Years and Memories

Anna and I first met Premila in 1990, when she joined the ASHIRVAD Child Development and Research Centre. During the seven years at Chennai, Premila was in the heart of all the significant events that helped in the unfolding the mission of ASHIRVAD . 

The child Development consultation and early childhood intervention services were organised by Premila through her efficient management of the office. She welcomed families and children warmly and responded to their needs kindly and thoughtfully. She managed to maintain the books and accounts, by working extra hours. The volume of the work increased after the other secretary left and our involvements got diversified to start the Early Learning Centre at St. Andrew's church and an extension service of ASHIRVAD at Nagpur. Premila cheerfully accepted more responsibilities, when we organised training programs and expanded our interventional services for children. We were delighted by her enthusiasm, caring nature and keeping the ambience vibrant with her friendly orientation towards the rest of the team. Premila stayed in touch those who left the team after marriage. She was meticulous with upkeep of the office.

When ASHIRVAD entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Christian Medical College, Vellore to start the Developmental Paediatrics Unit in 1997, Premila offered to accompany us to Vellore, although it was difficult for her to relocate due to family commitments. The whole responsibility of relocating to Vellore was born by her, which Anna supervised. There were three physical relocations in the initial three years in the CMC campus, the last being to the custom built new ASHIRVAD floor, each demanding attention and planning. She efficiently organised them and enthused the rest of the team by her friendliness and commitment to team work. Premila has an unusual ability to relate to children and families and picked up multilingual skills  to communicate to families.

Premila has been always dependable, caring and supportive. She promotes well being of the others by showing acts of kindness. She is a resource of help and a confidant to many. 

Since we left Vellore in 2010, Premila visited us at Pondicherry. She came visiting again during this week and stayed with us in our cottage and cheerfully adjusted to all the limitations in our home. She endeared herself to all at the Developmental paediatrics department at MOSC Medical College, that they invited her back for a longer time. 

Anna and I have been touched by her loyalty and affection. Her personal faith in God, even during difficult times, has been an inspiration to us. Her warmth and thoughtfulness which she conveyed to us during this visit lifted our spirit immensely. 

We have seen her grow and mature. She is a light that shines for others. We have been learning from her valuable lessons about the worth, meaning  and value of friendship.

We often hear from my earlier colleagues at the Developmental Paediatrics unit at CMC, that Premila holds together people and programs in an unassuming way.

M.C.Mathew(text an photo)