Thalasseri, Ammalu and others

I had worked in Thalasseri General hospital also for a few months just before going to Kannur. It was an in-between posting - an adjustment posting by the Government. Dr Mathai was there - lots of complaints against him from the public and so he became a victim. No one liked to work in Thalasseri where there was a lot of political interference, especially from CPM. One person was the usual complainant, who regularly used to take rounds in the hospital. He was responsible in throwing a petrol bomb at a minister - Mohammed Koya if I remember correctly. 

We had a good selection of doctors there. For the first two months, I was shuttling between Thalasseri and Kannur Chovva in my 4 door Herald. On one occasion, immediately after car servicin,g I was going to Thalasseri and just escaped from an accident when my car went under a lorry - I was going behind it and it suddenly stopped. There was no major injury to me or to the car, except for a line on the bonnet.

Soon after that, I got transferred to Kannur District hospital as 3rd unit in charge. My predecessor was one Dr R, an unpleasant person to deal with, who had some complexes and was from Palakkat. He was the previous occupant in Happynook where we were the new occupants. Happynook did not have the problem of that very deep well as in the previous house at "Tar itta Road". Its location was ideal for us -  near the Hospital, lots of open air and with a ground nearby, a few cinema theatres around, with the beach only walking distance away. A temple and lots of friends around. We liked the beach there - both rocky and sandy beaches were there. The only thing lacking for us then was children and that yearning was soon to be fulfilled by Anju.

In those days, we didn't have a fridge or land phone and we were happy as we were. So as our SWAMI often says, in life also, the principle of "less luggage more comfort" is valid. Life will be more peaceful and calm if you have less wants. More desires - more disappointments - unhappy life. As one ages, one understands these and realises the truth, but by then it might be too late to implement. So, start early, drive slowly and reach safely.

We were often lucky to have good servants in Vadakara, Kannur and Calicut. In Vadakara, there was a lady whose name was Ammalu - a very loving, conscientious, hard working, clean and strong woman of my age. She was the one who looked after me when I had that severe chickenpox. Even now, she frequently enquires about our children with her nephew and used to visit us, taking a lot of trouble with bus travel - mind you, she is 85+. Ammalu got married pretty late to one Ramakrishnan. He was also a benign, good natured, loving person. He died a few years back. Ammalu still works, and helps her nieces and nephews.

At Calicut, we had three extraordinary servants - Bhavani, Sathya and Ajitha - all very honest , sincere, hard working and very very loving. Ajitha was a strong Marxist. Both Bhavani and Sathya were widows. We used to give all three good financial support. Sathya would travel 20 kms morning and evening by bus and walk 2 kms too while working for us. Bhavani is comparatively well placed. She is very clever and intelligent and managed her daughter's marriage, and built her own house getting bank loans. Her son is working in Dubai with MIMs as office assistant and earns a good income. Actually she need not work as house maid and her son Dilip asks her not to. She still comes for our help. She also works for APPA (POP Nambiar) downstairs in Arcade. Ajitha's husband is always ill with COPD and they have 4 daughters all married well. We financed all their marriages.