Month: April 2026

Workplace culture and etiquette is an ingrained trait. As life carries us up the ladder of hierarchy, we reach a position when one gets to view other peoples work culture. There are many pros and cons to every situation that we reach on to in life. If all your life you’ve held work at a position of commitment, when you reach a place where you get to monitor comrades in office shock absorbers need to be lubricated.

The chair of the leader that you hold for a duration on time would logically ask you to be tolerant. That’s what I am choosing to be today. But the bitterness generated around is at times unpalatable.

A section of people who all through your career tried to show how diligent and dedicated they’ve been are always the ones who disillusioned me with canniness. Astuteness is a skill of the loyal and faithful. The question that nags is why do the deceitful masquerade integrity and uprightness at the highest level.

People who work with honesty and uprightness never feel the need to demonstrate the same. It’s only the ones who have paraphernalias of possessions in their nature and persona to cover up need the skill to exhibit excellence in their work culture.

A sincere worker tends to trust that everyone else is also in the same boots as them. The height of dedication or sense of responsibility needs no demonstration with words of self praise.

To wrap it all life has taught that ardent dedication of any form need no showcasing. It’s only the shades of grey in personalities of deceit that need a umbrella of cover to always standout in a crowd of coworkers.

Madhumita Priyadarshini Das

The virtue of holding oneself accountable is an acquired trait of any responsible person. We are usually tuned to carry out our designated responsibility. Most people would go ahead to do what they should and often not bother about the consequences or sequel of their assignments. There are only a section of uncustomary sparse individuals who would care to hold oneself accountable for specially the aftermath of their actions.

This rather thin on ground trait makes life what it is. The greatest example today for us is the flash floods of Guwahati city the place we call home. Nobody, is ready to shoulder any responsibility in all orders of hierarchy. Accountable people have gotten so blameshifting that we commoners are left bewildered.

The loss to mental health and property of every affected household is beyond the comprehension of the answerable people. However, how do they not feel guilty for the death of healthy earning members of families or even young children or the elderly. Does paying money to family members compensate for the indelible mourning that they plunge into.

When a sick person dies whether in the hospital or at home, there’s often a lot of aftermath debate . What happens when manmade flash city floods take lives. Why is no one held answerable.

Every bout of flood leaves people disgusted, tired, financially drained and bereaved. Then comes news bites, reels and depiction of the plight of the repeatedly ruined people. Is this a funny anecdote.

Who will someday shoulder this responsibility.

Talk shows and bureaucrats are all overflows with brilliant ideas. The disconnect is perhaps in the available knowledge and skills and the implementation of the same.

Unless, someone takes up the accountability of this situation and roll in their ingenious conceptions nothing will materialise. We common men cannot decipher this allocation of responsibilities. Some honest being in position of power should come forward and lead this task. If you notice, it’s obvious that the situation is getting worse with time.

People are trying to salvage themselves by raising their plinth, making drains within their jurisdiction, trying to tell others to do away with plastics. But in reality this situation has gotten far more grave and life threatening than it was.

Here’s an open appeal to who ever is accountable to take up the task on a war footing and save this drowning city which is the gateway to the northeast .

Dr Madhumita Priyadarshini Das

Students, I consider you as my extended family. In the very beginning I want to make it clear that I am not the person who want you to be ideal in any way.

I am here addressing mostly our postgraduate students.

However, there are certain evolving vibes that has been bothering us off late. A teacher is someone who’s appointed by the authorities to share what is relevant for you to mould your knowledge and skills in the pursuit of your post graduation degree.

Now, talking about Medical Education, unlike any other field here the build up of expertise is a two way traffic. We, work across holidays or set working hours. There are times when we are ready to learn from you all, none of us can ever feel completely equipped to sail in life without updating. A doctor is a student forever.

The three years that you come to spend with us is actually a privilege for both of us if you wish to believe. As you learn and we teach, the teacher brushes up old and new concepts and you students are the reason why we read and update. You give us the zeal to pursue knowledge and we feel happy to share what we know and expect you all to build up from there and also share. This on going flow of knowledge is the beauty of medical education.

Our academic sessions, conferences, publications and presentations are far more enjoyable than the usual social parties. We unknowingly build up a bond over the period that you come to work with us. There’s no expectations that we hold as teachers, but we feel happy when you recognise us over the days and years that you start to evolve after you hold your qualification.

Today a student is a colleague tomorrow. The binding of social etiquette and official norms should always be respected sine dine. You never loose your place or position if you decide to show some reverence to your one time teacher. This appears to be a dwindling trait amongst a section of doctors.

There’s another trend that hurts your teachers which I wish to open up with. As you are aware that, we handle human lives the value of which is priceless. We confide in you all for various levels of responsibilities in patient care. At times when you shrug such accountabilities the anguish it creates in us is unsurmountable. We readily take the responsibility of every challenge that arises in patient care, but you should be aware about your portion of assignment.

A veteran teacher can often read whether you are an academically brilliant doctor or a skilfully nurtured clinician. In medical science knowledge is power but skill is success.

To wrap up this brief relationship message I wish to say that without support you cannot sail. As such maintain your part well during your training period and after it’s done never cross social and official practices or benchmarks.

Our teachers took pride in us and we always take the pleasure of showing reverence when ever the situation permits.

I hope I am not misunderstood . It’s always easier to write down ones thoughts to get across.

Hoping to hear back from you all.

Dr Madhumita Priyadarshini Das

Life is a great teacher of the art of surviving. When we reach a stage in life having survived through good and bad, we learn compliance. It is this trust in the course of events that finally carries us to a destination is what we learn as we move in life.

Youth is packed with a lot of energy. This stage makes us set goals, pursue that with vigor   and up until we get things realized the zeal keeps us sustained. This is the positive side of youth, and that’s the reason why the whole world evolves. However, there’s also a negative aspect of this huge power that youth behold. There’s a tendency to believe that result of hard work and perseverance is always positive. Life teaches the opposite with senescence. The set destination, hard work and perseverance are not the only variables for success in life. There are many unseen constants that come to play as we move on. 

The ability to believe that not everything that’s happening is within my bandwidth of control is something life makes us learn with living.

We read, we watch, we listen to information and we tend to believe we are equipped to face circumstances. The reality is far from this. Unless, we’ve stumbled, fallen and trembled with uncertainties we never imbibe the skill to believe that everything in life evolves. 

The greatest truth that age teaches is nothing is permanent.

Our views, likes, dislikes and notions are all a product of our circumstances. As situations change, and we encounter realities we soak into beliefs which may be radically opposite to what we thought. These are the teachings of living. 

Unless, you’ve lived the life of a farmer you can never comment about the soil or the seed. 

Books teach us what situations are usually like. But life teaches us the infinite variations of reality. Maturity makes us resilient, patient and optimistic. 

Having lived till this day for over six decades of journey, what I want to give back to the younger generations is the ability to nurture calmness. Nothing in life remains unaffected with time. Our failures, victories, insecurities and power, everything is bound by time. All we can master is the patience to hold on through the lows and humility to soak in the highs.