This sixty-six years old wall clock in our drawing room, needs mechanical winding every week. Anna and I were away for ten days and on return I found that the clock had stopped. After rewinding, I noticed the clock returning to its regular rhythm of movement every minute and chiming every half an hour.
What keeps the movements of the pendulum and the hour and minute hands to show the time, is dependent on the rewinding of two springs, one for the dial and the other for the chyme, each week. The pendulum moves 72 times each minute on both directions horizontally.
The clock functions when it is wound every week! It keeps time and chymes for the benefit of others! The clock symbolises receiving and giving.
I watched a cyclist giving a ride to his friend on its back on a busy street. I noticed him stopping when the vehicles were approaching from both sides. He was protective and cautious. He navigated the cycle circumspectly and thoughtfully! He turned a bicycle into a mode of transport of him and his friend! The cycle looked strong enough and well kept to carry two people! The cyclist trusted his bicycle to offer a ride to his friend! He knew his cycle and its roadworthiness.
The clock and cycle above functioned normally because they were regularly attended to for them to be able to function optimally!
When I started the car yesterday after ten days, the pressure gauge in the instrument cluster on the dash board warned me of low air pressure in all the tyres. The car needed attention for it to remain safe for a drive.
It was while watching the interview of two lady doctors, working in north India, one a surgeon and another a community physician, I was moved by a sense of mission they carry, to take care of the poor in the rural communities. They spoke about 'keeping the people well to work and earn their livelihood'! Their emphasis and resolve to do their little to support people to be well to live and work resonated within me.
Following an epidemic of Measles in 1977 in and around Sevagram, when some young children died and many were admitted with complications in the hospital, Dr Sushila Nayyar, the director asked me a question, ' What if you trained in Paediatrics to help children'? It was that question which led me start training in Paediatrics in 1978. It was during that training, I came across Prof A.M.Sur conducting a weekly clinic for children with Neuro-developmental needs in the Occupational therapy department of the hospital. His remark, 'children suffer silently and parents are helpless' had a profound impact on me. This remark resounded within me during forty years of my involvement with Neuro-developmentally challenged children and their parents.
It was Anna who proposed in 1983 that we state our intent as 'Taking sides' when the Child Development Centre was established at Chennai.
We keep all the equipment we use in daily life well and trim.
However, paying attention to our body to remain well to experience fullness of life, is still to become a reality for most people!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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