Dr. Ida Sophia Scudder spent her life time, to begin, envision and establish the Christian Medical college, Vellore in 1900.
I have an original letter written by Dr. Scudder, to her publisher, passed on to me by Dr Keith Sanders from his collection of stories about CMC. She wrote this letter to the publisher of her biography, giving the accurate version of the events that took place in one night which made her change her plans to pursue medical training to come to India. Three families had approached her father one night for a woman doctor to go to their homes to attend on women in child birth, who were in distress. They presumed that Ida was a doctor.
Dr. John Scudder, her father, having been well known to them as a doctor, was not welcome to attend to the child birth, as it was a custom then that only women can be present during child birth. When Ida saw the funeral procession of all the three women next day, who died during child birth, she felt the call to return to India as a woman doctor.
As I stood watching her sculpture outside the auditorium of the college yesterday, this 'call' to which Ida responded, came alive to me.
We are surrounded by all sorts of events which shock, disturb or speak to us. Most of us pause and reflect and allow them to pass us by.
When I recently heard that about 8000 patients come to the out patient service at the CMC hospital and about 1800 receive care in the in patient service every day, I was moved by the lasting impact of her response to the divine call. These patients come from 21 states in India and 11 countries. CMC has become a pilgrimage location for health care.
Ida left her personal plan, her culture, her boy friend and her ambition for herself.
What does it mean to 'let go' of all that we have pursued or acquired! It was this question which lingered in my mind as I continued my walk.
Anna and I sense a call to 'leave' and 'move'! We are waiting to know, 'what shall we move into'!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
I have an original letter written by Dr. Scudder, to her publisher, passed on to me by Dr Keith Sanders from his collection of stories about CMC. She wrote this letter to the publisher of her biography, giving the accurate version of the events that took place in one night which made her change her plans to pursue medical training to come to India. Three families had approached her father one night for a woman doctor to go to their homes to attend on women in child birth, who were in distress. They presumed that Ida was a doctor.
Dr. John Scudder, her father, having been well known to them as a doctor, was not welcome to attend to the child birth, as it was a custom then that only women can be present during child birth. When Ida saw the funeral procession of all the three women next day, who died during child birth, she felt the call to return to India as a woman doctor.
As I stood watching her sculpture outside the auditorium of the college yesterday, this 'call' to which Ida responded, came alive to me.
We are surrounded by all sorts of events which shock, disturb or speak to us. Most of us pause and reflect and allow them to pass us by.
When I recently heard that about 8000 patients come to the out patient service at the CMC hospital and about 1800 receive care in the in patient service every day, I was moved by the lasting impact of her response to the divine call. These patients come from 21 states in India and 11 countries. CMC has become a pilgrimage location for health care.
Ida left her personal plan, her culture, her boy friend and her ambition for herself.
What does it mean to 'let go' of all that we have pursued or acquired! It was this question which lingered in my mind as I continued my walk.
Anna and I sense a call to 'leave' and 'move'! We are waiting to know, 'what shall we move into'!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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