REPORT: OSWB Mid-term Conference 2024
Dear Members,
The OSWB Mid-term Conference 2024 at Sterling Resort, Ghoom was a mesmerizing event with family and friends altogether. The enthusiasm has been palpably visible with the record number of members participating than ever before, with the figure culminating to 121.
The weather, location, Kanchenjunga view was all additional receiving for the Midterm weekend. The three-day academic extravaganza, musical soiree which spilled over informally to the Kanchenjunga View-point over beyond midnight on both the days has been mind-boggling. Added to it were the quiz conducted the quiz-masters Drs Debmalya Das and Surabhi Chatree has been the most crowded show. The “Grihayudh” need a special mention because of the laughter session conducted by Dr Doel Biswas. The couple participation has been noteworthy in this session. The first time Smt Hena Rani Sarkar Free Paper Session was initiated at this conference with excellent quality presentations by the participants. The Dr P R Mondal Memorial Oration by Dr Arup Chakrabarti was a grand and learning session indeed.
In the cold morning at Ghoom, Dr Anshuman Das could attract so many participants in Photowalk session, the quality photographs were the proof. The Inaugural session was fantastically being conducted where the Chief Guest was Mr. Lakpa Tshering Sherpa and Guest of Honour was Mrs. B K Pinky, famous social worker in Darjeeling Hills and surroundings, both were present and graced the occasion with their beautiful speeches. On the first day evening, the Nepali Dance and program by local Nepali child artists was innovative and made most members dance on the floor. Another very big special mention is the morning raga on sitar performed by Dr Meghnath Bhowmick during the breakfast time. This is our first-time experience of classical music and breakfast enjoying together. Our second-day evening was again a hit cultural event where there was mix of different kind of performances including children by our members. The food was excellent with lot of varieties and choices.
Last day morning, many participated in an eye screening camp organized by OSWB Community Ophthalmology Subcommittee and Bengal Ophthalmic Trust at Pussimbing Tea Estate, Ghoom, Darjeeling. Total 50 patients were screened. Refractive error diagnosed in 22, pterygium in 5, cataract in 8 patients. Others were normal and few having some allergic manifestations. Then, people attended the picnic, took many photographs amid beautiful lush green tea garden landscape, enjoyed lunch, and went back to Siliguri.
Members enjoyed to their heart’s content in the recently concluded OSWB Mid-term Conference 2024.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my members who participated in large numbers and made this conference a thumping success. I would also like to thanks my four Organizing Secretaries, namely Drs Lav Kochgaway, Diptesh Das, Swarup Roy and Supratik Banerjee for taking all the pains to make this conference a landmark event in the history of our Society.
Dr Debashis Das
Hony Secretary 2024
Ophthalmological Society of West Bengal 2022-24
