Dr. Surabhi Deepak was
presently doing her MD in Dermatology at the Kottayam Medical College. As part
of her course she was to present a paper at a national level conference on
Dermatology - DERMACON 2013 at Ahmadabad, Gujarat. While filling up the
application form for the conference, she had to answer two questions: (1) Has
this study been presented before in any other conference? (2) Is this study a group work
or individual work?
The answer for the first question was ‘Yes’. Surabhi had not only
presented this paper at a state level conference at Kovalam, but she had also won
a prize for that presentation. Saying ‘yes’ to that question would invariably
mean that the paper would be rejected by the screening committee for DERMACON 2013.
The answer to the
second question was neither very appealing. The paper was a product of group work and the credit goes to many seniors and
faculty members who had played a role, big or small in some way along the way.
Stating the truth would significantly bring down the likelihood of the paper
being selected.
As Surabhi pondered
on the issue, there seemed to be no doubt of the options before her. As
believers she had just one option: to say the truth even if that meant that the
paper would be rejected. Against the tide of public
opinion and against the sincere advice of her well wishers in her academic
circles, Surabhi choose to stand for the truth. The application was sent
stating very clearly that the paper had been presented before and that it was
not an individual work but the contribution of a group.
Guess what!! The study made it to the final list of 12 papers selected
from among 750 entries from all over India. Struck by God’s grace in rewarding
their truthfulness, Surabhi and Deepak left for Ahmadabad. DERMACON 2013 was a big stage for Surabhi.
She was tensed as she made the presentation before a learned and august
audience. Waveringly she trusted the Lord Jesus Christ to carry her through.
And when the final results were announced … unbelievable … Surabhi was awarded the Best Paper Presentation Award for 2013. Both Surabhi and Deepak were overjoyed, amazed and humbled. It turned out that she was the only South Indian to get an award for paper presentation at DERMACON 2013 and on enquiry, the only doctor from Kerala to have ever won the prize in the known past.
Receiving the prize
for the award at that eminent national conference was as testimony to God’s
faithfulness. He is still the same God who chooses
the foolish things of the world to shame the wise! 1 Peter 5:6 exhorts us therefore
to humble yourselves, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due
time.
