Now the dust has settled . Exhilaration , excitement , joy , jubilation have abated . Reality is creeping in . April 1962 I am A Master in General Surgery , MS Andhra University . Now I am A Surgeon . I had A Dream and now it has come to fruition . When did all this start , way back in 1949 and now 1962 , thirteen long years of trials , tribulations , struggles , ultimately success . Way back in 1949 it was my Doctor Father's wish that I also should become a Doctor , follow His footsteps and take up His Family Practice , so the medical journey started in 1949 , three years of premedical education culminating in 1952 as me An Undergraduate MBBS medical student . My Doctor Father has seen me as a medical student in 1952 but could not wait to see me graduate six years later MBBS Andhra University in 1958 . From 1958 one year waiting , me dreaming to become A Surgeon and getting qualified to be admitted as A Post graduate student in Master's Program General Surgery from 1959 to 1962 and now my first dream bore fruit in April 1962 I became A MS General Surgery Andhra University , I had several more dreams to realize , I will come to them in due course , some fruitful and some not so , I can't win them all , but don't find fault with me I a lifelong dreamer and even today at 79 plus I have dreams . So for 13 long years Life has been one of hardship , struggle for existence financially , intellectually , academically , but in spite of all those agonizing pains Life Has Been Beautiful . I obeyed my Father , fulfilled His wish but could not take up His Family Practice as I had lost all round support and had to stand on my own two feet and face the world all alone and go forward where no member of my family has gone before me . I obeyed my Father and married the girl he chose for me , never had any idea of love , no idea of romance , no idea of dating , no idea of courting all those only in romantic novels not for me I had no time nor any inclination except to obey my Father and I am happy to say I have no regrets after 58 years of married life . Let me go back to April 1962 , now I am MS General Surgery and also me a father of two sons as on April 1962 , now in 2014 one son is an Engineer in Boston , Massachusetts , USA , and the second son Is A MS Surgeon , Hepatologist , Gastroenterologist , A Member of Liver Transplant Team all in University of Rochester Medical Center , Monroe County , Rochester , New York , USA . Okay so what about me in April 1962 - I was congratulated and blessed in Visakhapatnam by My Andhra Medical College Principal Professor Pinnamaneni Narasimha Rao , ENT , My King George Hospital Superintendent Professor VS Raghunaathan MD , HOD Surgery Professor MahankaaLi Krishnamoorthy MS , and my own Professor of Surgery Doctor Lingam Sooryanaaraayana MS . Friends I am Happy To Inform You All That Now I was promoted from Tutor in Surgery/Anesthesiology to the Position as ASSISTANT PROFESSOR of PEDIATRIC SURGERY in the same Institution under the supervision of Doctor SS REDDY , MS FRCS and a new dream started germinating and we all have to wait to see what it is , but for now as on May First 1962 I am Assistant Professor cum Pediatric Surgeon in the newly constituted first in the state a new department of Pediatric Surgery to deal with All Surgical Problems from Birth to the Age of 14 years and how is it going to be , let me take charge and will come back and let you know I promise ! AnasooyaAthreyaSeshaAnjaneyakrishna

My life as a Postgraduate student of General Surgery ( MS - Master of Surgery - General Surgery ) cum Tutor in General Surgery , Andhra Medical College / King George Hospital / Andhra University , Visakhapatnam , Andhra Bhaarath from August 1959 to April 1962 , was a three year tumultuous period , 3 years of hectic activity , sometimes frantic yet ecstatic , days without proper nourishment , at times sleepless nights , periods of exhaustion , times of exhilaration , occasional jubilation . First two years 1959 - 1961 I was totally involved in General Surgery and during the last year 1961 - 1962 I was Tutor in Anesthesiology and immersed both in Anesthetics and Surgery . During the entire three year period my day started at 7.30 AM , first making my own rounds of surgical wards - Men , Women , Children , Isolation , and Specialty wards - writing case sheet notes , dressings , suture removals , following instructions written down by senior staff , being nice to nursing staff and all round being a hard worker with all sincerity at my command . Twice a week outpatient clinic work , taking notes , assisting all my seniors and attending to my Boss in his work , twice a week operating rooms , first as a spectator , then as a second assistant , gradually promoted to being first assistant and finally allowed to do surgery under expert supervision . Then daily follow up rounds with my seniors , assistant professors and with Professor me standing well back . My duties as Tutor involved keeping an eye on first clinical year MBBS students , marking their attendance sheet , occasional guidance , and me as A PG student myself , attending to lectures by Assistant Professors , my Own Departmental Professors and some times visiting professors from Madras . Within our own department we were involved in group discussions , surgical cum journal club meetings , presenting papers , when time permits going to the library and go through voluminous books of Surgery . Then after about three months Professor summoned me to his sanctum sanctorum and ordered that I should do dissertation ( Thesis as required by University ) on Lymphadenopathy ( enlargement of lymph nodes ) with special emphasis on Cervical Lymphadenopathy ( enlargement of lymph nodes of neck - submental , submandibular , anterior&posterior jugular , pre&post auricular ) , and I need to make 5 copies , submit for approval one by the department , one to the university , one to the external examiner . one to the college library , and one my own copy , all this to be completed within the next 18 months , all this in addition to what I have already been doing and also weekly 24 hour in hospital duty and everyday evening rounds between 6PM and 7PM and if necessary get in touch with my seniors , Assistant Professors , and even the big man himself depending upon the seriousness of the situation . Now looking back to that era more than 50 years ago I am surprised how I survived that stress and strain , but I did overcome being in my late twenties . By April 1962 , I was ready with my Thesis which has been approved and commended , I could do on my own all Abdominal Gastro-intestinal surgical procedures , Femoral & Inguinal Herniorraphy , Thoracotomy , Cranial Burrhole for extradural hematoma evacuation , Orthopedic procedures , some urology and overall satisfactory general surgery covering most branches and I was fortunate in addition to becoming adept as an Anesthesiologist - Spinal , General , Endotracheal , Ambulatory bag assisted and controlled respiratory after curarization ,all of which will be a boon to me in future both in India as well in UK ( but I did not know this at hat time - I told you I keep going back and forth - you have to put up with my way of going about writing of my own life story , my privilege ) - Now The Great News April 1962 My Master of Surgery Examination Result Is Declared And I was informed That I Have satisfied two External Examiners Professors Chalapathinaidu and Ramanamoorthy gaaru , and two Internal Examiners Professors Krishnamoorthy and Sundararaamamoorthy gaaru , and my own Professor Lingam Sooryanaaraayana gaaru , I Doctor Balakrishna Murthy Ramaraju MBBS will henceforth be MS Master of Surgery General Surgery Andhra University Visakhapatnam which was registered by Andhra Medical Council April 1962 Gazette Notification as Doctor Balakrishna Murthy Ramaraju , MBBS , MS General Surgey and eligible for promotion as Assistant Professor - let us wait and see what Assistant Professorship is waiting around the corner , but for the present at the age of 28 my head is in clouds with my feet firmly on ground and I have achieved something which none of my family members ever expected that I am capable of something - for generations past in my family I am the first Post Graduate , but believe me I am neither arrogant , nor head strong except I am happy for myself , a little indulgence on my part - let me enjoy my glory and wait for me if you will . AnasooyaAthreyaSeshaAnjaneyakrishna

MS Gen Surgery by drbalakrishna I will take you through two years August1959 - May 1961of my postgraduate general surgery training leading to failure , disappointment , shame , pain , humiliation . I want friends to understand my pain , but I don't want you to share my failure . But all that I did overcome and tasted success in April 1962 and later I will share that belated joy . Failure was a blessing in disguise as I becam...e a specialist in another branch of Medicine , Anesthesiology , May 1961 - April 1962 , which will come to my rescue in future ( 1968 ) when in England and I will speak about it at the appropriate time . As I write about my life I keep going back and forth and that is how I like to go about it as it will take away the monotony of narration and keeps my mind alert and my brain active . But now is the time to give a comprehensive view of my general surgery training . In my Professor Lingam Sooryanaaraayana General Surgical Unit , I am the junior most of three postgraduate students - 1. DR P P Sreedhararao of Amalapuram East Godavari District , 2. DR S Balaraamakrishna of Gudivada Krishna District , 3. myself . Not only I had to obey the orders of Departmental two Assistant Professors Doctors G M N Swaamy MS and E N B Sarma MS , but also follow instructions from my two senior PG students as they are sort of my guides . Of course The Boss my Professor never even looked at me for the first three months but I know the great man is aware of me . In our general surgical unit there are four wards all dispersed in different areas of AMC / KGH huge campus , up hill , down hill- 1. Men's ward , 2. Women's ward , 3. Children's ward ( Pediatric Surgery is not yet a separate speciality in 1959 , but it will be in 1962 and I am going to be the first Assistant Professor of Pediatric Surgery AMC / KGH , AU in 1962 ) , and 4. Infectious surgical unit for cases of Tetanus , Gangrene , Cellulitis , Abscesses . Of course you all understand , I am speaking in a lighter vein , Men's ward is for hydroceles , hernias et cetera ; Women's ward is for mastectomies et cetera , Children's ward is for congenital abnormalities , cleft lips , and all surgical problems up to the age of 12 years . Now that I gave you a bird's ( I Like Eagle ) eye view of the infrastructure , back ground , foreground , the anatomy , the skeleton , the man power , the frame work of my General Surgery Unit of Professor Lingam Sooryanaaraayana MS , I can confidently take you along with me on my daily routine as a tutor , as a post graduate student , as the junior most cog in the giant wheel , part of it joy , at times pain , a burden to shoulder , a gradual ascent in academic life for the next two years August 1959 - April 1962 , but you have to wait and stick around , don't go away , I will be back !AnasooyaAthreyaSeshaAnjaneya

Welcome , join me in my Surgical Journey learning in the halls , corridors of AMC / KGH / AUW , up & down walks on foot along the streets of Visakhapatnam for necessities of physical existence , Bay of Bengal beach for occasional relaxation from stress & strain of burdens - intellectual as well survival , climb up Dolphin's Nose ( a hillock ) to take in the panoramic view of Bay of Bengal , and a sacred trip to pay Obeisance to Simachalam Lakshmi Narasimha Swaamy Vaari Temple . By this time you all know that AMC stands for Andhra Medical College , KGH for King George Hospital , AUW for Andhra University Waltair , a journey that lasted for four years in three stages from last week of August 1959 to first week of 1963 .Let me give you a preview of that momentous journey of three stages . First stage from August 1959 to May 1961 - first stop , engine failure - struggles and travails - struggle for existence - financial , intellectual , failure and disappointment . Second stage from May 1961 to April 1962 , a period of humility and eventual overcome of failure . Third stage from May 1962 to first week of May 1963 first steps as a qualified surgeon . As I am about to embark on that journey way back in August of 1959 it is my sacred duty to pay my respects & regards to All Those Stalwarts who made that journey possible - First and foremost my Late Father Doctor Subbarao gaaru who passed away in 1957 while I was still in my Last Year of Final MBBS - May His Soul Rest In Peace - three fold peace , Saanthi thrayam - Jeeva Aathma Saanthi Peace to Eternal Soul , Bhouthika Saanthi Peace to Physical Body that was consigned to fire and ashes immersed in Holy River Ganges ( Ganga ) , Daivika Saanthi Peace to Divine Aspect of Soul . Let me move on and follow the protocol of my gratitude to the hierarchy - 1. DR K N Rao gaaru of Indian Medical Service , Director Of Medical Education ; he is the son in law of Philosopher cum Statesman Pandit Sarvepally Radhakrishnan gaaru second President of Bhaarath ( India ) Republic .K N Rao gaaru served as a Physician to Graet Hero Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and a WHO Consultant , A Great Personality .( flash forward to 1992 for a few months I myself was Director of Medical Education AP ) . 2 . Professor P N Rao gaaru of ENT Department , the then Principal of AMC . 3. Professor V S Raghunaathan gaaru of Medicine Department , the then Medical Superintendent of KGH ( flash ahead to 1990 I myself will be Medical Superintendent of GGH Guntur ) . 4. Surgical Faculty of five General Surgical Units : a. Professor Mahankaali Krishnamoorthy gaaru , First Surgeon and HOD Surgery ( 1989 I myself will be HOD General Surgery GMC / GGH Guntur ) , b. 2nd Surgical Unit Professor B Sundararaamamoorthy gaaru , a great Surgeon just back from Indian Army Surgical Service , hopelessly addicted to Alcohol - Sorry Sir I don't mean any disrespect , c. 3rd Surgical Unit Professor B Shanmukheswararao gaaru , a sedate capable surgeon , d. 4th Surgical Unit Professor Lingam SooryanaaraayaNa gaaru , my boss under whom I am going to work as Tutor in General Surgery , Post Graduate student Master of Surgery MS General Surgery for the next two years 1959 - 1961 , more about him at a later stage , e. 5th Surgical Unit is An Honorary General Surgery Unit - Professor M V Ramanamoorthy gaaru a retired Director of Medical Education Madras Presidency . These are the Pancha Paandavas Five Surgical Stalwarts from whom I learnt all that I know about Surgery and my thanks also are due to others - Assistant Professors Department Of Surgery - Raamprathaaparao gaaru, K Pitchayya gaaru , E N B Sarma gaaru , G M N Swaamy gaaru , Professor of Orthopedics C Vyaaghreswarudu gaaru , Professors of Neuro Surgery B Raamamoorthy gaaru and B Dayanandarao gaaru , Professor of Cardio Thoracic Surgery K Sadaasivam gaaru . I bow to each one of them Manasaa ( in thought ) , Vachasaa ( in word ) , KarmaNa ( in action ) , Aathmana ( in spirit ) , Buddheyana ( in wisdom ) , Dehena api ( in body also = physically ) . Now I am happy I remembered all those great personalities , a sign that my mental faculty is normal - no amnesia or dementia and am ready to take you with me along the afore mentioned First Stage 8 / ' 59 - 5 / ' 61 - let me catch my breath and I am sure you also need to get away from me for a while - see you soon ! AnasooyaAthreyaSeshaAnjaneyakrishna

Now I am on my way of becoming A General Surgeon . On one fine morning in August 1959 I stepped out of Madras - Howrah Mail on to the platform of Waltair ( Visakhapatnam ) Railway Station , a station under the administrative jurisdiction of South East Railway Section of Bhaarath ( Indian ) Railways . I got into a cycle rikshaw and proceeded towards the down town of Visakhapatnam . I took up a temp...orary lodging and went in search of a rental property and was lucky to find a small two room portion in a corner house in third line Official Colony , Maharanipet ,Visakhapatnam 2 . The house belongs to A Vaishnavaite Brahmin Family managed by a middle aged childless couple - Srimathi Krishnavenamma gaaru and Sri Vaikhunttam gaaru . Rent Rupees 70 per month . I paid first month's rent in advance and settled down what little luggage I had just enough to get by . The house is right across the back side of King George Hospital with a small wicket gate serving as entrance . I can just walk across to my place of work , learning , my alma mater for the next four years . With the help of kind house owners I was able to engage the services of an elderly maid Varaalamma to fetch drinking water from a nearby municipal water tap as my rental house had only a well so deep and that too only of salt water and a house maid Kamalamma , both maids I paid Rupees 25 per month ( total Rs 50 pm ) , now that my pay as Tutor in Surgery is Rupees 250 per month - rent Rs 70 plus Maid service Rs 50 = Total Rs 120 plus Rs 100 for sustenance and other utilities - so just about able to eke out . With domestic arrangements settled I reported to duty as Tutor in Surgery , Assistant to Surgeon , MS General Surgery P G student to third General Surgical Unit of Professor Lingam Sooryanaarayana gaaru and my PG Education cum Practical Training as A General Surgeon is on Rails with effect from the last week in August 1959 and scheduled for completion by June 1961 if I can ( needs to be seen what happens and what future has in store for me ) . So friends wish me well and be with me as I take you through my PG MS General Surgery at AMC / KGH ./ Andhra University - Visakhapatnam - bear with me if you have time and patience ----