Heal first, earn later,

Bedi tells newly graduated nurses

Tribune News Service ----- CHANDIGARH
Feb 3 - Dr Kiran Bedi , Joint Commissioner (Training), exhorted the newly graduated and serving nurses to do the healer’s jobs, but with a smile . She was delivering the convocation address of the college of nursing, PGI, at the Bharagava Auditorium here today.

Dr Bedi gave away degrees to as many as13 postgraduates and 113 graduates of the college.

Dr Bedi said ”At the convocation ceremony was a historical for any cherish memories of my convocation functions.”

She urged the newly graduated nurses to do their jobs honestly. ”You have chosen the job which is more difficult than mine. It is a healer’s job. But do it till you are in love with it because your job is to reduce pain of others and not burden their lives with your own misery” she added.

“I want to leave you with a question – to earn or to heal.” Manage your lives well to achieve both, she said while adding that nurses trained in a government institutions were a product of national investments.” Nation has paid the cost of your training, so make your mission statement everyday should be ---behind me is a national investment. Wake up every day with a prayer that today would be better than yesterday.” Dr Bedi said .The simple speech, rendered in hindi had the audience applauding almost after every sentence.

The solemn function began with a Saraswati Vandana by the students of nursing college followed by introduction of chief guest by the director of the institute, Prof S.K Sharma.

The nursing college started functioning in PGI, as a department and since its 36 years of inception has trained 1854 graduates and 135 postgraduates so far.

The only government college in the entire North India , the institution offers B.Sc Nursing(four years),B.Sc Nursing (Post-Basic) and M.Sc Nursing Courses.

Presenting the report of colleges for the years 1997-98 and 1998-99, Dr (Mrs) Indarjit Walia, Principle, College of Nursing, said that the college has been upgraded in the VIII th Five Year Plan as National Institute of Nursing Education for which the construction work was in final phase. The college is excepted to shift in the new building by this year end .

In today’s function Dr Kiran Bedi, presented certificates and medals to students of the college.Those awarded prizes in recognition of their academic exellence includes Ms Paramjot Kaur, Ms Mercy V.A. and Ms Nirmala Devi (N.Sc Nursing. 1998) ; Ms Kuldish Kaur and Ms Susheela Devi (M.Sc Nursing, 1999) and Ms Jessica Thomas and Ms Gurpreet Kaur (B.Sc, Post Basic Nursing, 1998) ; Ms Harpreet Kaur, Ms Raini Parmar and Ms Paramjeet Kaur (B.Sc,  Nursing 1998 ); Ms Parveen Chawala, and Ms Rakesh  Kumari ((B.Sc, Nursing 1999).

Mrs Basanti Rai Award has been won by Ms Basanti Rai Awards has been won by Ms Urmila Devi Bhardwaj(1998) and Ms Kudish Kaur and Manjula Thakur for the year 1999. As many as 118 out of 124 students secured above 60 percent in these two years.

Prof S.M. Bose, Head, Department of Surgery, PGI conducted the ceremony. The vote of thanks was given by Mr D.R. Yadav, Registrar, PGI.

“Coming to Chandigarh is always a pleasant experience,” said Dr Kiran Bedi in a brief interaction with the media persons. “It is more like a home coming which is away which is difficult to refuse any invitation from the city. I Love Chandigarh and have very fond memories attached with it,” she added.

About her recent foray into acting in a telefilm called Real Salute where she plays the role of an old woman, she said that the film was about national integration. “I play an old woman who picks up the Tricolour from the dustbin and stitches it with the thread of her saree. It is the common man’s salute to the nation.” 

About the latest additions in the course content in police training, Dr Bedi said spiritual and ethical features, including meditation and art of living has been introduced. “The entire concept is based on making the members of police force into good human beings and also involving them in society building exercise.” she added.