New Delhi Times - Gaurav Bhatnagar reporting from New Delhi, India

Three of my close friends and cousins are studying to become doctors. I had heard that getting a medicine degree is hard, but had no idea how hard it is until I saw it from close quarters. Firstly, it takes forever to become a doctor. In India, the basic medical degree MBBS requires a minimum of 4.5 years of course work. This is followed by 1 year of rigorous internship. I am told that MBBS alone isn't worth much today so during internship, one must prepare hard for the entrace exam for admission for getting a post graduate degree. Get a PG degree takes another 3 years. It is these PG students who actually keep the hospitals running. An average shift is 40 hours long - yes 40 hours! No break for shower or shave. So thats 8.5 years of non stop struggle. In certain fields of medicine, getting a super specialization degree is considered almost mandatory. So that is another couple of years gone.

My friend who is in second year of PG often has to sit in for night shifts at the university hospital. His usual patients in that shift are drunkard picked up by the police during the night. That can't be fun.

Medicine is one profession which requires dedication beyond imagination. To knowingly take on a life long struggle of such magnitude, that too to serve others, requires immense courage (or perhaps innocence of youth...). Hats off to all the doctors out there!