Meet Mrs. Narang: the new dean

August 11, 2002

Meet Dr Pratibha Narang: The New Dean

Dr. Pratibha Narang, Head, Department of Microbiology, took over as Dean of the

institute on 1st August. As one who enjoyed Dr Sushila Nayar's love and

affection- and admiration for her research and academic abilities- for long, it

was a foregone conclusion that when Dr OP Gupta retired as a Dean this month, he

would hand over to her the reins of his office.

Born soon after India got freedom, on 9th September 1947, Mrs. Narang spent her

early childhood in Srinagar and Dehradun. She was educated at the Doon school

under her father's tutelage. A mathematics wizard and the vice-principal of Doon

School, her father wrote as many as 25 books on Mathematics, a contribution for

which he is widely esteemed in the country. He could make neither his daughter-

nor his three grandchildren- opt for a mathematics-based career, though. Mrs.

Narang's daughters and her son are MGIMS alumni, as is her son-in law.

At Doon School, Mrs. Narang loved to dance, debate and play. She won a school

colour in 1963. In 1969, she graduated from Lady Harding's Medical College,

Delhi. A Cultural President of the College, she was also awarded Annie McKenzie

Prize for being best all rounder. Her first love was Gynaecology and Obstetrics

and she would have almost become a gynecologist but for her marriage with Dr

Ravindra Narang, a surgeon. She realized that a clinical career would leave her

stranded with little time, and energy, to look after her family. And this made

her opt for Microbiology. She listened to her heart, learning to read the omens

strewn along the life's path and followed her dreams. Her elder daughter,

married to a Physician, chose to be a gynecologist, however.

In 1973 she joined MGIMS as a lecturer. The institute gave her a sabbatical to

pursue post-graduation in microbiology from Lady Harding's Medical College. In

1978, she returned back, armed with MD (Microbiology). Hers was the first

appointment in the Institute in the Department of Microbiology. Over the next

twenty-five years, she nurtured the department with an exemplary dedication and

passion. There are few medical schools in the country which can boast of as

efficient and as research-oriented a microbiology department as we have at the

institute.

Her forte is TB. Considered a leading national authority on this disease, her

ICMR-funded community work on prevalence of pulmonary and lymph node TB and a

path-breaking study on the short-term intermittent domiciliary treatment of TB

have won her international acclaim. Recipient of several prestigious awards,

Mrs. Narang has 75 publications to her credit, which are an eloquent testimony

to her commitment to research.

Mrs. Narang is a doting mother, and a caring home-maker. To her home is as

important as the professional career is. She is articulate, well read, has

traveled extensively and is easy to talk with.

Mrs. Narang brings culture to her office. The students, faculty and the society

expect her to maintain the academic and research excellence of the institute and

to ensure that the institute continues to enjoy its reputation of being a caring

health care provider, always responsive to the felt needs of the community that

it is serving.

Dr SP Kalantri

Editor, MGIMS News Bulletin

August 12, 2002

Dear Ma'm,

It is heartening to learn of your appointment as the new dean - your abilities

and nature make it very easy to admire you and expect the world from you. I am

positive the institute will benefit immensely from your stewardship-Wishing you

all the best in your role as the dean.

Warm regards

Sadhana Bose

1985

>

> Date: Sun, 11 Aug 2002 23:10:26 +0530

> To: " MGIMS eGroups " <mgims >

> Subject: Meet Mrs. Narang: the new dean

>

> Meet Dr Pratibha Narang: The New Dean

>

> Dr. Pratibha Narang, Head, Department of Microbiology, took over as Dean of

the institute on 1st August. As one who enjoyed Dr Sushila Nayar's love and

affection- and admiration for her research and academic abilities- for long, it

was a foregone conclusion that when Dr OP Gupta retired as a Dean this month, he

would hand over to her the reins of his office.

>

> Born soon after India got freedom, on 9th September 1947, Mrs. Narang spent

her early childhood in Srinagar and Dehradun. She was educated at the Doon

school under her father's tutelage. A mathematics wizard and the vice-principal

of Doon School, her father wrote as many as 25 books on Mathematics, a

contribution for which he is widely esteemed in the country. He could make

neither his daughter- nor his three grandchildren- opt for a mathematics-based

career, though. Mrs. Narang's daughters and her son are MGIMS alumni, as is her

son-in law.

>

> At Doon School, Mrs. Narang loved to dance, debate and play. She won a school