Kasturba Medical College, Manipal celebrates diamond jubilee

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Manipal, 21 March 2013: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal celebrated the Diamond Jubilee College Day and Awards Ceremony at the KMC Greens here on Tuesday. The near three-hour program provided an opportunity for every single person present at the venue to applaud the vision of one man, Dr TMA Pai, which has come a long way into reality. Every year the students, both under graduates and post graduates leave the portals of Manipal University, but it was different this year and the evening reflected it all.
Chief Guest, Dr Satishchandra, Vice Chancellor of the National Institute of Mental Health And Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru told the students, “It is payback time for you. Having received such a good training and good education, you have a responsibility -- the responsibility to serve the nation. We all think that the grass is greener on the other side. We all think of the US and UK. Why not India? We have all facilities here, the state-of-the-art facilities, so why not look forward to work in our country, our institutions and strengthen that.

 

Mohd Shariq receiving the gold medals and other awards for being the best outgoing student from Pro Chancellor, Manipal University, Dr H.S.Ballal, at the Diamond Jubilee College Day and Awards Cermony at KMC Greens on Tuesday.

 

 

Meghna Pai, winner of three awards, receiving the certificates from the chief guest, Dr Satishchandra, Vice Chancellor,  National Institute of Mental Health And Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, at the Diamond Jubilee College Day and Awards Cermony at KMC Greens on Tuesday

 

 Chief Guest, Dr Satishchandra, Vice Chancellor of the National Institute of Mental Health And Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru addressing the gathering at the Diamond Jubilee College Day and Awards Cermony at KMC Greens on Tuesday.

 

The other important thing he said was, “For any country to develop research is important. Research and Development is necessary. We are investing only a small amount and should think of investing more in R and D. There is awareness in that direction now and that is the reason the Indian Council of Medical Research, Department of Science and Technology and Department of Biotechnology have now started many fellowship schemes. It is the need of the hour for you youngsters to take up these fellowships like “Inspire Fellowship” and “Inspire Faculty” and do research. You have to solve our problems, our problems cannot be solved by the western world”.

Vice Chancellor, Dr K Ramnarayan spoke of the 60 years in the life and growth of the institution. He compared it with an individual.  “Today we have reason to rejoice, today we have reason to remember, today we have reason to reflect, today we have reason to rejuvenate. Rejoice when one is 60 years old. When an individual is 60 years old, we consider him wiser, confident, mellowed and having a broader vision. When an institution is 60 years old, we consider that institution for its stability, strength, success and satisfaction. Therefore, we have reason to  take pride in the achievements of the last 60 years .

We remember because we need to refresh some of the events and also remember some of the people.  June 30, 1953 was the day when Kasturba Medical College, Manipal was formally inaugurated by Mr A.B. Shetty, Minister for Public Health, Government of Madras. Some of us here have been with the Manipal Group and with KMC for a decade, some of us have been here for two decades, a few have been here for three decades, and only a handful of us have been here for four decades. Above all, we have one who is one day older than KMC, Manipal. He is Mr NV Ballal, he joined one day before the inauguration of the College. 
“Yes, today at the age of 60, KMC begins the next chapter. Time to rededicate ourselves to the Manipal values of integrity, transparency, quality, teamwork, execution with passion and the humane touch. The effect of the vision of Dr TMA Pai. We cherish the vision of TMA Pai, we relish the vision of TMA Pai, we nourish the vision of TMA Pai, let KMC flourish,” the Vice Chancellor said.
Dean of Kasturba Medical College,  Manipal, Dr Pradeep Kumar  presenting the annual report  said that students from every state of the country were present,  in addition to students from 29 countries. He spoke of the facilities, the programs offered including super specialty courses, the criterion for selection of students for admission and even briefly touched the early years of KMC. “The faculty, the facilities and the quality of students makes KMC a different institute from others, Dr Pradeep said.

The achievement of faculty members, the paper presentations and publications and also research activities came for mention. He gave the accomplishments of students and said that Mohammed Shariq and Ramya Krishna were the best outgoing students.