Every medical student has a playlist of songs which they wish would be the background music to the drama that the life of the Indian medical student is. Whether you sing along to it off-key or bear that droning in your head just as you bear your burden, you can’t help but agree with this fun playlist of songs that you’ll relate to in situations that are so common in medical colleges!
1. When you realize the struggle isn’t over even after NEET (UG) (“Ae Zindagi Gale Laga Le”- Dear Zindagi Soundtrack)
“Ae Zindagi Gale Laga Le, Hum Ne Bhi, Tere Har Ik Gam Ko Gale Se Lagaya Hai, Hai Na?”
Our parents, our teachers, our friends, everyone assured us- ’12th karle, fir aish hi hai.’ God, no! When the textbooks of Anatomy hit us on our face, we get slapped with the rude shock that MBBS is- a never-ending struggle to keep up with the syllabus without going into a mental breakdown. Needless to say, you are prepared to hear the same thing before NEET (PG), before the onslaught of residency starts, and the cycle begins again!
2.When the senior giving you ‘super IMP questions’ for the exam disappears suddenly (“Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar”- Hum Dono Soundtrack)
“Abhi Naa Jaao Chhod Kar,
Ke Dil Abhi Bhara Nahi…”
This song leaves you with a forlorn feeling, mainly because the day before the exam, a senior leaving you, leaves you with a feeling akin to heartbreak. If not for these imps, an all-nighter would be futile, no? Without the support, HOW WILL YOU EVER PASS?
3. When the university exam blues finally hit you (“Aal Izz Well”- 3 Idiots soundtrack.)
“Dil Jo Tere Baat Baat Pe Ghabraaye,
Dil Pe Rakh Ke Haath Use Tu Fusala Le…
Arey Bolo Aal Izz Well!”
This quintessential motivational song that calms down palpitations with just 3 words, albeit wrongly pronounced, has undoubtedly helped us calm our nerves. Be it trembling hands while writing the paper or stuttering answers during vivas, this mantra has the power to make you automatically feel better- Although The Indian Medical Student doesn’t guarantee the effects, do let us know if it worked for you!
4. When you finally diagnose yourself with the rare condition called love (“Pehla Nasha”- Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikandar Soundtrack)
“Pehla Nasha, Pehla Khumaar,
Naya Pyaar Hai Naya Intezaar…”
Unfortunately, medical students aren’t very good at diagnosing themselves with this entity called “Pyaar.” Sleeplessness, loss of appetite, a certain predilection for a certain somebody and a new-found appreciation for hidden nooks and crannies- yes, that’s love. Amid exams and books, it’s difficult to find someone for you, but when you get that “entangling of stethos” moment and surreptitious glances across the library, grab it and never let it go!
5. When you diagnose a patient correctly (in your head) (“Aaj Mein Upar” – Khamoshi The Musical Soundtrack)
“Aaj Mein Upar, Aasmaan Neeche,
Aaj Mein Aage, Zamaana Hai Peeche…”
Do a little jig in your head! Go on, do it! Even if the patient only said that he had pain in the abdomen, YOU JUST KNEW IT, that it was gallstones. You are on your way to be an excellent clinician, never mind that there could have been many differentials for the same… That’s okay! You deserve some applause in the dreary life of a medical student, hai na?
6. When you’re the only intern on duty, and your existence has ceased to have meaning (“Jag Soona Lage”- Om Shanti Om Soundtrack)
“Jag Suna Suna Lage,
Koi Rahe Na Jab Apna…”
Sleep. Hunger. Isolation. You’ve fought it all. Being an intern is as good as a Hunger Games venture, without of course the bloodshed- oops, no! Even blood gets spilled during collections! When you thought that being an intern will be a learning experience, chann se tumhara sapna toota… Moreover, when you were left alone to handle the entire collection and simultaneously handle so many duties, jag soona ho hi gaya! Haaye, yeh beraham duniya!
7. When God blesses you with a sweet and helpful registrar: (“Yeh Tumhari Meri Baatein”- Rock On Soundtrack)
“Yeh Tumhari Meri Baatein,
Hamesha Yuhi Chalti Rahe…”
You can’t help falling in love with your registrar. It’s undoubtedly a match made in heaven, when your registrar helps you in your collections, signs on your journals readily, teaches you when no one else even bothers to look in your direction, and in general is benevolent towards the lot of you. You hum happily under your breath- “Yeh Hamari Mulakaate, Hamesha Yuhi Chalti Rahe, Beete Yuhi Apne Saare Din Raat!”
Of course, there exist so many songs and so many moods! After all, 5.5 years of MBBS is filled with emotions and memories that will remain with you forever! Be it making lifelong friendships or learning life lessons, MBBS changes your life in myriad ways!
Here’s a song for when you’ll look back at MBBS and feel like “those were the best days of my life”
“hum rahe ya na rahe, yaad aayenge yeh pal” by KK!
We would love to know which song you relate to the most or want to add to this playlist!
(Has anyone been able to decipher that horror film soundtrack that starts in your head when a patient starts heaving and you know that he’s going to vomit on you? I know, too specific, no? Not that it’s happened to me, but if you do find that out, let me know in the Comments Section below…)
– Devanshi Shah
Final year medical student
Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai
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