People without freedom!

A hidden Sunbird in the foliage when became visible, was seen adapting bodily to its perception of the environment. A bird is a flier and a mover. It arrives and departs at it own pace and choice! It is seldom that we see a bird perched in one place for too long. Its urge is for flight and movement. Although the garden is its home, it has other places to visit, flowers to go to for nectar, and songs to sing !

The freedom to fly and move at its pace is its inherent nature. 

I read today in the news that those who live in Gaza might soon face food scarcity! The stock of food is getting exhausted. The people in Gaza live imprisoned at the mercy of Israel. 

Even a bird lives free! People of Gaza have no freedom of movement or independence!

I wish the Palestinians will find a home for themselves and freedom to live in their home land as promised to them !

M.C.Mathew ! 

The inner awareness and the outer movements!

Each of the photos above is that of a Bulbul at day break yesterday in our garden. They reminded me of the inner awareness of the environment expressed through the body movements affecting their posture, look and alertness. 

The inner awareness regulated the body behaviour. 

I have been following the recent 35 days old protest of students in New Delhi to express their deep concern about the failing system of the different entrance examinations with paper leak, 

The police action towards them when they took out a procession shocked me. A similar action of impoliteness and cruelty occurred while the Members of the parliament took out a procession. I do not want to comment if those processions were needed. 

What I feel grieved is the videos of police charging the students with their lathi with forceful movements towards students intending to harm. I wondered if the riot control response involves beating up an individual instead of just engaging a crowd to disperse! The students and the members of the parliament were protesting with slogans. They resisted the police from stopping the procession, which gave legitimacy to the police action. 

It is this I want to explore further! What might have been the inner frame of thinking and temper of the police to beat, intending to harm, from the videos that are circulating in the media ? To me it is a streak of force and violence! The police argues it as the only remedy to stop mass action in a civil society. 

The violence starts at our home in our behaviour towards children. I still have parents who seek to know if corporal punishment is helpful to discipline children! I feel such a thought springs from the silent consent parents offer to justify corporal punishment. What does a child gain from such a punishment except physical pain! He develops anger and a distancing from parents. The children choose to do mischief unnoticed to escape punishment. 

What if parents who are to be loving towards their children in their formative years, choose the pathway of instruction, correction and reinforcement ! 

This involves repeating our instruction a few times till a child develops the conditioning habit to do somethings in the way desired by parents. The pre-school children are not thinkers in a rational way as those skills develop only in mid childhood. Even the conscience formation which allows them to discern the right develops only around eight years. So all pre-school behaviours are internalised by the children based on how parents formulate the instruction for them to practice them as a habit. When a child does what is desirable, a pre-school child deserves to be appreciated and affirmed which then becomes an incentive, wanting to do what is acceptable. That becomes an incentive. Some parents tokenise such times with rewards. 

The correction is to help a child to move away form his preferred behaviour to a desired behaviour with explanation, clarification and further instruction. When this is done when the child is ready and parents are not angry, it becomes a communication with the potential for change. Often when parents are composed and are affectionate even when a child is resistant, the effects of change would set in gradually. 

The reinforcement is when a child receives praise and acknowledgement. Every effort a child makes to change is appreciated and affirmed. The negative responses from parents would make a child unwilling to change, because, the child reacts silently by refusing to change. It is for this reason, praise and gentle conversations bring better outcome than controlling children by threatening, punishing or fear generating saying such as, 'I will tell your teacher about your mischief' !

Any form of physical punishment which generates sorrow such as denying food, corporal punishment, screaming at a child, humiliating a child or frightening child with consequences would plant the seed of rebellion and anger in the early childhood. 

When I watched the policemen charging the students with lathi held between both hands and beating students, I wondered if they were driven by anger, harm and intending to hurt. Is it strange that a police man behaves like this in a reactive way! 

It is for this reason that the streak of violence resides in our interior, needs to be reconciled or healed. Otherwise we carry out violent action! 

I wonder if there is a habit in our homes when parents would apologise to children when they lost their temper and behaved  towards children impulsively! Are there family meetings once a week when parents listen to their children about how they felt about parental behaviour towards them! Are there occasions in our homes when children can negotiate with parents rather than being forced to do only what is expected by parents! Do parents behave responsibly such as eat the food that is served on the plate! Or, do they have a different standard to choose their food they like and yet insist that children eat what is served ! Whose habits a child would pick up except that of the parents by seeing their behaviour! 

I felt disturbed seeing bleeding students and some in plaster after the police action. I also saw some miscreants, not part of the student group pelting stones, another sign of violent streak resident in some! 

Let me suggest that we can plant the seeds of peace and goodwill to our children in their formative years, so that they grow up choosing peace, hope, goodwill and service as their normal temperament!

For this to happen, parents ought to be facilitating the gentle and hospitable temperament during their early childhood!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

 

The NEET and its fault lines!

 

As this Bulbul planned its moves to reach the bush to get its berry in the morning today in our garden, I noticed how fulfilled it looked !

I have been reading various reports about the student protests in various parts of India to express their grief over malpractices associated with NEET examination for medical admissions. It was when I saw the Bulbul above feeling fulfilled, I got yet another pointer to the unfulfilled aspirations of the students. 

I recall how 19.99 lac students appeared for the NEET in 2025, and 11.21 lac students were qualified. Only 1.25 lac students could join for the medical course out of those who were eligible.  

The first NEET in 2013, was struck down by the honourable Supreme Court of India as unconstitutional. In 2016, the Supreme Court recalled its earlier judgement and mandated NEET as the uniform, single-window medical entrance test. The responsibility to conduct the NEET was handed over to the National Testing Agency in 2019. Earlier it was conducted by the CBSE. 

The leakage of the examination papers is a criminal offence with huge financial transactions and students are tired of this malpractice. The preparation for NEET for students starts during the plus two season. Some take a a year break after the plus two to join coaching programme to qualify in the NEET. 

Is it not time for the medical fraternity in India to raise a voice of concern to have one single entrance test? The education is in the concurrent list of the constitution, which makes the state government a partner with the government of India in making policy decisions!  Why is that the state governments were not consulted when NEET was introduced. 

Now the fault lines having been discovered a few times in the recent examinations, is it not time to have a relook at the appropriateness of the NEET which lays a burden on students financially and studying subjects one more time which the students did to qualify to pass the plus two examination. Is not NEET only a test of memory? What an aspirant to study medicine needs is logical thinking, problem solving skills, analytical skills, personal qualities of empathy and ethical values and  an aptitude for self-giving service.  These essentials are not tested in NEET. What is peripheral is over emphasised in NEET exam. A student having got 80 percent or more marks in science subjects is clever enough to study medicine. If at all an entrance test is required it ought to be test the aptitude. 

I feel saddened to think that the ministers in the central government are silent seeing the distress of students who were pushed to go on this protest movement !

Why is the medical fraternity silent about finding an option to NEET !

Why are the state governments not forthcoming to ask for a dialogue on the NEET and an alternative pathway to choose students for  medical study!

There are many educational philosophers in this country who can intervene to diffuse the protest and engage students to find a way forward by suggesting an alternative to NEET.  

This country owes a better approach of consolation and affirmation towards students and not a police action on them.  They are forced to protest about the failure of the government to conduct the NEET examination fairly! 

The Bulbul makes the effort and feels fulfilled. 

Our students make best of their efforts and remain unfulfilled. 

Should we not care to give students a better selection process for medical studies? 

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

The gift of presence !

The Bulbul's way of feeding is strikingly different from other birds visiting the feeding station in our garden. They turn the meal time into a shared time of being present to each other with patience and turn taking. They take only small bites and make the meal time a time of becoming present to each other. 

Let me use the fifth in the series of recollections of my association with Mr L.T.Jeyachandran at Nagpur in the late sixties, to highlight how he communicated the larger meaning of becoming present to an ever present God. He brought into his talks and conversations a verse from the book of Genesis to reveal the mystery of the presence of God in God's creation: "And they heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden" (Gene.3:8). Jeya pictured to us an imagery of God as the One, who is silently present with us and seeking after us. Jeya presented to us Jesus as the good shepherd, watching over the sheep, as portrayed in the parable Jesus spoke about a shepherd looking out for one sheep that was lost out of the hundred. For me this message of God's accompanying presence was a new consciousness about who we are and whose we are!

I had a lonely feeling in my pre-clinical years as a medical student. It was the first time I travelled out of the state of Kerala. I was displaced to an unfamiliar place, culture, language and environment of learning. That made me feel lost and aimless. It was in that context, when I was gradually recovering to feel connected with my new setting the opportunity to attend meetings which Jeya addressed for students, initiated me into finding my refuge in God.  The message of God's presence in every human soul was comforting and affirming. 

Jeya was an example of effervescence with cordial and warm temperament which created within me an hunger to know more of this God because of whom Jeya was a radiant and reflective person. It was during that time, I came across a diploma course offered by the London Bible College, through the Hindustan Bible Institute at Chennai. It was a course structured for self study with notes sent out by the LBC and reading assignments from recommended books. The course required a local invigilator to conduct the written examination every two months. When I approached Jeya to be an invigilator, he was delighted by my interest to pursue a formal study of the Scripture. It offered an opportunity to have further personal contact with him, once in two weeks to have a question time with him based on the notes I had to learn from. It was during that regular meetings with him, I was further surprised to have a glimpse of his theological formation through self study. 

It was during a conversation during a tutorial with him, I discovered that he had a strong urge to study theology at the Union Biblical Seminary located at Yeotmal at that time. He had his first posting in the Indian Engineering service at Bombay. He thought of discontinuing his service and join for theological training in 1965. But the last date for application was already over at that time.  That was how he felt guided to stay on in his engineering service for 28 years before he took premature retirement after having been a chief engineer.  He moved on to be actively involved in teaching and equipping young people in their formation to live godly lives since then.

Jeya emphasised competence and integrity as the hallmark of a person in any form of service. I liked the way he suggested to me to value this in the practice of medicine. He indicated that medical professionals had an opportunity to explore new horizons in health care, particularly to offer affordable treatment in the rural areas. It was from him I heard for the first time about Dr Ida Scudder, the founder of Christian Medical College, Vellore in 1900. The story of how an unwilling Ida to study medicine went on to study medicine and return to work, along with her father Dr John Scudder Jr. at Vellore inspired me. 

It is this which fascinates me when I recall the years of Jeya at Nagpur. He was able to build relationships with students to influence them to consider a purpose beyond a career path for themselves. I remember how about six students from Nagpur after their undergraduate studies in medicine went to work in rural areas in north India, because of the missionary vocation that Jeya infused into us. 

The fellowship group of students, that emerged through his pastoral care  at Nagpur became a forum that students came to expectantly every Sunday morning. It was normal to have eighty or more students attend the Bible study that Jeya led by the third year of his presence. At the time when he was transferred out of Nagpur, a gloom had descended on all of us. His absence was felt and we  relived memories by recalling the personal experiences of encouragement we received from him. 

I return to the contacts and relationships with Jaya during his time at Nagpur. It was at a critical phase in my life, when he guided me to find a purpose for living and take delight in the study of medicine. I feel that, Jeya's prompting made all the difference for the rest of my life! Jeya became a path finder for some of us at Nagpur. 

Now is the time to share our memories of his influence upon our lives to let him feel glad for the light he was able to lit in our lives to turn us Godward !

Anna and I remember Jeya and Esther and keep them in our thoughts . They live their lives serving and inspiring many ! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

 

Overflowing from fullness !

This is the fourth recollection during this week, of my association with Mr L.T.Jeyachandran during a period of three years at Nagpur in the late nineteen sixties.  It was the news of his illness which evoked within me a deep feeling of gratitude for his gift of love and regards I received when I was looking for a direction my life. 

I happened to come across a book a few months ago, In the heart of the temple-My spiritual vision for Today's word, authored by Joan Chittister, published in 2025. She belongs to the Benedictine order of spiritual tradition and has authored other books, considered to be full of treasures for those who want to deepen their personal spirituality. In this book, Joan expressed her vision by discussing sixteen themes which invites a contemplative attention to spirituality. 

The themes such as Work, Simplicity, Stewardship, Prayer, empowerment, wholeness, Equality and Vision which are the few of the sixteen themes in this book, were the themes Jeya explored in his talks and meditations during the season when he was at Nagpur in the late sixties. While reading this book, I felt taken back to the seeds Jeya planted in his talks, which at that time escaped our full attention as most of us were infants in faith. 

What occurred to me while reading the book was a sense of wonder about the prophetic sense Jeya carried in preparing us for a long journey in our pilgrim journey, by anchoring us on deeper issues of the soul from the start.  

One aspect of his instructive teaching was that the more we meditated on what we heard, the more we were surprised by the embedded truth. It became a habit for me to write notes while listening to him as much as possible, so that there was something to read and receive every day till the next Bible study. His messages appealed to our mid, moved our heart and aroused a longing for God. A speaker or writer who can do that, is the one who speaks or writes from the depth of his or her being. 

His talks and Bible studies were fresh every time like the way a new day is different from the previous day.  Where would such freshness and endearing message spring from except from a personal meditative habit! Among us students, who were young in faith, this habit we noticed in Jeya, became an inspiration to be faithful in developing the personal habits of meditation and prayer. 

What was outstanding about the content and quality of conversation with Jeya was the Christo-centricity he brought to his thought world. His reference and exposition of the sermon on the Mount illustrated how much he prepared himself to stay rooted in what would make a person wholesome and integrated. 

The book, Hunger for Reality, by George Verver was recommended for reading for beginners in their faith journey. The author introduced the theme of dichotomy in personal life- the gap between what we profess and practice. I recall the occasion when  Jeya brought this to our level of understanding, by referring to the struggle and  confession that St Paul made about himself, appearing in Romans 7: 14-25; "For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish'. I have a vivid memory of how Jeya freed us from the burden of our faltering steps by referring to the experience of an infant learning to walk by falling several times. The child falls into the receiving hands of his mother or father safely, to be lifted up to make the next effort to walk. 

Although these experiences  happened about fifty five years ago, they had left impressions which had a recurring impact in my life. I was prone to wandering in my pilgrim journey. But some of these truths that we as students saw in flesh in the way Jeya lived in the market place of his work, substantiated to us the words of Jesus, "I am with you always..' !

Jeya and a missionary heart. That is why he chose to be in a transferable job. Jeya would talk to us about mission hospitals and cross cultural health care in rural areas in north India. That was the first introduction to me about thinking beyond the conventional path of following a career path in the practice of medicine. It was from him, I got introduced to think about practice of medicine as a calling ! I feel glad as I look back, because that consciousness helped me in my formative process !

The contact with Jeya for a season of three years offered me thoughts and direction to build on. 

I have had occasional contacts with Jeya after his time at Nagpur. He went on to live and work in different places initiating many into a faith journey ! 

Anna and I remember Jeya and Esther at this time when they adjust to a difficult situation their lives. They stay in our thoughts and hearts!

 M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

Looking upward, forward and backward!

                              

Seeing these three Mynah birds at the feeding station in our garden yesterday, who were in three different postures brought memories of the way Mr L.T.Jeyachandran engaged in conversations with young people! He conveyed an integrated and holistic view in his conversations and talks in meetings. 

Jeya lived in the present, and yet reflecting meaningfully of the journey we are on in the earth, with our history of the past and the promise of the future! He invited young people to journey in life, "Looking unto Jesus..." who leads us to the truth beyond the transient and temporal experiences. He had a desire for us as students to experience the authentic reality of God "in whom we live, move and have our being".

Jeya presented to us in his talks at meetings the imagery of a loving and healing God. In his exposition of the parable of the Good Samaritan, he introduced the Good Samaritan as one who lived thinking of every one as his neighbour. The Priest and the Levite who passed by the wounded person, had yet to grow out of seeing unfamiliar people as strangers. To hear such insights when we were students in our formative journey, helped us to  imbibe the foundations for our thinking. 

One aspect that fascinated me about Jeya was his approach to work and responsibilities in his engineering practice. His sense of diligence and excellence at work place was an exceptional outlook to work life in a government office. I remember a colleague of him once mentioning, that Jeya viewed his work as worship. I recall what he used to quote, 'we work because God is at work'. His view of work was co-creating with God to bring fullness of God into the lives of ours. His approach was to avoid to keep any file pending to speed up the process of decision making and implementation of the project. It involved staying back at work place beyond the usual office hours, which he did with ease and comfort. For us as students, it offered us a different view to regard 'work as a calling'! 

The personal spirituality Jeya practiced was based on the Bible and was Christocentric. He arrived at this position in his life after a thorough enquiry into the world of philosophy and experiencing a personal revelation in his life of a loving God.  Jeya, during his talks would refer to Bertrand Russel or Lenin, or agnosticism  or existentialism to bring us aware of the truth that was beyond all of these in the sayings and practice of Jesus of Nazareth. His familiarity with the voices that young people would come across gave him an advantage to move them beyond reason and to embark on a faith journey with God! 

Such an approach was personally helpful to me as I was strong in view of communism as a means for social justice and equity. Jeya used the  voluntary confession of Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-10) that he would give half of his riches to the poor and return four times whom he defrauded when he met Jesus, as an illustration to me as how an inward transformation is more effective and lasting than living for a philosophy. I feel that was the turning point in my journey, when I got introduced to Jesus and His teachings to embrace it as the way of life. 

I recall how patient Jeya was with all of us who meandered in our conversations. He listened with his heart patiently to make us feel heard and loved! There was no sense of hurry or judgement in his attitude and responses.  He had a space in his thoughts for those who were struggling to find the path. His friendly attitude was deeply comforting. 

Jeya had a significant influence in the lives of many others. I got to know of this from an occasional reference he would make about his nearness to some key people in the student movement that he was associated with. It was during his time at Nagpur the student movement was enlarging its presence to the states in the North and North East. Jeya was requested to be present as a speaker in the meetings which formulated plans to get in touch with college students to help them in their formative journey. 

I remember how Jeya functioned as a conciliator in difficult circumstances when senior leaders of the student movement had disagreement and experienced tension in relationships. His open ended view of difficult situations freed people from being weighed down by guilt or anger. Jeya was a peace seeker and finder in such situations. 

The mid nineteen sixties in India was different with no easy telephone access or colour TV or internet access. We grew up building relationships and finding friendships that would upbuild us. To have found Jeya as a friend and a formator was truly a timely blessing for many of us in our student days. He saw us through the optic of who we can become! It was this thought and aspiration for us which made him involve in our lives in a formative way! 

I look back at this season of my medical student days and consider this contact with Jeya for about three years as a pathfinder season in my life! His was a self giving involvement with some of us at Nagpur Medical College to lead us to faith in God and to encourage us to grow up to serve people in need.

Anna and I remember Jeya and Esther and think of them affectionately! We turn to God in prayer for their wellness !

 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

 

An ambassador to the Youth !

Let me continue recollecting my thoughts about Mr L. T. Jeyachandran, whose recent heath concerns prompted me to share memories and experiences of the time he spent at Nagpur in the late sixties. It was Mr T.V. Thomas a student of S.F.S College, who first spoke to me about Jeya and invited me to come for a Bible study that he conducted for students after the Sunday morning service of the All Saints Church. I was hesitant to go although I was a church goer, but not regularly. T.V. introduced me to Jeya after the church service. 

My first impression about Jeya was his spontaneity and cordiality,  with an interest to converse!  His surprise to see a native of Kerala state, studying medicine in Maharashtra led him to share about his own background. He after his engineering course went on to do his masters in structural engineering in IIT Madras, wanting to be a teacher in an engineering college. He shared about  his natural flair for teaching and befriending students. But he was equally interested to explore working in different parts of India because he was fascinated by people of different languages and culture.  In that half an hour of conversation before the Bible study, he came across to me as a charming and charismatic communicator with a versatile view of life and work. So I felt drawn to listen to his Bible study. 

His theme was the vision of Isaiah based on the 6 th chapter of the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament of the Bible. He engaged a group of thirty five students for forty minutes sharing insights by connecting and associating with people and events from the Old and New Testament books of the Bible. He would read out verses. He also quoted Bible verses verbatim from his memory.  His sense of humour, some of which was pointed  on him, made the listening easier and inspiring. His anecdotes and stories blended well with the theme that he was pursuing: "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us. Here am I send me"? (Isaiah 6:8). For me, it was all new to hear that God calls and humans can respond! 

Following the formal meeting a few of us stayed back to have conversations with Jeya. As it was lunch time he invited us for a Dosa meal at the Liberty restaurant opposite the All Saints Church. The conversation centred on how Jeya happened to 'know God's call' in his life. I forget the details of the conversation. He deliberately chose to appear for the Indian Engineering Service selection after obtaining M  Tech in structural engineering from IIT, Madras in order to work in different places in India as the job would offer transfers once in three to five years. His reason for this was his interest in staying in touch with young people, mainly college students living in different parts of India. 

The nineteen sixties in India were a season of opportunities for students for college education. Many more professional colleges had come up after independence to offer training in Engineering, Medicine, and Business studies. It was also the time when the spill over of the hippie culture from the west, was trickling into college life. Jeya being aware of the snare of a permissive life style, was keen to be a restraint by being actively in touch with students. For him the person and the message of Jesus of Nazareth was that counterculture that he felt  he was 'called to echo' to the student community. This long conversation was all about a vision that Jeya decided to pursue in his life. 

I went back cycling to the medical college after this conversation, pondering over what I heard. The persona of Jeya was appealing and his courteous and thoughtful manners touched me deeply. It initiated me to read the Bible to become familiar with the person and teachings of Jesus. I started with the gospel of St. John. 

By the middle of the week, I felt that more conversation was needed to follow on the theme of seeking after God to know the call. That was when Jeya came to the medical college hotel to visit me one evening, which gave an unhurried time to get a sene of believing and following God. The sense of nearness that Jeya experienced in his relationship with God was evident and effusive. 

I got to know that almost every evening he had young people visiting him in his room to have personal conversations. 

During the next summer vacation when I came to my home for holidays, I was in a state of suspense about knowing God and following Him. A new building was coming up in the village opposite the school where I studied. I was told that it was for a new post office. I happened to meet two people speaking to each other about the good qualities of the executive engineer who was supervising the construction. They, the site engineer and the contractor, mentioned the name, Jeyachandran in the conversation. I wondered whether it was Jeya of Nagpur I knew. It was he they were referring to. They described this engineer as 'upright, efficient, and helpful'. That testimony about Jeya was another inspiration to  know more about the God about whom he often testified. 

I was only one among at least fifteen students who were similarly seeking to find this God what Jeya spoke about in his talks and conversations. 

Jeya was a good story teller as he was widely read. He would refer to biographies of people that had an inspirational appeal to young people. One anecdote that he mentioned once was from the life of C.T. Studd, a cricketer of repute in Britain, who later became a missionary to China. While he was in correspondence with his girl friend, whom he was considering to marry, C T Studd wrote that she ought to repeat to herself daily that 'She loved God dearer than Charlie'! Jeya was not yet married. But hearing this from him offered an insight about the expectations that he had about the person that he would marry.

There was warmth and gentleness in the way he associated with the student friends. He was clothed in humility and honesty! 

I feel grateful to have had an exposure to such a way of living in my mid twenties.

These recollections based on my experiences of him during a period of three years at Nagpur, at a time when Jeya is older with health concerns is to call the faithful journey of a person in his younger days, who had a longing for students to find their faith in God and grow up to serve others.  Anna and I fondly remember Jeya and Esther and carry them in our hearts in gratitude for who they have been as companions, to many young people in different parts of India! 

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)