Kochuthresia Mampilly(95) w/o Dr. A.K. Chacko, Alappat
Oct. 25, 2022
I feel very sorry at her departure - sorry for me! That all these days, her having been there was not known to me; and that I failed to call on her, greet her, meet her.
She was one among those mothers of our times as youngsters - we had the mother of Manikath - Thankamma chechi, of Keethara - Mercy chechi, of Palakkappilly Chinnamma chechi, Palakkappilly Thressiamma chechi, of Kalathiveettil Kuttamma chechi & Isaac chettan's mom, and Ammini chechi, Manikath serveral of them - Cheruchi chedathi, Mamikutty chechi, the Vellyammas of Palakkappilly-Payyappilly, of Koonamveedu, of Variamparambu, of Njarackavelil - Reddy's mother and Anu's mother, of Koramangalath - a few of them, but Thressiamma chechi whom I used to call Xavier chedathi, Chinnamma chechi of Mannamparampil (Vaikathukaaran), the amma of John Kudilangal Thaipodath, and a few others.
Though she was one among these contemporaries listed, I feel, she was always apart from all of them. Her very aristocratic features, and perhaps being the only doctor's wife, made her a little apart. I had never seen her in any of the local companies - the typical church based mathrusangham - there was hardly any other forum, but for the circles of rotary or something of that sort, which was never something known to ordinary mortals of those times.
I think she stood out because she was perhaps the first lady of the locality who drove a car - an ambassador car in those days. Car itself was a rarity, with just a few of the whole households of Perumanur having a car - and a lady driving a car was rare rarity! I guess it was a response to Dr. Chacko having had a 'stroke' - he survived, but was defintiely affected. We saw this lady boldly learning to drive the big vehicle, and take the doctor around! She continued to be her sober, uninvolved, elegant self... I am sure she knew almost all of us brothers and sisters. Perhaps, she knew almost all the families of Perumanur - being the wife of the only doctor of Perumanur, the next one being Dr. Pulikkan who was almost 2 kms or more away at Pallikmukku - Pulikkante Aashupatri = which registered a phenomenal growth in the 80s to grow into the present day Medical Trust - a household name in healthcare in the state!! The only other rival (?), if he had any, was Dr. Charlie, his neighbour, but practising homeopathy. The other health practitioner was Thirunilath George Vaidyar, whose clinic also was just 50 mts away from Dr. Chacko's clinic. And our vellyappan's store offered the ingredients for ayurvedic and home remedies! So around that junction, which came to be known as Chackola colony, we had a local predecessor to the present day AYUSH! (This Chackola colony is something which gave me some sort of indigestion in my post-30 years. Nothing against the benevolent Chackola Annamma Chedathi and industrious Chackola Joseph Chettan who established a row of houses with his own at the apex, and perhaps named it 'Chackola Colony'. I guess the whole area used to Payyappilly- Palakkappilly - predominantly; But none of the Payyappilly's had any such initiative to consolidate themselves and make a united front to get a name at least for the road that passed right through the middle of their properties - that too, in spite of having had an illustrious family member like the Ven. Fr. Varghese Payyapilly from among them).
The clinic had no name or board, but a small insignificant board showing doctor's name and clinic timings. But Chacko doctor was the doctor for Thevara-Perumanur, he knew every child and every home around (I presume so). When we had some ailments, if there was any difficulty for us to reach him, he would come home. The best thing about his medicine, in contrast to that of Thirunilathu Vaidyar was that we could eat well, where as Vaidyar would always impose some dietary restrictions. No need to stick to kanji (gruel), you could have rice! (It appears that cough & fever related illnesses were subjected to Chacko doctor, where as those related to the 'stomach' were dealt with by the Vaidyar).
Till Dr. Benny Paul appeared on the scene, with some testing facility and some nursing staff, there was no medical authority or help around for the entire region - but our family doctor, Dr. Chacko, supported solely by his compounder, Mr. George(?). He is referred to in the autobiography of the late Cardinal Parecattil, who was the parish priest, completing his undergrad studies at Sacred Heart College. Doctor was a regular at the Church, nad he had a privileged seat in the narrow sacristy. I think, aunt Kochuthresia also attended teh Church regularly. I recall, John, James and me, went to his house (on his offer) and collected plants for establishing a garden for the Kochupally. He was equally enthusiastic about the venture. I remember the name of a pernnial flowering plant - he told us that it was 'bird of paradise' (a kind of heliconia)
Doctor had come from somewhere Thrissur most likely - and Aunt Kochuthresia, most likely from Njarackal Mampilly. They had become part of the geography of Perumanur - Thevara. doctor had obtained an ancestral property that belonged to the Palakkappilly family, which was sold to him, as that particular family had become debt ridden. Perumanur post-office was established in that ancestral home.
That was vast plot was our play ground as well, lying adjacent to our own ancestral home. The ground was never level, with the traditional practice of top soil being sliced using a sharp spade, and then heaped up, perhaps to retain moisture or prevent the spread of grass. But still we managed to play football and cricket and sadembri there. It had a disused pond as well - I feel shocked to recall that all of us, including me were party to throwing waste material into it. And nobody thought of it otherwise. It was meant to be filled!
I overheard Doctor, on one of his rare visits to the plot, asking my father, "Kunje, ninakkathangottu medikkarutho?" Looking back I feel it was a perfect suggestion on his part. But Ichayan, hardly ever in an acquisitive mood, had no inclination whatsoever towards it. In the early 80s, at least part of that was sold off to have the first mosque of our locality established.
After joining the seminary, I don't think I have seen the doctor. He had only daughters. They too were not actively involved in any of the local social (read, Church) circles. I hear that all of them are abroad, and by God's grace, doing well.
My deep deep regrets for not having thought of her or visited her all these days - in spite of having been in Thevara for a decade. Thevara-Perumanur community can never forget this family of our doctor, and the bold and beautiful Kochuthresia aunty, who was indeed a support to the sole modern health facility of the locality for over three decades. May the God of peace sancity them through all things, that they be preserved without blame unto the return of the Lord...(1 Thes 5:23)
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