Looking Back: Life and Times of a Senior Citizen

Being residents of Bangalore I have known Dr Baburajan for quite some time now. But it is only recently that we discussed about his life's journey spanning eight decades. I found it very fascinating that a person equipped himself with necessary qualification and changed careers working as a teacher in a school, an agricultural scientist, college lecturer and finally a medical doctor specializing in gynecology.  He worked in England as a doctor for seven years but returned to India, Here is a senior citizen who has seen some huge ups and downs in life... It was a unique experience for me Rajeev Moothedath (RM) to interview Dr Babu Rajan (BR).

RM: Could you tell us a little about your family background and early life?

BR: My father, K.K.Raman was a Tazhildar and First class Magistrate in Kerala Government service. My mother was a teacher in State Government School. This meant frequent transfers for both our parents and disruptions in the education of us children, three brothers and two sisters. We lived with mother wherever she was posted and father used to visit us in the holidays or weekends.

RM: In such a situation, you would have got less time to spend with your father. What kind of a person was he as a civil servant?

BR: I remember him as a person who was fearless in doing his duty irrespective of the circumstances. . When he was posted to Kodungalloor (one of the rare periods when we lived together as mother was also posted here at that time) in the fifties he was to implement the ban by the Government of Cochin on animal and bird sacrifices, that had been going on since ancient times at the Bhagavathy (Bhadrakali) temple. People came even from far of places, in Tamilnadu and Andhra to offer sacrifices and were disappointed to know that it would not be permitted.

Father stuck to his guns in enforcing the order unmindful of agitations. Frustrated devotees came before our house and killed the animals and birds leaving behind blood and bones. However, all this did not deter him from performing his duty. 

RM: Would you say that your father was not a religious person? After all, in those days there could have been fear of the Goddess herself  being displeased.

BR: Well, in a way you are right. He was more of a person oriented to rational thinking and was mostly busy with his work. It was mother who was religious and visited temples. Although later in life he developed an interest in horoscope reading as a science, he had not got the horoscopes of us children written at birth nor had he matched horoscopes when he got married.

RM: After schooling how did you plan your further education?

BR: I took science and math for my intermediate (as Plus two was called then) after schooling. Between us three brothers, my younger brother and I were good in studies. As he secured a few more marks than I did, mother said “Let him study for medicine. You become a teacher like me." As I knew the family could not afford to send all of us for professional courses, I agreed and enrolled for B.A. Botany (interestingly those days B.A. was awarded for a science degree)

RM: So, how did you become a doctor?

BR: Well. I guess it was all destiny at play. Soon after my graduation, I got a job as a teacher in a school with a modest salary. A few months later, the agricultural Department advertised agricultural scientist posts, which was a gazette officer position. At that time, there was no course in Kerala for agricultural graduation and therefore the position was offered to Botany graduates. I applied, got the job, and worked there for two years. In the meanwhile, agriculture courses were started in Kerala and the first batch of graduates came out.

RM: Did this development affect you? 

BR: Yes, in a big way! The government issued a notification stating that henceforth the post of agricultural scientists shall be filled up only by agricultural graduates and that those having a Botany degree would be eligible for their next promotion only if they acquired MSc in Botany. As my future was adversely affected, I had no choice but to do post-graduation. I applied for the MSc (Botany) courses to various universities. I got admission to a new university, (Sagar University) started in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

This was a blessing in disguise. Sagar University, even as we wrote the final exams, offered all students appointment as lecturers at a handsome salary (salary offered was higher than that of a first class civil servant in Kerala) subject to the condition that they pass the exams with a class.

RM: Did you accept the job?

BR: After writing exams, I went back to Kerala during the holidays and enquired about job opportunities. There were jobs available as lecturers but the salary was very low. Therefore, I decided to go back to MP and work for the Sagar University.

Around two years into my job in MP, a student came to me in tears and said that he has missed the opportunity to do medicine as he was short of a few marks. I told him that some universities have a quota for students pursuing MBBS from other states. I immediately wrote to two of my friends in Kerala. Both of them responded and send one application form each, for entrance to Calicut medical college. I gave one form to the student and the other one was lying on my table for a long time. 

RM: So, how did you end up doing medicine? 

BR: I was just coming to that.  One day as I looked at the application form on my table, a thought came to me. The situation at home had changed quite a bit since the time I started working. I was sending a part of my salary home as a support to father. Now all my siblings had completed their education and were settled. Perhaps, I thought to myself, it is the appropriate time to dream bigger and forward that application. I send it across, not sure that I would be selected for the course. Soon after though, I got a letter from the college asking me to join bringing the original certificates.

RM: You did not have to look back after that?

BR:  I returned to Kerala in high spirits. However, when I met father he said that since both he and mother had retired in the meanwhile, he would not be in a position to support my further studies which also involved mess bill and stay in a hostel in Calicut.

 I had almost given up the idea when a thought came to me to meet and take the opinion of my brother in law (sister’s husband) who was the HOD  of the Trivandrum  medical college .When I met my brother in law, he said that opportunities like these should never be allowed to be lost. He offered to bear the living expenses at Calicut and said “let you father contribute only the college fees.". Thus, I joined the Calicut medical college and completed medicine.

RM: As you were on a journey of continuous education, it would have meant a late marriage?

BR: Yes, I was in my early thirties when I got married. Although an arranged marriage, there was initially resistance from the sisters of my bride Prabha, as there was a good age difference between us. 

RM: After completing the medical course, you moved to the UK for employment. How did that opportunity come by? 

BR: Those days, UK representatives used to be on the committee that finalized the medical education syllabus in India. Therefore, the Indian MBBS degree was recognized in UK and other countries that accepted the UK degree. We just had to apply to be considered for employment, leading to higher studies.(I did MRCOG). 

It is only in the seventies around the time of the emergency that the Indira Gandhi Government decided to do away with UK representatives on the committee. Consequently, Indian MBBS was no longer automatically valid in that country. However, you still can serve in UK as a doctor after passing their qualifying exams. They hold these exams in the northern and southern parts of India every year so that those interested can apply.

RM:   Normally, those who have moved to the west are reluctant to come back to India, but you returned after seven years - Why? 

BR: My children a son and a daughter were growing up. I did not want them to continue in that culture. I felt it was better to relocate while they were in school itself so that they could smoothly assimilate with the Indian culture.

RM: Looking back, do you think you made the right move? Were you able to meet the objectives of your decision?

BR: Well, I had initial teething troubles setting up a practice from the scratch. After all, I had left behind a comfortable life with the Government of UK, paying a regular monthly salary. In due course Ashwini nursing home that I started in Kammana Halli Bangalore began to do well. My son Vidya was a very bright child and he took part in school Quizzes including national level competitions on television. He later gained admission to the prestigious IISC, Bangalore.

My daughter Agatha went on to do her medicine from the Mysore medical college. She also found her life partner Raju Reddy, while studying in the college. Although, initially both Raju's parents and we had objected to the union in view of the cultural differences, we relented realizing that they were serious about their intent. Today they are happily married with two children and are settled in the UK.   

RM: It must have been a big shock for you and your wife to lose your young son in a road accident at the age of 22. How did you cope with this catastrophe? 

BR: Words cannot express our pain. Any death is painful, but to lose your only son at a young age when you are still alive is very difficult to come to terms with. I was devastated to such an extent that I became a recluse. I preferred to stay alone in a room, hardly spoke even to my wife and barely ate any food. This went on for around three months. It was then that I had this experience- Can’t say for certain whether it was a dream, a vision, or a reality.

Nevertheless, one day, a two-way switch in the corridor near my bedroom (which can be switched on from inside or outside the house) lighted up as if on its own. It certainly was not switched on from the inside. I then heard my son’s voice “Dad, I am fine. There is nothing to worry about. You should not continue like this. You have to take care of  sister and mother. I assure you, I will come back. I will come back again as your grandson.” 

It was a strange experience. However, from that day, I began to slowly come out from the grief and depression. I never mentioned the incident to anyone else. Years later when my daughter gave birth to a son in the UK, she telephoned to tell me that she had named the child “Vidyasagar”. I was taken aback. I had not made any such request to her but on her own; she had named the child “Vidya”

 I believe this was an interesting coincidence seen in the light of my ‘dream’ experience. Even to this day, I communicate with my son, Vidya in a form like a mental telepathy. You could call it prayer. I have requested that I may be given a ‘painless death’. I feel reassured that this request will be met.

RM: It is said that in the initial days of grief, you were touched by the gesture of a pastor who had come to your house on his own on learning of the tragedy and prayed for the soul of Vidya, So much so, you even considered converting to Christianity? 

BR: Those were difficult days. Yes, I did think about it, but my wife Prabha was adamant that she would not change her religion at any cost. 

RM: Is there any change in your belief system based on life experiences over the years? 

BR:  I told you earlier that I did not have any belief in horoscopes. I also told you that my father in later life, developed an interest in astrology purely as a science. Vidya was born around that time. Father wrote down his horoscope but was evasive in giving details. He said the boy would study well and make a mark. When I pressed, "what else?” he said in a roundabout manner that he may not live long. We forgot all about it until years later the tragedy struck. Today, based on my personal experience, I cannot discount the significance of such readings or influence of a higher power in our lives.

RM:  Presently, you lead a retired life moving forth between India and UK where your daughter lives. Looking back, Could you share some professional experiences that you are proud about? 

BR: well they are quite a few. However, I will share just one for the record. A woman had come to us at Ashwini nursing home, complaining of acute stomach pain. I did an elaborate, tricky three-hour surgery to extract a mass of flesh from inside weighing as much as seven Kilograms. It is not often that one comes across such cases. 

RM: It is rarely that a person goes through so many varying, diverse bitter- sweet experiences in a single life span. Thank you Dr Baburajan for taking the time to share your life experiences. Thanks a lot!

BR: Thank you Rajeev. It was a pleasure talking to you.