger than life and bigger than what my qualifications would project me ! I never worked or stressed for the image, it just developed naturally. It may be more valuable to use ”My Scribbling " as a degree after my name !
“It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.” --- Niccolo Macchiavelli
UNCONVENTIONAL
Of course, it had been a tough job to go against conventions -- I dared to be different because I love to be different. You may call me a non-conformist, a rebel, a fool, a philosopher, quirky, different, exceptional, aberrant, eccentric and so on, but that’s my pleasure ! You may read the ‘Scribbling’ titled ‘GOOD OLD TIMES’ on this blog.
"A smooth sea never made a skilful mariner.”
"The path to pleasure is paved with thorns.”
THIS IS AN ABRIDGED TEXT OF MY ‘SCRIBBLING’. THE FULL TEXT WOULD BE POSTED LATER. -- T. Rama Prasad |
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