A typical day in the life of Dr R Muthukumar, who’s among Madurai’s busy orthopaedic surgeons, consists of long hours of seeing patients, doing surgeries, and attending meetings. Same is the case with Dr R Jegan, a general surgeon in Pollachi. But not many know that when they take to the dance floor, they dance like nobody is watching! They are part of ‘Ugandas’, a group of doctors that’s redefining friendship goals.

“It all started when some of us in different years of MBBS met as hostellers in Madurai Medical College in the late 60s,” says Muthukumar. One of them, Jayachandran, suggested they form a group. “We made a deal to meet once a year after graduating and 16 of us made a gentleman’s promise,” says Muthukumar. “That was the time Idi Amin’s rule in Uganda had gained notoriety. We impulsively called ourselves Ugandas.”

Fifty years on, the name has become their identity. Unfortunately, before the first get together, Jayachandran passed away. But his friends got together in his memory. Their first trip was to the Kodaikanal hills. Dr Surendranathan, general surgeon from Madurai, remembers how he rode his two-wheeler with his three-month-old baby for the reunion.“No matter where we were, the 15 of us came, some with our spouses and toddlers to keep our word,” says Cumbum-based Dr R Mohanasundaram, who is Jayachandran’s brother. From 1980, the Ugandas have unfailingly met every new year’s eve.

Now, their group has become bigger, to include 30 children of the members — not all of whom are doctors — and 15 grandchildren.

Says dental surgeon Dr Kanna Peruman, “I don’t party with my friends on new year’s eve. I join the Ugandas and am happy to seek blessings from my father’s friends to start the new year.”

Niece of Jayachandran, Dr Jayaprabha from Rajapalayam, says her school and college groups have separated but this is one group that’s still going strong. “It amazes me to see them have so much fun. They shed their inhibitions, sing, and dance, and chat endlessly,” she says. Her mother, Dr Manorama, a gynaecologist, chips in, “They are completely different at work, at home and as Ugandas.”

Each year, the group travels to a new place. This year, they are planning to go to Malappuram in Kerala.

“We have met film stars, rode on bonnets of the car, held our own in-house ramp-walks on these trips and every occasion has strengthened our bond,” says Dr Promilda, gynaecologist and wife of Muthukumar.

The group even attends common functions in similar clothes. They have stood by each other in times of crisis and tragedy.

Dr Jegan lost his wife in 2004 and still went for the meet. Last year, when another doctor was critically ill, the group went to his house to usher in the new year. “It is the strength of our friendship that keeps us going,” says Muthukumar.

“Sitting here 50 years later, it hits me how surreal this all is,” says Ratnam, “Because when you are young, you collect friends effortlessly. Only when you grow old you start thinking about deep friendships.” He adds: “We are lucky to enter the final decades of life with hope.”