Come December, 2021, that is when Anna and I recall the experiences before and after her retirement from full time academic life. It will be one year since Anna stepped down from her formal academic responsibilities.
Anna started her academic life late after both of our children were at college and were ready to move own to their areas of pursuit.
It was late Dr Molly Banu, the head of the department of Pharmacology and Dr Joyce Ponniah, the former director of the Christian Medical College who prompted to her to study pharmacology in 1998 and become part of the department of pharmacology. I felt most impressed with her quick transition to academic life with considerable dedication from having been a mother, home maker and the director ASHIRVAD, the Christian Concern for Child Care.
Anna became the warden of women's hostel at CMC Vellore during which time she attempted to make the hostel into a home. She established an annual prize at the institutional level for the best all rounder women student in memory of our late daughter Anita Susan Mathew.
Anna co-authored the book on Parenting Your Child in 2000, which is still in circulation and is referred to as a middle path book on parenting.
The invitation to become the head of the continuing Medical Education department at CMC Vellore was rather unexpected. Anna revived that department and started the Current Medical Journal, which was published four times in a year. This became the official research publication with considerable emphasis on disseminating information to the general practitioners. The monthly continuing education meetings held at Vellore was popular and brought the general practitioners for fellowship and learning.
Anna excelled in research and had her first paper published in an international journal which is still cited as it highlighted the effectiveness of single low dose of Diazepam at bed time as a muscle relaxant in children with spastic Cerebral Palsy. Since then she has been an ardent researcher who later became the research co-ordinator of MOSC Medical College, Kolenchery to establish the Institutional Review Board. This opened the avenues for students and faculty to be involved in research. Anna was sable to guide and help in publishing about seventy articles during her tenure in that position. About fifty of them were students who were first time researchers. Anna introduced students to attending and presenting their research work in national and international meetings.
Anna has been a member of the Institutional Ethics Committee in different institutions. She edited and published the Buds to Blossom recently a publication of ASHIRVAD for the department of Developmental Paediatrics at MOSC Medical College, Kolenchery. This booklet is an information resource for parents to observe and record the developmental process of children from birth to five years.
During her term as the head of the department of Pharmacology at MOSC Medical College, she established a museum for pharmacology department, designed a most sought after practical record book for under graduate students, and established practical work for students by working on simulators. It was through he interest a computer laboratory was established for students for research work.
Since Anna left her academic responsibility as the head of department, I have been fascinated by her graceful transition to an orderly life and work. Anna and I meet early in the morning for our quiet times and conversation time around the round table in our study. She then would have a walk in the garden often picking up vegetables and gathering fallen nutmeg. During the walk she listens to the Dean of the Canterbury Church who has a daily morning devotional presentation. Anna loves it as it is an illuminative presentation of history, people, Biblical truths and contemporary issues.
During the day she has conversations with three of our domestic workers and sits at her desk attending to several mails that come. She has helped two students during this year to complete their ICMR research work. Anna is an exercise enthusiast who walks about three kilometres six days in a week.
Anna and I have planned conversation times in the evenings. She has regular reading time for grand children on Tuesdays in the evenings. Anna and I hold a conversation time on Fridays for a small group of friends with whom we have a pursuit on the theme of Life, Living and Learning.
The three pictures of the pair of Bulbuls having conversation in our courtyard is the symbol of how we lived our lives since Anna retired a year ago.
I continue to be amazed the way Anna attends to details thoughtfully. She knitted for all the grand children during the year. She knitted for babies of our friends whom she wanted to acknowledge specially. She keeps in touch with friends of ASHIRVAD and family friends. She looks after all the details of the accounts of ASHIRVAD, and stays in touch with the auditor and the government offices overseeing the affairs of charitable organisations.
Here we are at the of one year after Anna left her former responsibilities from the academic field, living well and facing her transition gracefully and cheerfully.
I have had a difficult year at work during this year and faced reactions at the department from colleagues and hostile responses from the administration for under performing. I was pushed to almost leaving my position. Anna gently sustained me and enabled me to plan for my departure later from a summit rather than during a 'valley' experience! The out-patient numbers had the dropped gradually during the last three years. Since I knew the reasons and attended to them the number have risen four times in the last six months. Anna was behind me to help me to be steadfast.
I too would have my transition to retirement shortly. Anna's planning and joyful transition becomes a model for me.
It is when we nurture each other in love and affirmation, marriage becomes even more fulfilling. Each of us grows as much as we enable our soulmate to grow!
The Bulbuls made us feel that conversation and intimacy are fruits of celebrating togetherness!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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