I received a message from the general secretary of the UESI yesterday about the home calls of Mr P.C.Varghese and his wife Mrs. Saramma Varghese. Both of them seem to have moved on a few hours apart from each other.
Mr P.C.Varghese, an associate General Secretary of the UESI and Mrs Varghese a faculty in agricultural science in Allahabad agricultural university were people who would be remembered for their self giving regards and thoughts for students as they invested in their lives for their spiritual formation.
I remember meeting PC in a student camp as a medical student and what influenced my life was his genuine concern and interest in the lives of students. As a third year medical student, I was looking out into the future, with opportunities wide open to move overseas after completing the studies. That was what I noticed among my seniors in the college at Nagpur. It was during the time in the camp, PC raised a question as to whether I have visited a mission hospital.
The same year, there was an opportunity to meet with Dr A.K.Tharien of Christian Fellowship Hospital, when he came to Nagpur. He invited me to visit the hospital at Oddanchatram. It was during the visit in the summer of 1969, I experienced a world of realities in rural India and the valuable contribution a mission hospital offers to people who live in difficult circumstances. The hospital providing tube wells for residents in the villages, offering livelihood by giving goats to rear, offering mid day meal to children at school and starting Balwadi pre-school programme for children in the villages, gave me an introduction to life-centred approach practiced by a mission hospital.
The traction to remain in India and be involved in a needy area o service was planted in my heart thorough the question PC asked me. Although I had only short periods at N.M Wadia hospital at Pune and C.F.hospital at Oddanchatram during my working years, I felt rooted in the consciousness of being engaged in a needy area of service. It so happened that the needy area of service that Anna and I explored was child development and rehabilitation at Chennai, Nagpur, and Vellore.
As I recollect, PC was the voice of concern and reason that prompted me to set aside the traction to follow the trend of that time to look for opportunities of training and working overseas. I feel grateful that his question opened a new outlook to life and opportunity to be professionally engaged!
PC was a giver in many ways to many students all over the country! When I look at the last photo of flowers from our garden above, I notice the petals showing the strain of the heat of the day with the edges beginning to crumble!
I recall a season in the life of PC when the work setting became dry and straining that he moved out to be a minister at large. It was during that season I had another long season of contact with him. He carried hurts and disappointments on account several changes he experienced at his work place. But the graceful way he was growing in reconciling that situation with peace and comfort was the bright side of his 'Gethsemene experience' !
To see PC living his calling with magnanimity, acceptance and forgiving heart was a true demonstration of a pilgrim's journey focussed on his calling and direction in life.
A law graduate by training he had a gift in apologia presentation of the life and mission of Jesus of Nazareth to students ! His personal conversational style was intimate and upbuilding. He brought a spark of comfort and hope to his listeners. He was a light to many who needed handholding to move on.
I recollect his teachings from the life of Jesus of Nazareth, which carried a message of love, acceptance and forgiveness. His style of communication warmed the hearts of listeners. He was a student of the Scripture and widely read because of which he brought freshness and new insights in his presentations.
PC lived being a plant, flowering and blessing others with his life and words. He blessed others by living his vocation. Now he rests in his eternal home.
His smile and warmth are the memorials in my heart!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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