In the beginning and Now

Although Anna and I have spent only 15 years of our working years at the Christian Medical College, Vellore, it is one experience  which has affected our lives significantly. Anna was also a student at CMC for her under graduate and post-gradaute studies.

Dr. Ida Scudder, the founder of the institution in 1900, was herself led to study medicine and return to Vellore, through  a special experience in her life. Dr. Keith Sanders passed on a letter, a few years bak, which Dr. Scudder wrote about this to a friend. for safe keeping. It is  a moving account of a turning point in her life.

When she had set out on a  long journey to start a medical school, there were three foundations she envisioned for this institution.

The first was the creation of the chapel, which connects the main Medical College building and the Women's hostel. Her biographers mention this as a symbolic in her vision. Accrording to Dr. Scudder, 'we live and learn and what facilitates the both is our meeting with God'. Dr. Scudder had this chapel built with a circular interior with a high dome and windows in all directions, where students and the faculty would meet on Sunday evenings for worship and fellowship. There were morning and evening prayers at the chapel during the rest of the  week. The Sunken garden in front with its pool, was historic place as the annual graduation ceremony and important functions used to be held  there  earlier. At the heart of her vision for the Medical School, was her openness and reliance on God, which was expressed in the circular dome with its open windows. 

The second was her personal engagement with the students and the faculty by speaking to them at the Sunday chapel services, week after week from  a chapter from the Bible, I Corianthians 13, which is the  passage on love. This she did, to reinforce that CMC was to be a place of service of love. She pursued this mission ardently and patiently. Dr. Scudder was also available in the chapel premises on Fridays to meet with the students and the faculty to listen and interact, as an expression of her commitment  to practice this culture of love herself in the community. 

The third foundation that she laid, was her habit of being in touch with people in the town of Vellore. She would go out to play tennis at the Ladie's club, visit patients from Vellore at their homes, go out to conduct road side clinics, and be part of the social net work of the town. Dr. Scudder did this to connect  CMC with people among whom the students and the faculty lived. That was her way of being incarnational  to serve. This sprang from her motto, she chose for CMC from the sayings of Jesus of Nazareth, 'the Son of Man came to minster and not to be ministered unto'.   

I find these foundational values still well hououred and practiced at CMC Vellore. Every institution has an ethos. Dr. Scudder chose values that would live longer. It is amazing, how her vision is still treasured at CMC with a passion!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)