again

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

Neeti (1986) had requested me to mail my write-up about Saranya. I paste below

the article I had written for the college magazine last year. It needs some

revision but now that Saranya is sending his regular letters from Oxford, I need

not modify the original version.

SP

Saranya Sridhar (1997 batch) won the prestigious scholarship for 2003.

The scholarships, one of the oldest and most prestigious international

fellowships, were created in 1902 by the will of Cecil , and now bring

outstanding students from all over the world to the Oxford University. Six

scholars, elected from India this year will join an international group

of 95 scholars chosen from eighteen other jurisdictions around the world.

Rhode hoped that his plan of bringing able students throughout the English

speaking world to study at the university where he took his degree in 1881 would

aid in the promotion of international understanding and peace. Applicants are

chosen on the basis of the criteria set down in the will of Cecil ; these

criteria are high academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of

unselfishness, respect for teachers, and potential for leadership and physical

vigour. These basic characteristics are directed at fulfilling Mr. Rhode's hopes

that the scholars would make an effective and positive contribution

throughout the world. As he wrote, scholars should, " esteem the

performance of public duties as their highest aim. "

Saranya Sridhar, MGIMS graduate is the 2 nd doctor from India to win the

scholarship since 1998. He will enter the University of Oxford in England 100

years after the first class of did in 1903. The scholars from India were

chosen from more than 2000 applicants who were endorsed by hundreds of colleges

and universities in a nationwide competition.

" This is fantastic and a great honour for Saranya Sridhar and his parents, " said

Dean Pratibha Narang. The scholarship is widely recognised as one of the

most competitive and prestigious scholarships available because so many

scholars have gone on to positions of great distinction. Indeed, the list of

past scholars includes Sir Hancock (Noble prize winner in

Physiology), EF Schumacher ( Small is beautiful) Bill Clinton , Bob Hawk (

former prime minister of Australia), Monek Singh Ahluwalia (Economist), Deepak

Nayar ( Economist) and Girish Karnad (actor) and Dr Salim Yusuf ( Canada based

world famous cardiologist).

" Saranya is one of the brightest students to have passed through our classes in

years, " say MGIMS professors. " He steps up to challenging problems in class and

is often there to act as a mentor to his peers. He excels intellectually, but he

also has a drive to succeed that in important for scholars. "

In the long term, I want to work on basic sciences that solve societal medical

problems, " said Saranya. " My inspiration, my parents are very selfless and they

instilled those values in me. I have been fortunate in my life, it is so

important for me to give back to society.

Saranya is an eloquent speaker, a skilled writer and a thinker. An outstanding

scholar (he topped first, second, and final MBBS, bagging more than two dozen

medals), a connoisseur of classical music and an accomplished classical dancer

himself, his forte is his simplicity. I was impressed by his candour, respect

for teachers and patients, reciprocity, honesty and openness. He loves science

and wishes to use it to mitigate misery and malady. Keen to pursue a highly

technology driven career, he is aware that the gains of science should not be

sought at the expense of humanness, a rare quality in medical students these

days.

SP

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