Thirty years ago!

The above book, narrating the story of ASHIRVAD and its Child Development Centre from 1983 to 1995 was written by Katharine Makower, by spending a month with us by interviewing parents, professionals and referring doctors. The book is in circulation even now.

It is now thirty years since that occasion. Katharine a well known author of other books on historical events, happened to know about us while doing research for another book. Having visited us at that time and she felt interested in the activities of ASHIRVAD.  She offered to write the above book as her contribution to make known its calling and ethos. Katharine and Peter Makower have been since then, friends and hosts to us while visiting London. Katharine subsequently summarised the story of ASHIRVAD from 1997 after we relocated to start the Developmental Paediatrics Unit at the Christian Medical College in 1997. 

The above two photographs of that occasion, thirty years ago, bring back many happy memories. 

Dr Rachel Chacko who is in the photo, handing over a farewell gift to Katharine, was a friend who made it a habit to visit us regularly from 1987, since the Child Development Centre was located in Anna Nagar in Chennai. Dr Chacko brought considerable encouragement in those initial years when professionals were still unfamiliar with the purpose and service of a stand alone Child Development centre.  

The photograph of the team of support staff and professionals at the Child Development centre with Dr Chacko and Katharine in the veranda of the Child Development Centre, reminds Anna and me of all the good experiences which grounded us in our further engagement in child development and rehabilitation since then. 

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The above photo from our garden is a token of our regards and appreciation that we offer to all those in the photos above, who touched our lives and affirmed us to continue in this path professionally!

  

Some memories are lasting and become dearer as time moves on! Anna and I love cherishing the occasion above and all the associations that we have had with all of them! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)