I received a message today from Arpit, giving me a link to a citation on Dr Ulhas Jajoo, who closed his term of service at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Seagram after forty eight years of uninterrupted service as a professor of Medicine.
Jajoo and I were in the same clinical batch during our undergraduate days at Medical College, Nagpur. I got to know him and Abhaya Bunk, who stood out as two students hailing from families who had close association with Mahatma Gandhi and the freedom movement.
As a student
Jajoo carried a zest for his studies as he had left his engineering course to join the medical college, when he felt persuaded by what he heard from a family friend who spoke to him about the need of doctors in rural India. What was special about Jajoo was to spend his evening hours in the ward joining with the residents for the evening rounds and participating in caring for the people admitted for treatment. He even picked up bedside procedures and communication skills by developing a habit of listening to the stories of people. He influenced some of us by his attitude of 'learning from patients and not just from class room lectures and books'. Our preparation for bed side clinics became interesting before the tutor arrived to lead the clinical discussion because Jajoo had insights about the patient that made us ready for an in-depth discussion with the tutor.
Jajoo was an activist in the Medico Friend Circle. He would lead students to visit the slums nearby the Medical college, on week ends and take active part in education of its residents in hygienic living, nutrition, healthy practices, child care and abstinence from alcohol. I remember a few visits which made deep impressions about the stories of people hidden away, which do not get adequately attended to when they come to hospital for their health care needs. The attitude of friendly listening was Jajoo's style of learning!
The hostel life was another experience that I recall because his room was a place of dialogue and engagement about life, its mission, health care, attention to people in disadvantaged position, justice and fairness in social life, etc. As students we heard his views with appreciation as he was a 'Gandhian' by attitude and practice I felt influenced by his thoughts on practice of medicine as an opportunity for service.
As a post graduate trainee
I felt a traction towards community medicine for which I had to go to B.J.Medical College Pune for my post graduate training. Jajoo was clear about his direction to pursue training in Internal medicine for which he joined at Nagpur Medical College. I overlapped with him for one year while doing my senior house surgency to stay eligible for training in child health if I were to return to it afterwards. During the six months in child health I remember occasions when I needed his help as the registrar in Renal Unit to care for children who had renal complications. It was then I recognised his thoughtful attitude and readiness to help, often going out of his way.
I recall his presentations of clinical discussions in the weekly clinical meeting on Fridays, which was at the level of a consultant's knowledge or experience. Jajoo thought and applied well in clinical interpretations and clarifying the clinical pathway of diseases and treatment approach. He excelled clinically and relationally.
As a teacher and clinician
Anna and I happened to overlap with him for about two years at MGIMS, Sevagram, when we worked there. I having completed my post graduation in community medicine joined the department whose head of the department was the director of MGIMS Dr. Sushila Nayyar. It was during that time Dr Nayyar was developing a general out patient service overseen by consultants from community medicine and other basic specialities with the help of interns. That was a brain child of Dr Nayyar greatly influenced by few others, one of whom was Jajoo.
Jajoo was in communication with Dr Nayyar to foster a three tier system of health care- community level, general OPD services and speciality services.
The idea of family medicine was at the root of this perspective which involved orientation of this outlook to young consultants and interns. Jajoo argued, how important that interns learn in an atmosphere where primary health care approach is introduced to them !
What I saw at that time was how Jajoo innovated a health care insurance scheme for the people in villages, where, by donating grains during the harvest time as their insurance premium, they could get subsidised health care from the hospital. It was a popular and effective scheme which the hospital honoured.
Jajoo visited the villages around the MGMS, more than any one of us from the community medicine did at that time. It was due to his alertness, an epidemic of Measles could be contained in few villages. I remember being called to help in caring for children admitted with complications of Measles at his request, which opened an opportunity for me to be attached to child health department. It was during that time I felt a traction for post graduate studies in Child health, for which I left to Nagpur Medical College.
Jajoo was a regular visitor to our home during our time at MGIMS, and a companion on dialoguing on issues of social medicine and distributive justice. I feel grateful looking back, because he influenced me to integrate child health care and community health practice.
As a friend
Jajoo was one among the immediate circle of friends during my undergraduate days who helped me in clarifying issues on social medicine and family medicine practice. It was a delight to meet Jajoo's parents and visit their home. They lived a simple life but were immensely hospitable. Jajoo's younger brother too was pursuing medical studies.
Jajoo visited us in 1984, when Anna and I lived in Chennai in our pursuit to develop child development and rehabilitation services. Seeing the set of the Child Development Centre and the direction we felt inclined to follow at that time, although surprised him, he was enthusiastic to value the small beginning. This was at a time when the speciality of developmental Paediatrics was yet to take roots in any medical college in India.
Jajoo himself being in pursuit of family medicine practice, which was at its pioneering phase, he could find space in his imagination to an innovative effort we were pursuing in child development.
A recollection
I confess that I have not been faithful in staying in touch with my class mates of undergraduate days, except a few. In fact I lost contact with Jajoo after our time in Sevagram. Although he would have expected us to return to MGIMS, Anna and I proceeded to CMC Vellore after my training at Nagpur in 1980. I have regrets for having lost contact with Jajoo and Abhay, who moved on to create new horizons in health care.
But I remain grateful to Jajoo for his critical role in my formative years to influence me with sound thoughts on social medicine and distributive justice!
As Jajoo closes his time at MGIMS and begins elsewhere to continue his contact with people to make a difference, Anna and I send our warm regards, grateful recollections and good wishes for health and wellness.
You touched our lives and we are grateful!
M.C.Mathew ( text and photo of flower from our garden)
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