Certain professions are considered sacred— medicine, teaching, judiciary, and spiritual masters or propagators. Similarly, certain positions are also holy. Among the heads of several institutions, the Principal of a Medical college has numerous additional responsibilities. One has to wear a cap of a doctor, teacher, mentor, educationalist, researcher, custodian, disciplinarian, administrator, and role model. It is an office of commitment, responsibility, and hardship. Therefore, one must be steady, mature, unshaken, and remain steadfast all through. One executes their functions with clarity, responsibility, and understanding, without any prejudice, deviation, or mental reservation. The students approach a teacher with trust, hope, openness, and vulnerability.

The teacher is expected not to take advantage of such vulnerability in all situations. As a principal one has streamlined many such teachers and created a platform for learning fulfilling the needs of the present at the same time making foundations for the future. The execution of such responsibilities must be with dedication and devotion to inspire the generations and make them innovative, and independent in thinking, decision making, and acting not influenced by nepotism, politics, and favoritism. An inspiring and efficient teacher will always attract affection, love, and a sort of attachment leading to dependence from the students. However, the real teacher should recognize this and efficiently and swiftly turn such attachment to its source, correcting the situation in such a way that none are dependent. For sure one should not take advantage of such a situation. If one is not ready with such qualities or attitude one should not take up such responsibility irrespective of the ability and seniority. Getting into the medical profession is not easy as well as getting out. To remain an efficient professional subsequently is another challenge. An oath of etiquette and ethics is administered both at entry and exit. It is not merely pronouncing or by hearting the oath it should be imbibed to become an inbuilt character. Apart from knowledge and skills, the fundamental thing the medical college should teach is “humanity". Therefore the medical student has to pass through several stages in life.

Apart from physical and intellectual hardship, one has to mold oneself into one of the finest personalities, hosting knowledge, skill, balanced emotions, empathy, compassion, curiosity, equality, and equanimity eventually to be reckoned as the elite of the society. They begin their career as a student but quickly transform into a series of multiple roles with time. They become a doctor, specialist, teachers, researcher, innovators, authors, administrators, policymakers, advocators, custodians of quality, standards of care, and ethics. They need to be prepared to face complications, and eventualities, face the reality of life, face death, and deal with such adverse situations, counseling, consoling, breaking the news, etc. They also need to be updated with newer advances constantly, changes in societal norms, Medico-legal implications, resource balancing, financial constraints, insurance, law of the nation, and geographical variations. So it is a huge task ahead for every medical professional. To walk through such terrain and get across the set goals they need to be transformed systematically by the teachers. They must become confident and independent to deal with any situation that is warranted.

The role of a principal becomes manifold and much more responsible. There he must not only be a good teacher and administrator to create and maintain such a system effectively. The young minds are so sensitive, curious, innovative, and energetic. Channelling such energy into the proper channel is the responsibility of the responsible teachers including the principal. The system should be such that they should not be disappointed but rather inspired by the Teachers by their etiquette, attitude, and knowledge. The way they carry themselves in front of students eventually makes them role models that all the students must try and imitate if not at least follow their footsteps and adapt their style of working. So the Principal has a greater responsibility that not he exhibit these qualities to the utmost efficiency but also ensure the same in other teachers as well.

As a principal, if he administers the oath he must follow it first. He must be well dressed, updated and adept in the subject, knowledgeable on the current updates, effective in Communication, eloquent, encouraging, pleasant, firm in decisions, maintain uniformity and dignity. At any cost, he shouldn't smoke, drink, or behave loosely or in any inappropriate manner with the students. One should not indulge in any kind of malpractice regardless of the circumstances. With sufficient seniority and experience, one should acquire these qualities to be eligible for such a position.

Unfortunately, due to various reasons such as political influence, regional strengths, and private management choices the selection criteria of such key positions got diluted. Many factors play a role apart from the real credentials or credibility of individuals. Maybe the need and scarcity demand the elevation of people to such prestigious positions. But one must feel the pride in becoming and ensure all the credentials are acquired and systems are in place quickly. Then only we can create efficiency, standardization, quality of education, and reputation not only within the country but on par with the rest of the world.

Ethical practices in selection, day-to-day implementation, administration, and medical examinations. It is important to realise once the college certifies as a doctor they are free to practice in society. So the onus is on the college and the principal to ensure the standards. The profession directly deals with human life and in alleviation of human suffering. Therefore it is a great responsibility on the shoulders of every medical professional. One can imagine the responsibility that lies with the principal of a medical college. It is a Herculean task to maintain such a system that fulfill current needs and futuristic goals. But it is easy to destroy the system that was built over centuries if one fails to understand the basic responsibility of the position one holds. Mere laxity can hamper the system. The role is much greater in comparison to other educational systems. Therefore the choice of selection is very important and continuity should be based on performance and not by any other means. It should be a collective effort of policymakers, regulatory bodies, and individual medical professionals to strive for quality, not for mere numbers. As such good majority of professors are stuck in their past. Remembering and ruminating on their old days and trying to establish a similar system today. It is an unfortunate fact of the current medical system. They find immense joy in doing this and pride in implementing and imposing the same. On the other hand, in the West, they have always been futuristic. Constantly exercising their minds to improve the system, inventing solutions and newer methods. Such systems and people can direct, guide, and inspire young minds through deliberations, research, and reap their creativity. Thus they have been contributors, leaders, advocators, and authors.

By adopting the basic standards and guidelines we too can achieve such high standards. We too can make our colleges as popular as the ones abroad. Then the recognition becomes automatic with many visitors to our system as well once such credibility is established.