I remember meeting Ms Krishnaswamy, the founder of Spastic Society of Karnataka about thirty five years back, when I was preparing to get more associated with children having neuro-developmental needs. During a recent visit to that centre, it was good to catch up with her and recall our meetings and conversations on some occasions.
The Spastic Siciety Karnataka has become a nodal centre of service, training and research, which is a model in many ways to those engaged with children with developmental need.
What encouraged me immensely was Ms Krishnaswamy’s skill of leadership with humility, inspirational relationships with her colleagues and self giving service to families of hundreds of children.
Among many things that gave me an indication of the diversification of services to be inclusive in their approach, was the mobile sale service by stewards from their bakery with freshly baked puffs. The bakery is one of the vocational activities to train differently able children in baking, packing, selling and keeping accounts.
I got a sense of the futuristic sense that Ms Krishnaswamy introduced to the 200 or staff in the centre to plan and labour to add quality to the lives of children.
I got this opportunity to interact with the team because the professionals have volunteered to support the Bangalore Baptist Hospital to start a district rehabilitation centre for children in one of the communities, where the community health department of the BBH is active with different transformational services. Dr Gift and Dr Carol from the department provide leadership to about 90 personnel in the community health department. When Dr Gift joined the department about ten years ago, it had a token presence in the community. Now the department has fifteen different activities in the community, some of which are touching models of dedication and creativity. With their recent interest in starting a Child Development Centre at the BBH, Hebbal and an Early Learning Centre in the community, there is a new momentum in pioneering to provide leadership to this felt need. Ms Krishnaswamy has been an inspiration even for this.
I share a bond with Ms Krishnaswamy because Anna and I were struggling to get the ASHIRVAD Child Development Centre started at Chennai in 1983, when she was embarking on starting the Spastic Society of Karnataka around the same time. I happened to meet her at that time and she offered me a place in her team to be the consultant Developmental paediatrician. When I could not do that she found Dr Mahadeviah, who still continues as a part time consultant. I found him during the recent meeting to be full of energy and vision to reach out to children and parents.
Let me say this: most of us can get tired with 'routine ness' of the work we do. But Ms. Krishnaswamy was unlike in her spirit and vocation. She finds work to be 'energy giving'.
At the end of that visit, I was reminded of the words of Jesus of Nazareth, 'I work because my father too work' ! Work is a way of living the calling. Therefore what we do is a declaration of who we are and whose we are!
M.C.Mathew(text an photo)
The Spastic Siciety Karnataka has become a nodal centre of service, training and research, which is a model in many ways to those engaged with children with developmental need.
What encouraged me immensely was Ms Krishnaswamy’s skill of leadership with humility, inspirational relationships with her colleagues and self giving service to families of hundreds of children.
Among many things that gave me an indication of the diversification of services to be inclusive in their approach, was the mobile sale service by stewards from their bakery with freshly baked puffs. The bakery is one of the vocational activities to train differently able children in baking, packing, selling and keeping accounts.
I got a sense of the futuristic sense that Ms Krishnaswamy introduced to the 200 or staff in the centre to plan and labour to add quality to the lives of children.
I got this opportunity to interact with the team because the professionals have volunteered to support the Bangalore Baptist Hospital to start a district rehabilitation centre for children in one of the communities, where the community health department of the BBH is active with different transformational services. Dr Gift and Dr Carol from the department provide leadership to about 90 personnel in the community health department. When Dr Gift joined the department about ten years ago, it had a token presence in the community. Now the department has fifteen different activities in the community, some of which are touching models of dedication and creativity. With their recent interest in starting a Child Development Centre at the BBH, Hebbal and an Early Learning Centre in the community, there is a new momentum in pioneering to provide leadership to this felt need. Ms Krishnaswamy has been an inspiration even for this.
I share a bond with Ms Krishnaswamy because Anna and I were struggling to get the ASHIRVAD Child Development Centre started at Chennai in 1983, when she was embarking on starting the Spastic Society of Karnataka around the same time. I happened to meet her at that time and she offered me a place in her team to be the consultant Developmental paediatrician. When I could not do that she found Dr Mahadeviah, who still continues as a part time consultant. I found him during the recent meeting to be full of energy and vision to reach out to children and parents.
Let me say this: most of us can get tired with 'routine ness' of the work we do. But Ms. Krishnaswamy was unlike in her spirit and vocation. She finds work to be 'energy giving'.
At the end of that visit, I was reminded of the words of Jesus of Nazareth, 'I work because my father too work' ! Work is a way of living the calling. Therefore what we do is a declaration of who we are and whose we are!
M.C.Mathew(text an photo)
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