The Jasmine chain!

Every time I watch the final year medical students carry the jasmine chain and lead the procession of convocation at the Christian Medical College,Vellore, it reminds me of the several convocations, I witnessed while being in the faculty. 

There is something special about the jasmine chain. The two chains each about sixty feet long is made in the early morning of the convocation to maintain freshness and fragrance the flowers. It is a work of art, the skills of which has been passed down generations of students and staff under the leadership of faculty in the community medicine department. The flowers are woven around a coir rope in the centre with twigs and leaves of Neem tree, to hold the flowers together a circular form. 

There are different expressions of symbolism in this jasmine chain procession. One thing that has stayed with me some appeal is its association with the final years. The final years at the end of four years of training, while carrying the jasmine chain and lead the convocation procession, bring in a sense of celebration. As they walk in to the auditorium keeping their steps in rhythm of music, they also announce the order and discipline with which they pursued the journey of learning over the years. They bring the good news that although the journey was long and demanding, it ends in celebration.

This celebration foretells the joy of service as health care professionals to live their vocation of, 'not to be ministered unto but to minister', which is the motto of CMC, Vellore.

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)