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There is no shortcut to success
Dr KK Aggarwal, Editor in Chief eMedinewS and IMA News in conversation with Dr Motilal Singh, Retired Professor of Surgery, Patna Medical College, Patna.
Dr Motilal Singh has been honored with Dr BC Roy National Award for the year 2009 under the category of ‘Outstanding services in the field of Socio-Medical Relief’.
How does it feel being conferred one of the most prestigious awards in the medical field?
Great! I feel proud that my years of hard work and services have finally been recognized.
Tell me about your journey so far.
Hailing from a small village in Bihar, I have come a long way. I was always a bright student. I topped in the Patna Division in Matriculation exam and obtained second position in Patna University in I.Sc exam. I topped in the All India Mining entrance exam and was all set to join but was advised by the Principal of the Mining College that I should join the medical field. I followed his advice and after that there was no looking back. I completed my MBBS on merit scholarship, did MS (General Surgery) and then moved to the UK where I passed the FRCS (Edinburgh) and FRCS (London) exams, on the first attempt within a span of one year. Then I came back to India and joined the Patna Medical College where I worked till my retirement.
What were the early challenges faced by you in your career? How did you manage to overcome them?
In those times there was no school in our village. I walked 8 km everyday to school. Because of my humble background I could not afford the cost of education. Besides, continuing further studies was not the trend in those days. I lost my father when I was in std. six. My elder brother who was studying mining engineering was like a father figure and a big help to me. He supported me morally & gave me monetary help. He set an example for me. My mother was also very supportive. Besides, I earned scholarships that helped me to complete my studies.
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