‘We worked with utmost sincerity for the cause of IAP’

I had agreed in the Inauguration and also in Valedictory Session that there were some lacunae in the conference and with folded hands I once again apologize. So I am not living in the fool’s paradise. I know the success, I know the failures too. Is there anybody in the conference who had not received the registration bag? Yes, they got it after waiting for 1 or 2 hours! Whose mistake was it? Org anizing. Committee of PEDICON or the Sponsor GSK? First failure was here.
Second failure was definitely the first night’s dinner! Who were responsible? Why did the delegates bring so many unregistered delegates to the dinner party? Who told them to bring them? Why the sponsor distributed extra cards? Who was at fault?
Why an Organizing Committee that worked for day and night for 15 months should be heckled so inhumanly! Even if they fail - are they the criminals? Four lunches and 3 cocktail dinners were given along with Tiffins on 7, 8 and 9 January 2005. The ‘Registration kit’ chosen by us was the best undoubtedly. Every cultural evening was well planned and every day 2 group of artists performed- (i) Bikram Ghosh followed by Orchestra, (ii) Assamese Dance Troup followed by Abheejit, (iii) Manipuri Dance of Preeti Patel followed by Usha Uthup! In addition, there were cultural programs in inaugural dais as well as in valedictory session. The valedictory lunch was well planned, valedictory gift was given (4850 tins of Roso-golla) and a special cultural program of Chinese Children was organized on that day. Mementos were well chosen. The ‘Mela Ground’ was very spacious -biggest in the history of PEDICON. There were 8 relaxation lounges including the par-excellence Durga Mandap.  Can any one disagree that we did not try our best!
The black side is caused by GSK (Biological Division) who sponsored the bag and the unruly delegates. We are not yet out of shock and this ‘shock’ will stay in our minds and souls after death as we worked with utmost sincerity for the cause of IAP, not for a personal gain.
Still, a group of delegates and one or two EB members, who do not know the decorum of a responsible person, treated us very badly. To insult Organizing committee and its Secretary by any of the delegates is a criminal offence. I feel it very strongly.
People will not understand our pain. It is the high time that Academy should do a thorough postmortem of the event in a most dispassionate way so that the PEDICONs are not transformed in to Melas without any purpose. We should follow the International Conference Guidelines, where no food and hospitality are entertained and even you have to purchase a bottle of water for your thirst.
                                         - Dr Tapan K. Ghosh, Organizing Secretary, Kolkata Pedicon.

The way out!

Indeed, conferences today are mega events and are as much an occasion for socializing and glamorizing as they are of academic value. Thanks to the sponsorship culture evolved by the pharmaceutical companies and patronized by us, they are also a great annual vacation for our families. The families and non-pediatrician invitees of pharmaceutical firms far out number the delegates especially during the dinners. Brave are those pediatricians who dare to come sans their families, as the infection is all pervading.
Some years back, I strongly felt that such conferences should remain purely an academic affair and had then proposed that to make them so, the venue of the conference should be fixed for one place in the country (as it is in Yorkshire in U.K.)with working lunches, no gala dinners and only one banquet. This idea was not accepted by many on the following pleas: 1. It is against conventions and is not likely to be acceptable, 2. Fixing a venue in one city would mean a permanent involvement of organizer of that city, 3. Conferences provide the rare opportunity for pediatricians and their families from all over the country to meet and socialize, 4. Our cultural diversities and the concept of promoting integration justify holding conferences in different parts of the country.
As the above suggestion did not find favor with many, I thought it would be futile to be judgmental on people’s preferences or that I might be wrong or out dated. Now that you asked me again to say some thing I would still prefer my suggestion given above. It might take just 2 or 3 years for everyone to get adjusted to the new system and only interested delegates might attend sans all the fanfare. Whether they are acceptable or not acceptable, I am venturing to suggest the following imperatives.

1. Registration should close down at least one month before the conference, which also means no spot registration.
2. Detailed information about every session including subjects, speakers, the halls and a map of the geographical location of halls should reach all registered delegates at least 2 weeks before the conference.
3. The organizer should be detailed about the pitfalls of accepting the sponsorships from pharmaceutical firms and they should be advised to keep the distribution of kits and invitation cards in their charge and not leave them to be handled by the sponsors.
4. The venue of the conference and lunches / dinners should be in the same campus.
5. There should be very strict adherence to the time schedule leaving enough time for involvement of the audience in the proceedings.

I don’t know how much worth my above suggestions would be but you can carry the debate forward. Organizers need to learn from the successes and failures of earlier organizers and delegates need to show some degree of patience and magnanimity.
 

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Kolkata Pedicon :                                    
                                     You deserve a better deal, Tapan da!

The outburst of few disgruntled members at the GBM in Kolkata against the organizers was indeed shocking but at the same time was quite uncalled for. Those who know Tapan Ghosh from some close quarters would agree that the man deserved a better deal what actually he did get. Agreed, it is the organizing secretary that ultimately garners all the praise showered on the organizing team. And going by that yardstick, it is he who should take the stick too. But, if one takes the overall unbiased assessment of the whole show barring the 'mishaps' on day 1, the gathering thoroughly enjoyed the feast doled out by the organizers on all other days. Though there was enough room for the improvement more so considering the vast space the organizers had at their disposal, a bit of professional inputs from event managers would have probably saved them the criticism they got in bargain. Palpably, in their gusto and zeal to provide the best, the more, the different, and to outdo their predecessors, they floundered the initiative on the opening day. And as you know, even the best of intentions and efforts sometimes go awry. Who cares for the intentions and efforts! What ultimately matters the end results on the ground. But, to make a big issue from some trivial lapses is equally unwarranted.
How would you overall rate the recent Pedicon at Kolkata?

Which 'Pedicon' in recent times did you enjoy the most?

In every pedicon, voices are raised against the unjustified lavish spending on the venues and associated events that are driving the real purposes of these events in to background and making them inconsequent. Going by the views of contemporaries, the real aims and objectives of these events are getting redefined; Concerns of rising influence of industry on these events are expressed at various fora. There are accusations of organizers making megabucks from the events. But, do we have the moral right to ask this? How many of us can boast of not exercising unethical means? And promoting unethical practices and undue dependence on the industry? Have one not noticed the mad rush and long ques for an odd plastic bag! And the delegates ferrying from one place to another on industrywallah's back! This is not a new debate. And perhaps not many would love to venture in to it.
What is the main purpose behind going to pedicons?

The scientific program of the conference was plotted with an intention to dole out something to everyone. The high point of the scientific session? Undoubtedly, the Shanti Lal Seth Oration this year. I do not remember when last any speaker did receive such a thunderous applause and standing ovation! The clapping went on. And on. Till the time delegates realized the speaker had already left the scene. Hopefully, Amdekar will continue to enthrall the pediatricians of this genre for many more years to come. And these thunderous ovations will ensure that there is no dearth of motivation and incentive. For the maestro to carry on. And on, Amen!
Though I am not directly involved with the functioning of the academy in many fronts, but whatever little I could gather clearly points towards a keen desire of the top leadership to associate and follow government health initiatives for the child health. Indeed, a step in the right direction that would ensure a sort of legitimacy and eminence to our association. But, perhaps, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics has much more to offer to the custodians of child health in this country than simply following their directives. And under the astute leadership of Raju C. Shah, who seems to be far more assertive than many of his predecessors, there should not be any paucity of these opportunities.

He has already given enough indications that he means business. And to have an intelligent albeit a low-profile personality whose main strength is his ability to maneuver the art of subtlety as his secretary would just simplify the task.
How did you arrange funds for the Pedicon?

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