A new awareness!

Anna and I went for a one month long Life Formation Seminar at the invitation of late Dr Hans Burki, Switzerland in 1982. He had formal training in psychology, adult education, counselling and theology because of which he had a view of life which was composite and transcending! He was a devout follower of Jesus of Nazareth and followed His teachings by integrating them through reading of the scripture, prayer, meditation and contemplation. He invited about 20 people each year for a time of 'revision' of life by introducing the disciplines of reading of the scripture, prayer, meditation and contemplation. The village Rasa, on the Swis alps, was a serene setting for such an experience which was accessible only by cable car.

One afternoon in the first weak, at tea time in the garden, a lizard fell into his lap from the creeping grape vine above! Some watching this screamed in fright. But Dr Burki, least disturbed, but in quiet composure allowed the lizard to crawl in to his palm. He kept looking at the lizard silently and the lizard in turn settled in the safety of the hollow of his palm comfortably. He allowed the lizard to move away when it was ready to do so. Just as the lizard was crawling out, he said 'thank you for visiting me' to which the lizard turned back to look at him one more time!

Later after supper time, Dr Burki gave us an introduction to the creation story in the book of Genesis in the Bible. His introduction was about how we are created relationally and meant to be that way. 

So for the first time in my life, I had a different view of lizards than I grew up with.  It also helped me to demystify my thoughts about animals generally. I had sense of fear about dogs as I was chased by them on a few occasions. I was bitten by a water snake, while crossing a stream when I was ten and needed some treatment. I had suffered bee stings on a few occasions while trying to pluck cashew nut fruits. I  had heard stories of people dying with rabies following dog bite !

It is all these collection of impressions that got revised when Dr Burki suggested that all humans and animals are to live relationally. 

It was a yer or so later Re Peter Miller, a Scottish minister at the St Andrews Church, Chennai, who decided on his own to gift us their pet dog, Dingy, when it was time for them  to return to Edinburgh. Dingy was even prayerful, apart from displaying all the outstanding qualities of being a well trained dog.  At prayer time he would kneel and stay still the prayer is over. Dr Burki's proposal of a inherent natural friendly relationship between humans and animals got illustrated vividly from this personal experience. Dingy was a good companion to Arpit and Anandit and would sleep under their beds at night.  She would give a lick on their feet when the visitors showed a friendly gesture towards her, although it was too much for some to put up with it. 

Since then, both Anna and I developed some interests in having pets.  We had an aquarium with colourful fishes which Anna took care of with of the help of Arpit and Anandit. 

Gradually our interests in pets got wider. Now we have dogs, fish, birds, tortoise, and a visiting cat. 

My interest in birds, squirrels, insects in the garden has grown gradually.

During the last one year, I have been looking our for dragon fly, butterfly, caterpillar, etc.

When I watched the butterfly above in this blog in the garden, I was reminded of the first butterfly I photographed years back. That photo is on our wall, framed and hanging. It is a picture of 'intimacy' because the butterfly was resting on the flower peacefully and delightfully! 

In the book, 'things hidden-scripture as spirituality' by an accomplished author, Richard Rohr, quotes from St Augustine,  who said, 'Goodness is accompanied by peace, patience, and even consolation..'

I have watched this to be true from our experiences with both our current dogs, Dulcie and Dafny. In case we have delayed their breakfast, they would remind us by a gentle mourning sound. 

So there is goodness in the animal kingdom because they too are created by the good Lord!

The eco-spiritual advocates bring this aspect into the forefront to plead for kindness towards stray dogs. While we were living in the CMC Vellore Campus, I remember how Dr Anna Tharien, professor of Psychiatry, took an initiative to vaccinate all the stray dogs against Rabies, rather than kill them as advised by some veterinary doctors. Her argument was that dogs have a right to live in the campus as CMC has a large campus and dogs are fond of human contact. As humans we need to learn to be kind and considerate, which is what we as doctors do anyway towards our patients. This argument worked and we had several stray dogs living in the campus, with a few of them being regular at some homes at meal times.

However, I am also grieved by the stray dogs randomly biting and harming others. Not because they are rabid, but hey are hungry and feel harassed. 

Fortunately I was introduced to dogs early in life as my father was fond of them and had them live in a kennel at home, with regular walks and games provided for them.   

Our environment is a resource for us to learn from.

 We as humans are one sided when we look at our environment. We do what seem to be good for us without  considering the inconveniences or unsettlement we cause to others or animals! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)     

Orchids and Dragon flies !

It was my weekly visit to the few orchids we have in the garden and watch the new flowers. Almost through out the year we have flowers in them! 

I was pleasantly surprised to find seven different red dragon flies and one black one in those plants. It was mid day and too bright to capture the original colours. The difference between the second dragon fly and the third was little. That too was fascinating to discover!

Every time I watch a dragon fly I feel fascinated by its habit of finding the earlier place to rest after flying aground for a while. Each one has its fixed place, it looks like.

From my experience, mid days are better times to spot the dragon flies in the garden!

I went searching for the breeding sites of dragon flies along a fresh water stream at the edge of our property. I did not know what to look for initially! The frogs feed on the eggs of dragon flies. So I started  looking for frogs. I could not locate  either of them!

So dragon flies need more attention.

Somehow the number of birds visiting the garden is on a decline! I wonder what is behind it! That is the next focus of enquiry for me!

M C Mathew(text and photo)

Loosing a hill for soil!

One sight that disturbs me in and around where we live is the erasing fo the hills for commercial sale of the soil. Soil is in great demand to fill the low lying fields for converting them to be sites for commercial activity, housing projects, building office complexes etc. 

We require facilities such as housing, shopping complexes, office infrastructure, etc.

One of the reasons attributed to the recent flooding is the indiscriminate filling of low lying areas, which normally act as waterbodies during the monsoon season and restrict water logging in other areas. Such fields and waterbodies get eliminated due to building activity! 

Humans create and destroy!

What we destroy is nature's assets, which have a protective role in our environment. 

This hill that is getting erased is adjacent to low lying areas on three sides of it. This hill therefore was a protection to human habitation of several houses on the other side. Now these houses would stand exposed when there is incessant rain!

The regulatory authorities who monitor all these activities are subject to influences and therefore close their eyes to the distant realities and consequences. 

This is one instance when I did not watch any protest or resistance from the activists!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Village life in transition!

This new catering service in the adjacent village, has come up recently as there are some who request for home delivery of food. The customers are senior citizens who are not well enough cook, working couples who come home late and do not have the energy to cook and partying people! 

Having seen several bill boards like this, I was curious to know about such a service! I met somebody  who used this service. He was fully satisfied with the quality of food, cost and service they offer. 

The 'Kudumbashree' is a voluntary organisation of women, in existence for about 25 years now, who have come forward with several initiatives to promote self employment. 

The logic behind such home delivery services of food in the evening is refreshing in innovation. The caller while ordering would be told the menu each evening of the week. A family who cooks for six members can easily and effortlessly cook for another six meals to give away. The income from this six meals sold, will cover the expense of all the12 meals cooked, which is a big saving for the family!

This form of enterprising initiatives are common in several domains. I heard about some families offering the use of their washing machine for their neighbours at a nominal cost. It is service as well as an additional income. I come across small bill boards outside some homes 'order your meal with us'! There are some who give their cars for the use of their trusted friends, which is another expression of social living! In fact one who uses the car of his neighbour told me that he contributes towards the annual payment of the insurance and regular upkeep expenses. What a noble example!

I am fascinated by this approach as this connects the community even more relationally and socially. 

While we get alienated from each other due to the hectic pace at which we live, there are healthy trends to reconnect and live with neighbourly consciousness. 

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

The seedlings..!

Anna and I watch this patch of sprouting paddy on our way to work, now getting ready for transplanting to the paddy field. Following the flood in August the farmers have begun their activities to plant again. 

Between this and the harvest, there is a long way to go for a farmer. The threat of pests, too much or too little rain, weeds, ...For a farmer, he is not sure till he can harvest the rice whether the crop would yield good returns. He invests in his field in hope and anticipation!

I feel encouraged by this sight of seedlings! All beginnings are small. That is hope giving!

Yesterday a family who is struggling with their son who is slow in learning told me that they see him progress in his learning effort because of which they are inspired to do more!

This is one dimension of hope! Find inspiration in little things! The challenges and difficulties have creative dimension to strengthen our resolve and resilience.

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Post Flood conversation-3

One sure way to get fish delivered at your door step is to use the service of men who go from house to house in a motor bike or bicycle. The number of such sales people have declined since the flood in August in 2018.

Although the cost of fish has dropped as there is less demand, these salesmen find it difficult to sell fish. I watched this lady bargain for a while till she decided to buy.

Later in the day, I met another salesman on his motorbike returning home after selling only part of fish he collected from the market. His sale a day used to cross two thousand rupees a day, in which case he would get about 300-400 rupees as profit. Now his profit is less than hundred. He is now planning to use his old bicycle as the petrol price is now Rs 90 per litre. He needs two litres of petrol a day to cover about forty kilometres each day to sell fish. 

The whole sale cost of fish has dropped considerably. But to get full advantage of that he ought to buy a minimum amount. But he is unable to sell as people are severely financially constrained after the flood. 

A parent who came to visit for consultation with is son talked about this situation in anguish.  He runs a tea shop in the evening hours to help the migrant labourers with their supper. His sale was about three thousand rupees a day, which has dropped to about thousand a day. The migrant labourers are fewer as they have left to their homes because of lack of work and those who come eat less to save money. The consequence of this that this family who depended on this income to look after their three children, all of whom have special needs ,struggle to make both ends meet. 

Th silver lining in this situation is the efforts of some voluntary organisations to identify people who face the demands of living and find some respite for them. The local YMCA decided to be a support for fifty families for special allowances to meet their regular needs. 

At the department where I work, we offer free consultation after the flood to those families who are disadvantaged. We hope we can offer this for one year, all being well!

How do we share in the pain of others! I heard something that impacted me. A painter, who also runs a tea shop decided to sell tea at no profit basis for three months to those who come to his shop regularly! So the price of tea in his shop is Rs 7 from Rs 8 earlier. 

Every small act of kindness is valuable in difficult times!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Existential realities-1

I watched this woman walking a distance and turning into a house with a broom in her hand early in the morning. 

A pedestrian passing by seeing me take a photo said, 'She is going to a home where there are two old people who need help to clean the house. She does this in a few homes for her livelihood and to care for old people'!

That was a new discovery for me. Th conversation led to a larger issue. There are at least forty senior citizens, living alone in that village, whose children are elsewhere! Some older people have moved into senior citizen's homes. The women in the village who need an additional income offer help to these senior citizens. Some women help with cooking, others with cleaning and washing, some others with personal care of senior people, some with shopping....

All these happen in most villages. Anna and I have been living here for six years. It is now we discover the challenges of existential realities. 

The women who offer to help need an extra income and the senior citizens are desperate for help!

At the end of the conversation, this person who too is into his late sixty told me that he is one of the beneficiaries of this service by the women in the village, since he lost his wife five years ago. He lives in a large house built by his children, who live overseas and come once in two years to visit. So he gets to see one of the children and his family once a year for three weeks. He is loosing his eye sight. He goes to the local tea shop to hear someone read the news paper loudly to him as he no more can read even with a magnifying glass. He dreads the thought of having to be visually impaired further! He has two friends who too are retired who visit him once a week. He offers a meal for them as they too live alone. 

I remembered then one of the interns working at the MOSC Medical college telling me that some senior citizens wait for the intern to come for them to hear the news papers read to them! This is one help the interns provide during their home visits.

A local parish priest stopped to greet  this senior citizen, who told us that he came to visit him. They turned to his house which was only a few meters away. 

This was a moment of new consciousness of the existential realities. We might be technologically and materially prospering...but the personal needs of friendship, support, care, etc come only from human companions!   

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

     

Two goats !

Anna and I often see these goats tied on the road side on a green stretch!

They look intently if we were to take notice of them!

This intent look has caught my attention! It is more than just watching sights. 

I happened to see the owner of the goats the other day.  

He mentioned to me that goats are prone to be frightened! So sounds and sights make them feel anxious. That made sense to me as their look carried a sense of anxiety, although I thought it was curiosity! He told me that if a stranger were to try to stroke a goat, it would withdraw the head and move away.

Fear is an emotion which resides within us. I have dreams that remind me of some fears!

Most of us are unable to recognise the cause for our fear or trust others to talk about them, for fear of being told not to fear. 

In fact Jesus of Nazareth did say to his followers, 'fear not'! I carry this thought with me as I go to sleep. Life is for fullness of life! I sense this call within me and a long this to be a reality for others!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

Multitasking women!

I watched this lady cut grass from a marshy ground. She would stand straight every minute or so. I wondered whether her back is hurting. The burden of gathering the grass to feed the cattle falls on her   which is just one indication of the multitasking women are used to. 

I saw her bend forward with her back when she had to cut grass, rather than bend by flexing the knees, which worried me. 

I suffered a near prolapse disc when I was in the third year in medical school, while lifting a trunk of books. The acute pain I suffered then, was an indication that something was wrong in the back. The orthopaedic professor after seeing the X-ray of the back indicated that I ought to be careful with my back. One practice that he imposed on me at that time was to use my knees while bending and coming up straight. 

It might be even more important for women with all the demands on their back, by long hours of standing while cooking, lifting small or larger weights, carrying babies on their sides, etc. 

What followed was also a matter of concern. Her husband appeared shortly to carry the head load of grass to their home, which was half a kilometre away. The husband carried the larger bundle while the woman carried a smaller head weight!

With osteoporosis associated with ageing or vitamin deficiency, the incidence of backache is common among women in their forties! 

One senior colleague in the place I worked earlier, was an advocate to prevent and treat 'chronic backache'  in women. One initiative was to reach women to do exercises to strengthen their abdominal and spinal muscles !

Multitasking is the way of life, but it adds new demands on our body!  

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Post Flood conversations-2

On the way to the milk collection centre, for a month now with only one can of milk! The cows in this person's house have produced only half of the milk since the flooding. Although only the fields were flooded around his house, and not the house itself, it looks like the cattle have suffered some 'stress' following the flooding. He acknowledges that during that one week, the cows and no place to go for grazing and he could not get substitute with other feeds as the shops were closed and access for travel was restricted.  

This has reduced his income. He being  framer needed this extra income for his household needs. He has weekly payments to make for loans he took for farming. He has a large health bill every week on account of his wife's ill health. He is not eligible for any help from the government, as his house was not submerged.

HIs neighbours lent his some one to keep up with the weekly payments. He considers that as an unusual gesture of kindness. In fact his neighbours insisted that he can take time to pay back.

How does he look to the next season! H hopes to get some additional income form the coconuts. He is expecting for the cows to recover. One cow woeful deliver shortly which owl improve the milk production. He expects that the bank loan taken for the farm would be waived off due to flood and damage he too suffered!

Although he seems to cope, he did say that he stays awake at night thinking of all that he is going through ! For a person in his mid fifties, that in itself can make him weary. 

There are many who have vague symptoms of discomfort and unsettlement. In his case he has friends to talk to and reflect ! He was grateful for the visit of the parish priest couple of times and and his comforting prayer. His relatives keep visiting him and offer him considerable support. He received a cash gift from his school friends. 

What touched me most is his kindness towards his farm worker whom he gives free milk since the flood. He intends to do so till his farm worker can find daily work. 

From being preoccupied, he keeps his neighbour close to his heart!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Cows and memories !

I stopped to watch these cows in the field as they looked similar to the cows my parents had about sixty years ago. My mother kept cows till she was bout seventy years old! That is about fifty years of experience in rearing and looking after cows.

Our domestic helper Sasi, whose father used to help in looking after the cows at home, at one time we had five of them, told me that my mother used to  make ghee form the milk. He recalled how people from adjacent villages used to come to buy ghee! In fact the ayurvedic physicians who used to make their own medicines preferred to buy ghee form my mother because it was pure and rich!

My mother was particular that our cows had tree grass to feed on part form the regular cow feeds she would offer them. The cow feeds used to consist of 'copra' the left over of the dried coconut after extracting coconut oil. In fact it was edible and rich in protein and fat.

At one stage when my mother gave me permission to feed the cows, I took care of all the younger cows and the calves. When a calf is born, it was the practice to feed on the mother's milk for several days!

My mother used to tell me that it is for the calf the cow produces milk. We deprive the calf of the milk, if we do not allow the calf to feed on the mother. 

I am grateful for such foundational values that I was introduced to during my earlier days of formation. My mother encouraged me to have lunch with other students in the class. She usually packed an extra banana in my lunch packet so that I could offer it to someone. It seemed to be an unnecessary practice at that time. Now looking back, I feel such acts of thoughtfulness has impacted me immensely. 

All around the hedge of the compound, my father planted grass which he got form the agricultural farm in Trichur. This grass was know to be nutritious to cows. I was looked to cut the grass in the evening and feed the cow. I remember this vividly. By the time I am in the cow shed with the grass, all the cowes and calves would show their excitement to receive their portion. They would lick my hand when I reached them with the grass!

Each of our cows had a name and they would respond when they were called by shaking their head! If I were to stroke their head, they would bend their head and indicate pleasure in being stroked. For me as a child, these were some lessons in understanding how we are to be in our attitudes towards animals. 

Finally when my mother was no more able to take care of cows and decided to give them away she chose people who are fond of cows. One of her usual conversations those days was about her experiences with each of them. One cow was particularly bit rough and was difficult to be tamed. In fact she fell down and broke her leg because the cow dragged her when she was trying to stop her. Even after that she was equally kind to that cow.  

Humans are to be friendly towards animals. That was a lesson my parents showed in tier practice. My father who was fond of dogs, took care of them well!

All these thoughts rushed into my mind during that 15 minutes, while watching the cows in the photo graze in the field!

    

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

A long way to go!

It shocked me to know that we in India amidst all the developments we find, still sore poorly in our investment in health, education, etc. 

Yesterday, a young health care consultant told me in some detail how the quality of training in medicine has declined with students slipping into an examination centric view of studying. The fund of knowledge which an undergraduate acquires is 'not good enough' to apply oneself in a clinical situation. 

It is a bad example to return to earlier days to draw any lesson of value.. but I am compelled to recollect the enormous emphasis on clinical skills that I was introduced to fifty years ago during my training. I grew up studying medicine with an excitement of observation, association and clinical demonstration of signs for diagnosis.  

Even as I plead with students to give more emphasis on bedside practice, I find this less inviting. After giving a lecture on an important topic with considerable application in clinical practice, I offered the students a handout which they could collect from the office. None came to collect it in 48 hours. 

So the policy and practice in health care education throw up challenges. Is the system of election of students bringing the highly motivated students to study medicine! Is our mentoring of students formative enough to give them opportunity to grow up liking study of medicine! Is the example of their teachers in their conduct and practice appealing and inspiring! 

India is growing and developing...but there are several gaps which threaten our infrastructure. 

It is now six years since Anna and I are in the faculty of a medical school. Sometimes we wonder whether we are leaving behind an inspiration for students to look at their learning process to grow in to the vocation of medicine!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo) 

Post-flood conversations- 1

I stopped while on my way to work, to greet Mr Srinivasan, who is a trained mason, but has got himself trained recently to tap rubber trees during this season. For about six months, the daily work he was used to as a mason has been through a rough patch...following demonetisation and more so after the recent floods. The income from his daily work is his only source of support. Having a large family to care for, he decided to train himself to do an additional work. 

He begins the day around 5 am and and has about 200 trees to tap which he can  finish by 8 am or so and go to work as a  mason for the rest of the day on those days he has work. Otherwise he still has an income, although it would be only one third of what he would get from his regular job.

He choked when he talked about not having a regular job. He feels that the policies of the government do not favour those who are semi-skilled workers. 

The price for rubber products is low because for which many planters do not tap the tree. The cost of production is high and the benefit is not good enough. So that too is distressing for the tappers and the planters.  

As Mr Srinivasan kept talking about his family, work, job, and life in general I sensed a nostalgia in his recollection of earlier days which were better and peaceful. He still values his family and finds his source of encouragement in being a family with good relationships. The hardship of life has kept them even more closer. His wife is now looking into skilling herself in knitting and stitching.

As I meet  to greet yet one more person, who contributes to the wellness of others, I am becoming aware that his wellness is at risk!

While on the way to the hospital after this early morning conversation, I realised that every person I meet has a story of his or her own ! They are not just parents of children who need some medical help alone. Many of them live in adverse circumstances!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

A reflection!

Since Anna and I have been at MOSC Medical College, we sense the enthusiasm which every college union brings to the college, when they take responsibility for a year to give lead to the student's extra curricular activities. Every year the union chooses a theme for its mission.

This year, it is 'redefining history'!

The batch of 2015 spent about three weeks restoring the park which gives a place for students to gather for their social contacts and leisurely activities. This batch was involved actively in supporting the flood relief work in August in the neighbourhood. They seem to be active, sensitive and responsive, which is an expression of their spirit of caring and service. 

I was fascinated that they made a seating provision with bamboo stem in the park. What does bamboo represent historically in this part of India! During my childhood, I remember, bamboo was extensively used for building houses. Even the roof of the house we lived in first, was made from bamboo. The furniture too was made from bamboo or cane. The basket used to carry produce to the market were made of bamboo. The wind shield curtains were used to hang in the veranda both for decoration and protection. The handicrafts products made of bamboo used to be on the table as pen holders, etc. Bamboo and its products made our homes or provided facilities. 

The major use fo bamboo today is in making paper pulp to make different types of papers. 

Bamboo even now provides livelihood for the poor. When I go to Orissa to visit friends, I notice people going into the forests and returning with a head load of bamboo for making baskets, which when sold in the weekly market give them money to sustain themselves. 

When we give bamboo a central place in public places, we symbolically give attention to the disadvantaged, whose subsistence depends upon bamboo.   

Is this consciousness included in the slogan, 'redefining history'! I wonder!

One thing, I feel, if the college union can transcend their batch and create a spirit of 'partnering with others', between batches to revise the existing 'intra batch fidelity' and bring a new ambience of trustful cordiality, it would be a good beginning! Let me wish this union, good going to do good kindly, thoughtfully and self-givingly! Their start gives all of us promises and prospects.

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Trees tell us stories!

This tree is around hundred years according to the few people I asked about it. They remember having heard form their elders that this tree came up after the field was submerged in a flood about hundred years ago. So the flood planted the seed to this place. During the recent flood, this field escaped submerging as it is well above the surrounding low lying areas now.

This tree is a home for scores of birds during most of the year during the night! The neighbours get used to the cacophony and when the birds do not perch on the tree during the rainy season, the neighbours find something missing!

An elderly person, told me that the village attracts some bird watchers during the winter season. So the villagers made a shed which can be seen in the far end of the road, which welcome the bird watchers for them to have good view of the birds in the tree at reasonable distance !In fact a tea shop close by provide them snacks and drinks.

The walk along the quiet village road in itself is refreshing. Except an occasional pedestrian and some others on their two or four wheelers, the road is unlike other roads of speeding vehicles and crowded sights. 

I was keen to find if any one owned a bicycle in the village! All the people I asked do not know of any one ! They also told me that there were at least hundred bicycles in the village till about ten years ago! Is this a village without bicycles! I m not surprised if it is true, as except an occasional tile roofed house, all houses look modern with one or more cars in the port. There are more houses with cars than motorbikes alone. It is a progressive village because both edges of the road reaching upto the compound walls have well kept  lawns or flowering plants. 

I want to go on making more enquiries about this village because it story starts for me with the hundred year old tree!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

Small Green Barbet's and a lady's Kindness!

I set out from home earlier by ten minutes, as I had a pending work to complete. 

The drive through five villages scattered over 20 kilometres often brings something surprising Anna and myself almost every day!  

At one sharp turning, I slowed down and happened to notice about 150 feet away a papaya tree with a ripe fruit half eaten by birds!  The sight of the papaya tree was hidden by banana trees. There was a small oval gap in the foliage, through which I could notice the half eaten fruit. As I watched a movement around the area, I stopped the car to inspect the area.

That is when I noticed a Small Green Barbet, similar to what I saw in our garden a few months back. I am glad that I had the camera with me, although not with a zoom lens for a close up shoot. That did not matter as I was engrossed in the story of this Barbet. 

The photos above show its moves and pauses till it reached the fruit ! After it had a few bites at the succulent papaya, it started looking around and turned its bird song on. 

That is when I noticed a flutter near by in another papaya tree of four other Barbets. I could only capture one with my lens, that too its back, as all four of them flew away when a truck passed by honking! I waited for a while listening to the Barbet singing!

So at the end of fifteen minutes, I decided to get back to the car.

Just as I was  getting into the car to drive away, a lady from the house in whose compound the Barbets had come to feed on the papaya greeted me kindly. I enquired how she decided not to pluck the papaya1 She told in a affirming tone,  'Birds and squirrels also need their feed'! 

It sounded similar to the Good Samaritan parable!

I discovered two neighbours to each other in this encounter, A barbet and lady!

To live mindfully of others is a calling! Now why it is more than a hobby to watch birds. The birds can speak to our soul!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The hanging keys!

I happened to be sitting next to a cupboard in a meeting hall, where this bunch of keys was hanging on the closed door of the cupboard! The keys kept moving in the wind, which is what kept me returning to look at it.

A bunch of keys represents the access into closed spaces.  

I realised that there are closed spaces inside and outside. 

I kept thinking about the closed spaces within me. 

Earlier that day, I received a telephone call from someone with whom I have had a close association for  a while, but the relationship became difficult due to different perspectives related to some matters  of an organisation, in which both of us were involved.  

As for me, my inner space was partially closed on account of the intense disagreement. When this person took the initiative to call, I realised that he was opening the inner space by his act of kindness, to which I responded by an instant mail! 

We carry keys to open! Let us not keep them away from accessing the closed space!

This to me is a challenge! During my training in dispute resolution, one practitioner of alternate dispute resolution, who was the resource person said, 'The function of the keys is to open. It is the keeper of the keys who has to use them to open'!

This sighting of the keys has been a revealing experience to me!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

Sound and smell !

Anna and I get up listening to the chirping of birds and smelling the fragrance of the jasmine flowers in our courtyard.

How life is provided for abundantly, for which we do not labour or go after!

Yesterday, I went to the Regional Traffic Office at Muvattupuzha just before it was to close to collect my renewal of the driving licence. I expected to be told to come another day. But the person at the counter smiled and responded to my apology of being late by saying, 'we want to help as much as we can'! I came away surprised and satisfied by the service I received. 

That made me to go back to the various events of the day... I was able to recollect sixteen occasions of kindness I received mostly from strangers. One surprising thing in the morning was a truck driving waiting at a junction to give me the right of way! A truck driver doing this!

In the midst of complaints we have about many things, one can almost miss the several acts of kindness we receive. 

That encourages us to be kind more than we normally are.. Acts of kindness are seeds of goodness that whirl bear fruits.  

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

An acrobatic performance !

It was a sight of the day for me! To see this dragon fly in its acrobatic movements! 

Some things in life are given to us receive and be filled with an awesome feeling. It was one such occasion for me. 

M.C.Mathew (text nd photo)

The falling petal!

It was the last petal of a blossom of lantana flower falling off following a shower and wind!

The stem which was home for a blossom was finally bare. 

A symbol of presence and absence!

Our lives are a blend of presences and absences.

Being a only child to parents, they cherished my presence with them till I left for college, initially at the Union Christian College, Always and later at SFS College and Government Medical college, both at Nagpur. The tis the beginning of long years of absence from physical proximity to my parents. My father moved on while Anna and I were at CMC Vellore. We returned to be with my mother in 2012 and she too moved on two years later. The companionship we offered to her did not take away the sense loss she experienced for my long years of absence form home on account of working in other parts in India or overseas.

My absence form my home surroundings became a presence to other situations. Anna and I spent two years in Pune, with Anna working at N M Wadia hospital while I pursued my community medicine post graduate training at the BJ Medical college. it was during that time some valuable friendships developed which we still regard and maintain. George, a dear friend was the one who taught me scooter ride in his own scooter. George Jacob and Mary were tow friends with who we had lot in common during those years. Anna and I remember the distressing experiences that Mary faced when she lost her brother in a road traffic accident. The experience of accompanying them during that difficult time gave us san introduction to the mutual benefit when we walk with those who are grieving. George and Mary were a good examples to us of the way they cared for their parents and offered a genuine concern whenever possible. Toji was another young man, who was a regular visitor to our home and became a friend who thought of us fondly. He and later his wife Elsa were friends through whom we got to know a lot about the way the new generation of younger people viewed life, work and family life.  Both Mary and Elsa took premature retirement in order to be avaihalbe at home to support their children. They chose to accept the reduction in their income for the sake of upholding quality of life in the family.

We had two spells, one year each at the Christian Fellowship hospital, Oddanchatram. It was during this two seasons, we got a glimpse of the essence of 'living in a community' accepting a 'simple life style, sharing a common purse without a salary and working primarily through the hospital for those who were socially and economically disadvantaged.  Meeting Mr Cherian, a laboratory technician, and Ms. Kunjamma at CF hospital, a senior nurse who were with Dr A K Tharien and Dr Jacob Cheriyan, the founder members of the hospital, were seminal events in our lives. Mr Cherian, who by them was getting visually impaired, gave us a gift to start a Child Development Centre at Chennai, when we left the hospital in 1983. 

Getting to know Dr Tharien and Dr Cherian even more were significant experiences. I had known them from my student days, when they used to visit me at the Medical college Hostel, Nagpur whenever they came for any meetings or passed through Nagpur. Knowing the special circumstances that I was going through, they offered me a loan scholarship from the Christian Fellowship society, Oddanchatram which along with a merit scholarship I was getting from the government reduced pressure on my parents in supporting me fully financially. When I returned the loan money in 1975, to the CH Hospital, they refused to accept any interest, which too was an unusual gesture. The two people who influenced my thinking on the vocation of Medicine were Dr Tharien and Dr Cherian. Their homes contributed to our formation and expansion of thinking. 

The year, in 1977, spent at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram stands out as a critical event in connecting us with the history of the post-independent India. Dr Susila Nayyar, the founder of the institution, a former Health Minister in the Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet, the first prime minister of India, was also the head of the department of community Medicine, where I spent a year. Dr Nayyar was also the personal physician to Mahatma Gandhi. The ashram at which Mahatma Gandhi spent about 15 years or so was close to the hospital. Dr Nayyar, in her early seventies at that time, for some unknown reason would call me to her office for conversations. She wanted me train myself in community paediatrics. So half of my time at work was in department of paediatrics. 

It was during long hours of meetings with her at least twice a month, I got introduced to the aspirations and longing of the leaders who envisioned independence for India. Her life and vision for India was deeply rooted in humanitarian, altruistic and service spirit, which moved me often, when she illustrated her story with some personal examples or from what he knew of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. In fact as a mark of identification with the national spirit of self reliance, I was wearing clothes made from hand spun yarn for ten years by then. May be it was this discovery that Dr Nayyar made about me, which made her give her time to prepare me for a long term service at the Medical college. When I decided to leave to Nagpur for further training in Paediatrics, she invited me to come back to work after three ears of training. If I still carry a slender interest in party politics in India, it was because of this contact with Dr Nayyar, who showed me from her example, that political affiliation was to serve people and make India a better place for the marginalised. 

The time at the Medical College, Nagpur was a formative experience of considerable significance, thanks to Professor Dr Mrs Deshmukh who gave me considerable attention in sharing her clinical skills of diagnosis and management. The beginning was a difficult experience. Another senior professor who was in the selection committee had ignored my application two times even though I was the first eligible candidate in the list for section. He preferred to choose on two earlier occasions others under some pretext or other. As this professor was not in the selection committee on that occasion, I got automatically chosen. That gave me an opportunity to choose Dr Mrs Dr Deshmukh as my post graduate guide, which made all the difference. In fact she even encouraged me to conduct the first exchange transfusion for a new born suffering from jaundice during my training. Although I had some difficulties with the other senior professor, it got resolved and my training period was a memorable experience. I was not fond of child neurology, but had a special interest in Neonatology and paediatric cardiology. This was also because of the advanced skills which Dr Mrs Deshmukh had in these two sub-specialties.

At the end of my training I had made up my mind to stay in teaching profession and joined the faculty at the Nagpur Medical College. But six months later, there was a call from CMC Vellore whether Anna  and I would relocate ourselves at Vellore. Arpit was then two years of age. It was following the suggestion of Professor Shead, who with his family was returning to Australia after serving CMC for about ten years. He thought that Anna being an alumnus of CMC, might make a contribution to the student community! In fact his prediction came true. Anna became the professor of Pharmacology and served as women's hostel warden, and as the co-ordinator of the department of Continuing Medical Education during our second term of service between 1997 and 2010. 

Our first term of service in CMC Vellore was from 1980 to 1982. The term of two years was an outstanding experience of working with Dr Malathi Jadhav, a professor of unusual clinical skills and high academic standards. I felt grounded in approaching complex clinical situations. It was an experience of learning child health related matters from a wholistic and family perspective rather than only from the perspective of childhood illness. 

Leaving CMC Vellore in 1983 to start a child Development Centre at Chennai was because of a sense of call, about which I shall refer to later. The time of two years was full of experiences of lasting  impressions. Some faculty whom I remember now who influenced me are Drs. P Zachariah, Benjamin Pulimood, L.B.M.Joseph, Jacob John, C.K.Job, Sushil Chandy, Paul Brand, Earnest Fritchy, etc. One medical student whom Anna and I got to know then, with whom we have contacts even now is Dr Joy Thomas and his family. Even that story would need a mention later because it has been a formative experience in my life.

So looking back, it is only be letting go, any one of us can move in life. For me, some of the above experiences where I experienced the trauma of leaving from my family situation or choice was because of having become comfortably present in one situation. Leaving the familiar setting meant beginning all over again somewhere else. To be absent from your place where you have sent roots, offers an opportunity to move on life to be present in another context. 

The petal in the picture was loosing its place of belonging in a flower, when it was falling on the ground. Once we have done done what was assigned to us, there is a final departure for all of us. 

But before that happens, often our lives have several experiences of  presences and absences. It is only when we are comfortable to be absent, we can be present!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)