Raghuraman

Wayanad, a land of hills and valleys is located in Kerala, Gods Own Country. The height of the hill towns range from 3000-5000 feet above sea level, the base town being Calicut. The Western Ghats as it is called is a very scenic place. Moderate temperature year round, thundering rains, slightly chilly winter and smooth summers are the weather indicators for these lovely towns. Agriculture is the main occupation, particularly plantation crops like coffee (Robusta), Citrus, Pineapple, Ginger, Bananas, Passion fruit and Avacado. Settlers, mainly British, were the owners of many of the plantations and even now some are managed by the descendents of early owners. Every now and then I go back to those days, pleasant memories, rich and recharging me all the time, any time.

Father, a medical doctor by profession, was in charge of the hospital at Ambalavayal, a compact hospital with 30-50 in-beds, an outpatient department and an isolation ward. He had a staff of 10 people under him, including a compounder, midwife, nurses, patient care staff, orderlies, drivers and security. We were given a nice huge bungalow close by. A white 6 roomed house with raised asbestos roofing and weather proof internal roofings and large yards in front and back. One of the rooms was father’s office at home to treat patients who called at odd hours. My father’s day would start at 8 am at the hospital with rounds of inpatients and then back to the busy and waiting outpatients. The hospital team would get busy attending to the needs of patients coming down from all over the hill towns surrounding the hospital. Lunch would be around noon. After some rest he would get busy with administrative matters, staff meeting, letters, reports, budgets etc and would get back home by 6 pm on non tour days. Otherwise on two days a week he would go to the primary heath centres (there were three of them) which were 2 hrs away, to attend to patients coming over there. Medicines needed for the first line of treatments were kept there and administered by 3-4 staff members attached to the centre. He was given a huge jeep (a military type vehicle) with a driver and cleaner to maintain this in condition. The tyres used to come up to my shoulder! On tour days he will leave Ambalavayal by 3 pm and return by 8pm. A very busy man, sought after by the community, a caring Doctor, for him every thing was secondary to duty and patient care. So my mother had a major role to play every day, and she used to do it equally well managing a busy man, school-going son (yours faithfully doing 7th grade), a grown up daughter (my elder sister) at home, and our favourite two cows and calves. Believe me, being the town doctor’s wife she was also an equally sought after person!

After a light breakfast and a packed lunch, I was required to leave by 7 am every morning 5 days a week to catch the bus going to Sultan Battery. A 45 minute ride by winding roads downhill, most of the school-going children use this bus, 15 to 20 of us from Ambalavayal and Meyppadi. We then walked 3 kms from the drop off zone of town Sultan Battery to reach school in time for the prayers, followed by 4-5 sessions/classes every day with a lunch break and back to catch the bus at 5 pm. Home by 6 pm, a quick change and off to our club. A semi circular roofed space of say 200-250 feet in length and 50 feet in width, it served as the officers club for the area. We had two outdoor badminton courts and card, carom, chess tables and a library in doors. My father would also join on non tour days, with other officers and staff from other state departments. Farm owners would also join in the action, relaxation, and fun for 2 hours. I used to be good in carom and would even get a chance to play elders. Sometimes bets will also be placed, the losers having to buy masala tea and hot vadas for all! Men will be all concentration in card games, “no noise please” was the message. 2-3 petrol lights illuminated the club. We all returned in groups taking the two main roads for home, a 10 minute walk for most of us. We had an elected committee of office bearers who looked after the administration of the club. We used to have matches played with other clubs in the nearby towns. All of us would help in the preparation of our team for the matches and we would go as an outing in hired vans with family members joining the picnic.

Once a month Father would take us to the big town Calicut, a drive downhill of about 4 hours and 29 hairpin bends. Key activities of the trip would be shopping of items that were not available in our area, special clothing needs for the season, maybe a movie, eating out in popular cafes or hotels, orders and purchases of special hospital needs and buying books/games/special food items. While we bought for the needs of our friends they would also do the same for us during their similar trips. A great fellow feeling prevailed all around.