Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Years ago, my father took me from Gwalior to Delhi so that I could study in a good college. He preferred Delhi to Mumbai, and there, he made me understand a simple fact, I was the only child, and the onus of managing the household would eventually rest on me.
I had heard somewhere that having less is a real strength. When there is less, we appreciate it more. This is particularly true in medicine. Students with an abundance of resources tend to get confused, jumping from one book to another and from one coaching center to another. But mastery comes from concentration—knowing deeply, not stuffing.
The Journey Begins
The moment you enter medical college, you realize something you didn’t expect, nothing has changed. You spent so long thinking that clearing the entrance exam was the big goal. But now, a new reality dawns, MBBS is merely a starting point. The same occurs with post-graduation. You assume getting a PG seat will turn everything around, but it doesn’t. Change occurs only when you choose to change.
Medical education is all about hard work. We began with 9 AM to 6 PM study hours, then shifted to 8 AM, and then 7 AM. The new batches now begin at 7 AM and go on till 7 PM. The hard work never ceases.
The Price of Glory
I recall when someone in my neighborhood achieved Rank 1. The whole neighborhood was on a high. Parents are extremely proud of their child becoming a doctor—it’s no longer all about you.
There’s a reason why people pursue Rank 1—it’s not for personal fulfillment but for the pride it gives to their parents. That’s why, in MBBS, the thought of getting Rank 1 remains in your head. But what makes the difference? Hard work. Diligent, consistent effort.
Anupam Kher once questioned Shah Rukh Khan, “Why are you No. 1?”
Shah Rukh answered, “There’s no doubt—I am No. 1.”
Kher chuckled, “Everyone works hard. What sets you apart?”
Shah Rukh replied, “People work hard to become Shah Rukh Khan. I have worked just as hard since becoming Shah Rukh Khan.”
That’s the secret. It’s all about efforts.
The Middle Overs—The True Test
It’s not about how well you begin or how aggressively you push in the end. It’s about how you negotiate the middle part. In cricket, the middle overs win or lose the game. If the batsman gets distracted, the game is gone. The same is true with medical school. Most students begin well, and they run toward the finish line, but they tire in between. That is where the war is won.
Here’s a plan that worked for me:
- Study in the early morning.
- Stand and study whenever you can—it keeps your mind alert.
- Eat less but eat properly—don’t let food make you drowsy.
- Have a systematic study plan—Physics first, then Chemistry, then Botany and Zoology.
The Minor Distraction Makes Big Impact
While I was giving my AIIMS entrance exam, I was asked a question regarding the length of an inch. I was aware that it is 2.5 cm, but the options were confusing. In MCQs, the first and fourth options are not usually correct. I ruled out two options and marked the second option.
My mother was waiting outside after the exam. I said, “Mom, let’s go in an auto.”She said, “I don’t have money for an auto.”That was a learning experience. There was little money, and everything had to be done with small expenses.
Later I went through my book. The right answer was 2.54 cm. I had missed my position at Rank 1 in AIIMS due to 0.04 cm.
But here’s the lovely part, daily, while going to college, I used to cross AIIMS. Each time, my heart used to skip a beat. Success is always that near, but minute distractions may lead you away from it.
That’s what an entrance exam is—it’s about closing the minute gap between 2.5 cm and 2.54 cm.
What It Takes to Succeed
Three things are essential if you are to succeed:
- Clarity: Know precisely what you want.
- Methodology: Learn properly and with application.
- Divine Blessings: Hard work is not enough; blessings also count.
In the Mahabharata, Krishna instructed Arjuna to concentrate only on the eye of the fish when he shot the arrow. Others around you will always tell you, “You can’t do it.” But they are merely projecting their own fears onto you. They mean they can’t do it—not you.
Believe in yourself. Krishna advised Arjuna three things:
- Ignore distractions.
- Keep your mind on the target.
- Always shoot a little above the mark because by the time your arrow arrives, the fish’s eye will have shifted.
That is why small margins determine everything. In cricket, most games are won on the boundary line. The margin between success and failure is often only 0.04 cm.
Then Arjuna asked Krishna, “What will you do?” Krishna said, “I will keep the water steady—so that when you shoot, the reflection does not move.”
That’s my prayer for you. Grind hard, pay no mind to negativity, have faith in yourself, and let your water be calm—so that when you shoot, you won’t miss.
