It was on 14th November, 1983, the first activity of the charity, ASHIRVAD Christian Concern for Child Care started at Chennai as a Child Development Centre.
Since then, it was involved in initiating the day care school for children with special needs at the ASHA project, St Andrew's Church, Chennai, ASHIRVAD Early Learning Centre, Nagpur, Developmental Paediatrics Unit at the Christian Medical College, Vellore and department of Developmental Paediatrics and Child Neurology at MOSC Medical College, Kolenchery.
It was when I watched this Wood Pecker and Barbet at the papaya tree in our garden, I travelled back the memory lane to recall the number of children and families who might have used the facilities in these places. It would exceed two hundred thousand children from different states in India and a dozen other countries.
Anna and I want to remember all our colleagues, who have been part fo this journey in promoting Child Development perspectives and services. We remember Ms Manuel of ASHA, Ms Pushpa Waghmare of ELC, Nagpur, and Drs Samuel Oommen and Beena Koshy of Developmental Paediatrics, CMC Vellore, who oversee these initiatives. Let me express my gratitude to Ms Susan Shoji who joined the Developmental Paediatrics and Child neurology department at MOSC Medical College at its inception. I recall about 110 colleagues in these different places, with whom we had lot to do. They made these initiatives to bear fruits.
The mission of ASHIRVAD has been, 'taking sides' and in so doing, it became a philosophy of caring and sharing over these years.
The month of November usually brings many memories. Our gratefulness to all the members of the Board of trustees of ASHIRVAD, Friends of ASHIRVAD in Germany, UK, Australia, USA and India. It was the Bible Medical Missionary Fellowship, UK (now Interserve) who came forward to support Anna and myself in 1984 till 1997, because of which we were freed to focus on our mission. Mr Michael Roemelle, Mr Arthur Pont and Ms Margaret Parkinson friends from the Interserve, provided the lead for arranging for the support and fellowship for us. Dr Raju Abraham of South Asia Concern, UK helped in giving a big grant because of which ASHIRVAD could contribute to CMC Vellore to build the ASHIRVAD floor and the Hall of Residence, which were required to locate the Developmental Paediatrics Unit.
Looking back, Anna and I stay amazed at this journey thus far. We are in transition now, preparing to move on to a different role in our lives of 'living a quiet life, work with our hands and live our calling' in a relational and contemplative way.
I keep looking at this papaya tree in our garden. Most of its fruits have been for birds. It is a tall tree that it is not easy to pluck one even if we wanted. We gather only the ones that drop to the ground.
That to me it is a metaphorical message of comfort and hope. What we set out to create would grow taller and fruitful. To see that happen ought to be the joy of all those, who make serving as their calling!
And a time would come when it would be prudent to relinquish all of it as it would have overtaken us in its vision and prospects! Then on the ‘baby’ shall belong to others. It is then the grace to let go into the safe keeping of others all that one has laboured would become a better option instead of containing to keep it under control. A time to create and a time to let go! That is one occasion in life when the fullness of joy becomes a reality!
Anna and I look back now from a distance and celebrate our life and life’s journey stations! ‘What is that we have except what has been give’! Our grateful appreciation to many who carried us in their hearts and laboured with us.
Another significant experience of this period was the opportunity offered to be associated with Evangelical Medical Fellowship of India, Interserve, Christian Medical Colleges of Vellore and Ludhiana, Christian Medical Association of India, Emmanuel Hospital Association and Asha Kiran Hospital,Lsmtaput and their governing boards. Anna was associated with co-ordination of the Continuing Medical Education department at CMC Vellore and starting the quarterly CME journal and pUblishing a handbook on Medical Education, which then was a resource in training trainers. Anna was associated with Bala Nilayam, an initiative to provide schooling in a residential setting for children of professionals working in cross cultural setting. Since taking over as the head of Pharmacology at MOSC in 2006, she facilitated integrated learning in small group setting.
We set out on a journey in 1983 to a wide world, pitching our tent in Chennai, later at Vellore, Pondicherry and now at Kolenchery. We look back and find ourselves content, surprised, and wondering how such a fulfilling journey was possible!
Anna and I live in a cottage, where my parents lived for forty five years. I grew up in this village. I was conditioned to live and find a livelihood here in the village or in a nearby place. What happened in my life is beyond all my imagination. Anna’s presence in my life has been the most significant blessing and a pathfinder in my life.
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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