The introductory lecture I heard on the first day of starting my post graduate study in child health at Medical College, Nagpur in 1978 was from Professor A.M.Sur, a Paediatrician trained in Britain.
He carried a twig with leaves, one flower, and buds. He passed that to both of us who had joined for the course that year. At the end of both of us seeing, feeling, smelling and guessing the name of the plant, Professor asked us to write down a story about the twig. Both of us wrote words and not a story.
He told us that he brought this twig from his garden, which was in a pot for three years. The plant often flowered during the winter months and was tended by his wife. Soon the twig became more than an ornamental item. It had a history and story. The plant was bought as a sapling. It was his daughter who planted it. It was the only plant in his garden which gave violet flowers. He said more than these. I am unable to recollect them now.
The message he conveyed was that as trainees in child health, our 'mission was to know the child not just about the diseases alone. A child has a life although it is an illness which brings a child to a child health doctor'. A child has a family parents and siblings.
It was from Professor Sur I heard for the first time about knowing about a child's life and not about child's illnesses and diseases alone!
It was because of this reason I presume, the hospital in Edinburgh University renamed the department that looked after children as 'Child Life Department' few years ago.
As I look back over the forty seven years since that awakening dawned on me, it was an experience of considerable meaning to have had an orientation towards, 'Knowing the child'!
Let me attempt reflecting on this exploratory and learning journey in a series !
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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