‘I wanted my daughters to be doctors to serve humanity'
IT WAS a dream come true for Sunita Gupta, technical assistant, Department of Microbiology, PGI, Chandigarh, when her two daughters — Saniya and Saanvi — took the oath as doctors.
'I wanted to be a doctor, but had to do an MSc in biochemistry from PGI (1994–1995), and have been working here since 1996. My daughters, however, fulfilled my dream. I wanted them to be doctors to serve humanity and heal the world,' the proud mother smiles.
Sunita recalled her father, a principal with a Himachal Pradesh government school, would always say 'when one daughter studies, she educates the entire family,' so he encouraged me and my sisters to study and pursue careers.
Saniya, the older daughter, an all-India rank of 56, did her MBBS from GMCH-32, and was a topper throughout, a gold medalist, and went on to do her MD in paediatrics from PGI, winning the gold medal again.
'She did her DM in paediatric endocrinology from PGI, the only seat in the country, and has the honour of being the first paediatric endocrinologist in India. The younger one, Saanvi, has just completed her MBBS from GMCH-32, as both have a ten-year gap, and is now planning higher studies. Both are not only very good doctors, but wonderful human beings. Working in PGI, I have seen Saniya looking out for children she was treating at the Advanced Paediatric Centre, buying carrots and cucumbers, and going the extra mile to give them comfort. And the blessings of the patients give them strength,' Sunita said.
'As a mother,' Sunita reflects, 'my effort has always been to encourage and stand by my daughters. The role of a mother is unparalleled, as she is a pillar of strength for her children.'
Sunita would ask her daughters to do their best and leave the rest to God, but never compromise on hard work, honesty and values, no matter what the odds.
'I pursued a high-pressure career, but their education and progress remained a priority. I told them to move ahead on merit. They never went to a private tuition. Upon returning from PGI, I would ask them to sit with me in the kitchen. We had a table for their studies in the kitchen. I would cook and teach them. There was no television. We avoided eating out so that they don't fall ill, and our social commitments were rare,' Sunita said.
'As a mother, you have to help your children deal with multiple pressures and be their emotional anchor. But education is paramount, as no one can take it away from you. My daughters made their father and me proud by putting their heart and soul into their studies. They did their best. We know that they will always put their patients before themselves, and that's a grace,' Sunita smiled.
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