Empathy First: CM Sarma Inspires New SSUHS Graduates

On a breezy Sunday evening at Guwahati’s Jyoti‑Bishnu Antarjatik Kala Mandir, the atmosphere was electric. Fresh graduates in white coats stood shoulder‑to‑shoulder with their families, teachers and a few dignitaries – among them Vice‑President C P Radhakrishnan and Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya. The reason? The fourth convocation of Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences (SSUHS).

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also serves as the university’s chancellor, took the stage with a warm smile. He thanked the Vice‑President for his presence, then turned his attention to the sea of eager faces. “You have earned your degrees, yes, but the real test begins now – how you use them to heal, to listen, to care,” he said, pausing a beat to let the words settle.

He reminded everyone that the very spirit of SSUHS harks back to Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradeva, whose teachings championed selfless service. “Our tradition is not just about cutting‑edge science; it’s about compassion, kindness, and humility,” Sarma added, his voice carrying a mix of pride and gentle urging.

Speaking from personal experience, the chief minister recalled his early involvement with the university since its birth in 2007. Over the years, he noted, the state has embarked on a “transformative journey” – building new hospitals, modernising curricula and, crucially, expanding the number of seats for aspiring doctors.

He painted a broader picture of India’s medical education boom: from roughly 14 lakh aspirants in 2019 to almost 20 lakh in 2026, with a pass‑rate of just 56 percent. The country now offers 1,39,864 MBBS seats, up from a modest 51,348 a decade ago. In Assam alone, the scenario is even more striking. After five decades with only three medical colleges, the state proudly runs 14, with nine more under construction at locations such as Charaideo, Biswanath Chariali and Majuli. The latest addition, Bongaigaon Medical College, nudges the total MBBS seats past the 2,000‑mark.

Amid the numbers, Sarma took a moment to celebrate individual brilliance. He recalled the John Berry White Award – a special prize introduced during the 2022 Platinum Jubilee of Assam Medical College for the top MBBS graduate. This year, Dr Vicky Dutta (2023), Dr Bhagyashree Modi (2024) and Dr Pritam Deka (2025) received the honour, embodying the very excellence the award seeks to inspire.

Beyond academia, the chief minister highlighted tangible improvements in public health. Maternal and neonatal mortality have fallen sharply; institutional deliveries now hover around 98 percent, and child immunisation exceeds 95 percent. A new chapter is unfolding in cancer care too – the Assam Cancer Care Foundation, backed by Tata Trusts, is rolling out 17 cancer hospitals at an estimated cost of Rs 3,700 crore, with a cutting‑edge Proton Beam Therapy Centre slated for Gauhati Medical College.

He concluded with a forward‑looking vision: “Assam’s youth are our biggest asset. We must nurture them not just to meet local needs, but to compete on a global stage.” The message was clear – skill, infrastructure and empathy together will shape a healthier future for the state and beyond.