Interview with our topper Dr. FARMAN ALI

Interview with our topper Dr. FARMAN ALI

Dr. FARMAN ALI did his MBBS from SRI DEVARAJ URS MEDICAL COLLEGE

& joined DAMS Course

He secured Rank 3 IN NIMHANS Exam 2013

DAMS: Congratulations on securing good ranks. What is the secret of your success in this exam?
Dr. Farman Ali: THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISHES. THERE IS NO SECRETS AS SUCH. IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUR STRATEGY DURING PREPARATION.

DAMS: How did your parents, family and friends contribute to your success?
Dr. Farman Ali: EVERYONE HAS BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NO GODFATHERS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE, JUST THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT ALL OF THEM SHOWED IN ME WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO PUSH ME TO WORK HARDER AND SMARTER, FOR NOW AND FOR MY FUTURE ENDEAVOURS.

DAMS: Who influenced you to take up Medicine?
Dr. Farman Ali: THE PASSION FOR MEDICINE COMES FROM WITHIN. BUT I THINK ALONG THE WAY, MY LATE UNCLE MR. ANWAR ALI (MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE) WAS THE FIRST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON WHO DIRECTED ME TOWARDS MEDICINE.

DAMS: We appreciate the fact that preparing for an extremely competitive exam must be really challenging. During your preparation, did you ever doubt your ability to succeed in it?
Dr. Farman Ali: WELL…. IF YOU DO NOT GO THROUGH THAT PHASE, THERE IS A DEFECT IN YOUR STYLE OF STUDYING. IT’S HOW YOU DEAL WITH THAT DOUBT OF YOUR OWN CAPABILITY THAT MAKES YOU PREPARE IN A SMARTER WAY.

DAMS:  Which books did you read for the theory part?
Dr. Farman Ali: I MADE SURE I WENT THROUGH STANDARD BOOKS FOR PRECLINICAL AND PARACLINICAL SUBJECTS THAT INCLUDES GRAY, GANONG, HARPER, JAWETZ AND ROBINS. BUT IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT TO STUDY IN THOSE BOOKS. REST OF THE SUBJECTS WAS PRETTY MUCH INDIAN STANDARD. AUTHORS FOR PSYCHIATRY I STUDIED NIRAJ AHUJA.

DAMS: Which books did you read for MCQ revision? Which revision books were the most productive and which were least?
Dr. Farman Ali: THE MOST PRODUCTIVE BOOKS WERE AIPGEE PREVIOUS PAPERS BY MUDIT KHANNA AND AIIMS BY AMIT/ASHISH. AND THE LEAST I WILL HAVE TO SAY ACROSS BECAUSE THE SIZE OF 2 VOLUMES OF THAT BOOK CAN BE EDITED DOWN TO LESS THAN THE SIZE OF HALF A BOOK, IT’S JUST REPEATS.

DAMS: How important you think was DAMS in your preparation?
Dr. Farman Ali: DAMS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN FINE TUNING MY PREPARATION. EACH MOCK TEST MADE ME A LITTLE MORE GOAL ORIENTED THAN BEFORE. PLUS THE STUDY MATERIAL IS GREAT. IT’S EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED FOR INDIAN ENTRANCES.

DAMS: What do you think is the better way of preparation between selective, intensive study and wide, extensive study? What did you choose as your style of studying?
Dr. Farman Ali: THERE ARE TOPICS THAT ARE REPEATED EACH YEAR. ALSO, THERE ARE NEW CONCEPTS INTRODUCED EVERY YEAR. I THINK SELECTIVE AND INTENSE STUDIES COMBINED IS A VERY SMART WAY.

DAMS: Which subjects did you focus on?
Dr. Farman Ali: ALL MINORS AND PARACLINICALS MAINLY….. THESE SUBJECTS HAVE THE SCOPE OF TECHNICAL QUESTIONS IN THEM. EITHER YOU KNOW THE ANSWER OR YOU DON’T, UNLIKE CLINICALS WHERE YOU CAN APPLY LOGIC AND THEORY AND DEDUCE THE ANSWERS.

DAMS: What was your strategy for the exam day? How many questions did you attempt and why?
Dr. Farman Ali: NEVER STUDY ON THE DAY OF EXAM. STAY CALM. ATTEMPT THE EASY ONES FIRST. WHEN YOU ARE IN THE FLOW, START USING YOUR BRAINS EITHER TO DEDUCE THE ANSWER OR TO RECOLLECT IT FROM A REFERENCE.

DAMS: What do you want to specialize in, why and where?
Dr. Farman Ali: I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ORIENTED A LITTLE MORE TOWARDS SURGERY. BUT I THINK EVERY SPECIALITY IS GREAT AND HAS GOT AN AMAZING PRACTISE IF YOU’RE HONEST ABOUT IT.

DAMS: Which teachers in DAMS influenced you most and what do you like about DAMS and would recommend to your juniors?
Dr. Farman Ali: IT WOULD BE VERY UNFAIR FOR ME TO MENTION ONE NAME BECAUSE EACH OF THE TEACHERS HAS BEEN A GREAT INSPIRATION. INFACT, EVEN THE NON TEACHING STAFF HAVE BEEN VERY CO-OPERATIVE IN ORGANISING MATERIAL AND ALSO EXAMS.