I Am An FRCS

I am inching towards my goal of becoming A FRCS , Fellow Of Royal College Of Surgeons . From last week of December 1967 to the last week of September 1968 , a period of nine months , a time spent in toil , sweating , with frugal meals and at times fasting , studying , attending lectures at Royal College of Surgeons London , and with the help of books borrowed from Lewis lending library and all the struggle worth the trouble and every available period of time well spent towards achieving the purpose of my coming to England and with all thoughts of family and social life tucked away at the back of my mind I crossed the first step overcoming the hurdle of Part One of F R C S examination by end of February 1968 with success and felt on top of the world . I am now ready for Part Two of F R C S examination . I again went through intense preparation attending Clinical Lectures at Brooke general Hospital under the guidance of One Venerable British Professor Of Surgery by Name MR. Wheatley . Please note Surgeons in Britain are ' MISTERS ' whereas Physicians are Doctors . I am on my way of transformation from Doctor Murthy towards being MISTER MURTHY ( during my three year sojourn in England I was referred to as Mister Murthy ) .By the end of September 1968 I was ready to take my Final FRCS Examination and chose Edinburgh Scotland . The Royal College Of Surgeons Of Edinburgh Scotland was Founded in 1505 during The Reign Of King James IV Of Scotland and is located at Nicolson Street Edinburgh EH8 9BZ Scotland . I traveled by British Rail an express train ' Flying Scotsman ' from London Kings Cross Station to Edinburgh Waverley Station , lodged in a hotel and took My Final FRCS Examination during the last week of September 1968 and on That Memorable Day Friday 27 September 1968 I Was Declared ' MISTER MURTHY , FRCS EDINBURGH ' . My Joy knew no bounds and Ilst no time in sending a cable back home to my family about my achievement and I did not forget to inform my benefactors Sri Karri Satthireddy gaaru of Preston and Doctor Karri Nooka Raaju of Kingston upon Thames . It is time to earn my livelihood , make some money , repay 100 pounds ( I did not forget ) given to me by Sri Karri Satthireddy gaaru , and so it is time to talk about my professional experience as a surgeon , but before that I need some time to relax , recoup , replenish , and look back with joy . I will return back soon !. AnasooyaAthreyaSeshaAnjaneyakrishna

England

During those years of my stay in England from December 1967 to November 1970 , I had to focus all my energies at what I am doing in obtaining my FRCS degree and my profession as a Surgeon . My thoughts constantly go back to my family whom I had to leave at my last station of Surgical career in Bhaarath and that was in Kakinada , East Godavari District , care of an elderly Braahmin couple Srimathi and Brahma Sri Mothadaka Sathyanarayana gaaru who were kind enough to take care of them till my family had to move with reluctance on my part to in law's place at Palakol West Godavari District . It was not a happy move but what can I do however much I wished for my family to be with me in England which I could not afford at that time for lack of resources , apprehension of living conditions in a foreign land , uncertainty about my prospects in England , fear of unknown , all forces combined to force me in leaving my family behind . Now with a hind sight I regret that decision and it would have been better if I had taken my entire family to England and faced the consequences come what may . But it is now all water under the bridge and it is one of several missteps that I took in my eight decades . As I already remarked life is like a flowing river with precipitous waterfalls , floods , droughts and at times placid smooth flow . I did my best I think so given the situation at that given time , may be it is of divine purpose and predetermined and to some extent may be I alone am responsible . That is what happened which I can not undo at the present . So let me get back to that period of 1967 on wards regarding my life in England and I will be happy to share with you and it is up to you to take it at it's face value provided you have the time and inclination and my only request is not to judge me in any way which may be harsh because I am sensitive and can not stand any emotional backlash at present - so be it hakuna matata , my motto be happy not to worry . AnasooyAathreya-SeshaAnjaneyakrishna

London V

My Life In London Part Five – Food and Drink I was born A Vegetarian in An Orthodox Thelugu Braahman Family and I had been A Strict Vegetarian . My staple diet is rice with a curry , mango pickle , and buttermilk . But in Indian YMCA and in London in particular in those days of 1967 – 1970 Vegetarian food is difficult to get . I had to eat to survive . Breakfast is mostly bread toast or corn flakes and a cup of coffee. Lunch is a small bowl of rice with lentil soup . Dinner is some rice and curry or a scoop of mashed potato . I did manage with this frugal sustenance . London is famous for it’s pubs like ‘ Dog and Duck ‘ , ‘ Lamb and Flag ‘ , ‘ The Lamb ‘ , ‘ The Tavern ‘ , ‘ Black Friar ‘ , ‘ The Inn ‘ , ‘ Traveler ‘ , ‘ The Crown ‘ etc . One day out of curiosity I went to a pub with all trepidation and was fascinated by the buzzle and bon home . I was not used to any alcoholic drinks like Beer , Whisky etc and hesitatingly I approached the Bar Tender and inquired whether he has Any Soft Drink and his answer ( even today after nearly 50 years I remember so well ) was ” You Name It , I Got It ” and so pleased I was with that beautiful flowery response , I requested for A Glass Of Orange Juice . I must confess over the next three years of my stay in England ( 1967 – 1970 ) I did occasionally have a glass of beer , but that was very infrequent . Now coming to food one day in my outing ( mark my word Outing not Dating ) I went to Lords Cricket Ground to see a cricket game and I ate without knowing A Burger bought from a street vendor and never again I made that mistake and later on in 1971 when I was back in Bhaarath I made amends by going on penance to VaaraNaasi and apologized before Goddess Mother Annapoorna . But back in England in those three years of my stay between 1967 and 1970 I confess I did eat Fish and Chips most famous British Dish and once or twice Tandoori Chicken . Now I did confess and back in Bhaarath from 1971 on wards to this day 2014 I am A Vegetarian 100 % and for a few years even A Vegan not touching any animal product like milk , cheese , butter etc . But now for the past ten years from 2004 on wards I am A Vegetarian not even An Ovarian . But in England I am A Survivor and a strong believer in the axiom ‘ Be A Roman While In Rome ‘ so I tried to be A Britisher in Britain . In Britain the dietary habits are as Very Heavy Breakfast , frugal lunch , and at night depending upon one’s taste it will be in an ascending order either A Supper , or A Dinner , or A Feast . But in Paris breakfast is very meager which I experience while visiting Paris for three days later on . So there you are I confessed , bared my soul before Human and DIVINE and hope that future destiny will look at me kindly with all understanding compassion and affection – so must be all of you ?

My London IV

Let me digress a little . I was asked how I remember all about my life way back from second half of December 1967 nearly a half century ago . I am happy to inform that my memory is good and I can with felicity retrieve information tucked away in the deep crevices , niches , nooks , corners , gryri and sulci of my brain which inhabits the space between my two ears . My eyes and ears may at times try to play truant , but not my memory . So here I am ready to go forward with my narration in my own way . I have already mentioned various underground tube stations I have been to starting from my base Warren Street Tube Station and the following activities were what I undertook . I posted two inland letters to my benefactors Doctor Karri Sattiraju at Kingston upon Thames and my guardian angel Sri Karri Sattireddy gaaru of Preston Lancashire , thanking both of them profusely for their help which gave me much needed confidence and security to survive in London during those initial formative days and weeks . I also wrote by way of air mail post cards to my folks back in Bhaarath all bout me and about the help I received . I registered for my Primary FRCS Examination to take place during early February 1968 . I borrowed all necessary medical books from the Lewis Lending Library . I started appearing for classes at RCS Lincoln Inn Fields . I informed Indian High Commission about the purpose of my arrival in England . I registered with unemployment welfare department Holborn and received seven pounds sterling . I obtained full registration of General Medical Council . I met my would be advisers Doctors M D RAM FRCS and P K DATTA FRCS . Now in all earnest I started preparing for my Primary FRCS due in February 1968 . I am working hard , learning , studying , working , and doing what all I can in my 33 rd year of life , me again a student having been An Assistant Professor Back In Bhaarath , but I can't live on what I had been , but focus on what I have to be as at that time during the waning days of 1967 and approaching cusp of 1968 . Wish me well and I will not disappoint my well wishers and my family - so be it ? AnasooyAathreya-SeshaAnjaneyakrishna

London Part 3

Me at Indian YMCA - I am based at Warren Street Tube Station and by tube going about London from Warren Street by tube to : 54 - 56 Great Portland St Post Office to post letters ; Midland Bank 138 Tottenham Court Rd W1T 7LZ to deposit Sri Karri Satthireddy gaari loan cum gift money ; General Medical Council 350 Euston Rd NW13 JN to obtain Full Registration of my Medical Credentials ; India House Office Of Indian High Commission Aldwych WC2B 4NA to register my residence in England and also for my lunch @ two shillings ; Royal College Of Surgeons 35 - 43 Lincoln's Inn Fields WC2A 3PE to register for my FRCS exams Primary as well Finals cum studies ; H K ( Henry King ) Lewis ( 1844 ) Lending Library 136 Gower St to borrow Medical Books for my FRCS Exams ; and also sojourns to Paddington Rly Station , Charing Cross Rly Station , Euston Rly Station , Waterloo Rly Station , Blackheath , Lewisham , Woolwich , Greenwich , Wimbledon and friends that is how I went about London at various times and understood how easy it is to get about London with A_Z book , Tube map and wonderful directions and road signs posted all over London which made my life so easy without asking for directions and be myself independent beaming with self confidence and overcoming all obstacles one at a time . With this pre amble I will take you along with me to individual locales on errands . Thanks for being with me all the way from The Beginning !

London Part Two

Second half of December 1967 . Winter looming ahead . Cold creeping in and I am not used , but what can I do , grin and bear . I need to get out and start striving to achieve my aim . I need two essential things to go about in London , so from a near by shop I bought ' A to Z London Pocket Book ' the most essential tool to walk about or commute in the streets of London , it will tell me every street , every nook and corner , every niche , every location in London Metropolis ; this book is so important every taxi driver in London had to have one on board and in fact one can not be licensed to be a London Taxi driver unless he / she is thorough with this A to Z , but of course it was not my intention to become A London Taxi Driver , my goal is to become A Fellow Of Royal College Of Surgeons and A to Z London is so important for me to go where no one that is me gone before , so that is why I bought A to Z London ( I forget how much I paid for it ). The second one is A Free Copy of A Map of London Underground Railway System famously known as 'The London Tube ' which is available everywhere including downstairs at reception counter of Indian YMCA which I had to request for a free copy followed by profuse thanks from me and a smile from the management . So now I am busy with my routine of serving breakfast and dinner in the dining room and after I have fulfilled my obligation and satisfied my own hunger , I got busy understanding thoroughly A to Z London and Tube map , which I am happy to say I have accomplished in no time and am ready to hit the streets of London Metropolis nay Megapolis - okay na Here I come London - wait for me and if you wish you may join me - have time have inclination will go out , you may see what I have done ! AnasooyaAthreyaSeshaAnjaneyakrishna

After my guardian angel Doctor Karri Nookaraju left after settling me , I spent my first night in Indian YMCA Students' Hostel . My room is a small bed room with no other facilities except a bed . This is Indian YMCA Students Hostel at 41 Fitzroy Square London W1T6AQ . Here I am destined to stay from Sunday 10 December 1967 to Thursday 29 February 1968 . I am a volunteer student guest paying Seven shillings for bed , breakfast and dinner and me serving as a volunteer server in the dining hall at breakfast and dinner times , same as a server boy in our Indian Restaurants and I can have my breakfast and dinner after all the other fully paying residents have finished theirs'. I paid my first week rent Seven shillings and I have now 101 pounds sterling on hand courtesy Sri Karri Satthireddy gaaru . My hour starts me getting up at 5 AM GMT ( Plus 5 1/2 IST and Minus 5 US ET ) , ready by 6 Am GMT and present myself down stairs in the dining hall to do my duty and serve all the other boarders and then have my breakfast of two pieces of toast and coffee . I met the management who are all Kerala Christians , Thomas , Joseph et cetera who are more English than the natives and I was told to come down fully dressed with a Coat and a tie which luckily I had one pair . This Indian YMCA was founded by A Kerala Christian Gentleman by name MR K T Paul in 1920 ; he was the then Secretary of Indian YMCA in London . My day starts after serving and me having breakfast , going out into London Metropolis doing what and for what purpose I will narrate in my next part and return to Hostel by 6 PM GMT ready to serve dinner , and have my dinner and the end of day , not for me , I had so much to do to achieve my purpose of coming to England to become A FRCS Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons - so please stay with me to wish me well and I will tell you what things I have done and achieved in coming days - Please wait for Part Two !!!!! AnasooyaAthreyaSeshaAnjaneyakrishna

It was way back in 1954 I left my home town Guntur when I was 20 years young . Now in December 1967 , my D-Day Departure day , I am leaving India when I am 33 years young adult . I have wings thanks to my travel agent 'Trade Wings' and flying courtesy 'MahaRaaja' Air India International Flight 'Kanishka'. Back in 1967 it was not a nonstop flight but a flight of 'take-off -hop-stop-transit-fly- and landing-touch down' and at every stop I had to leave the aircraft and wait in transit lounge before takeoff again . It was Saturday December 9, 1967 ten pm Kanishka took off from Meenambaakkam Airport Madras - a short hop and stop at Santa Cruz Airport Bombay - transit lounge had a free cup of warm coffee courtesy Air India , in those days Air India was very nice and Maharaaja was courteous but not anymore . Next stop Cairo Egypt where an Arab served me not so good coffee and charged me one shilling and I am three pound sterling minus one shilling . Next time I will be careful and shall not accept anymore coffees . On board food was good and service was very satisfactory . Now we landed in Zurich Switzerland and for the first time on the way to transit lounge I experienced bone-chilling cold and my attire was not suitable for such a weather , I have to live and learn to survive . A short hop and Kanishka landed in Orly Paris and at that time I had no idea that I will be back in Paris at a later date , so be it . Finally dawned A-Day Arrival Day Sunday , December 10, 1967 I was in Heathrow London International Airport , no problem with Immigration - I have employment Visa , no worries about customs as I have only A Mango Spicy Pickle and wondering about what was going to happen and then I heard a message - Do You Hear That My Friends - Here It is - " A Visitor by name Dr K Nooka Raaju a close friend of Satthi Reddy Karri of Preston is waiting for Passenger R B Krishna Murthy at Victoria Terminus " - my heart raced with joy all fears apprehensions trepidations worries forgotten and I am on cloud nine . I took my meager luggage got into Airport Bus paid 7 shillings , now I am left with two pounds 12 shillings and traveled through streets of London , my first view of London on A Sunday with very little traffic on the roads and in due course I am at Victoria Terminus in the heart of London and you have to abide while I step forward with bated breath to meet my savior Dr K Nooka Raaju courtesy Karri Satthi Reddy - let me take one step at a time and see what happiness awaits me - !!!! AnasooyaAthreyaSeshaAnjaneyakrishna