Walking the way

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Walking the way
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Walking the way
s 1 reflect on my 22 years of association with my
Community Health guru, late Prof. George Joseph,
many memories come alive— memories ot inspira­
tion. memories of learning in humility, by precept and ex­
ample. memories of faith stimulus and personal challenge,
memories of time spent together in dialogue and interactive
discussions, memories of encouraging letters and notes of
concent and memories of a twinkling eye. a serious frown, a
benevolent smile...
: first met Professor George Joseph at the Centre for Com­
munin’ Medicine. All India Institute of Medics’. Science
( ATMS) Delhi in June 1976. "The
twinkle and tear in his eye" was the
re; eg’.ution that 1 had found my guide
— e guide who could deeply under­
stand at the spirit level what this
meant to me.
Within weeks, we PGs discovered
that here was a man who stood head
and shoulders above his peers in the t ■
deoartment. and the increasing tribe
of community medicine faculty in the >
country because of:
• his strong commitment to the
poor, the dispossessed and keenness to reach the unreached,
his intense simplicity and humility bom out of his deep Chris­
tian discipleship:
• his strong conviction that community medicine was not
theoretical philosophy but eminently 'do-able' community
level health action: and
• his infectious enthusiasm for a subject and approach
that was still by and large rejected by mainstream medicine
in the country.
Learning by doing, teaching through persona! example,
learning by informal, non-hierarchical interactive dialogue,
and converting ‘disaster’ to opportunity were some of the
deeper lessons 1 carried home from the A11M S — thanks to
this Gurudiksha.
He taught us that as long as the community health ap­
proach spreads, it matters little who takes the credit for it.
even it colleagues from the same or other department pinch
your ideas and bask in its success. To him community' medi­
cine and community health was an attitude of mind, not just
a speciality , and problems of‘turf' were never his concern.
He was a facilitator, a catalyst, ‘leaven’ par excellence, and
ii-c taught by example that this could be a professional style,
not only part of a faith dimension.

From 1984. he became a member of the three ‘wise men'
council for our new CHC initiative and we remember the
hours spent with him exploring the dynamics of the CHC
experiment. He savoured even' little detail and the mern
twinkle in his eye as he heard about ‘ideas’ moving into ac­
tion was a joyous inspiration. Problems and difficulties were
not obstacles - just bridges to be crossed and the work had to
continue. He lived simply, travelled simply, behaved simply
but thought highly and inspired highly... I
He actively supported the groMh of CHC. from a study­
reflection-action-experiment to a more formal registered So­
ciety for Common Health Awareness.
If Research and Action, becoming one of
its founder-members. In spite of his
B poor health, he came to as many
fe meetings as he could or sent words of
K advice and encouragement. His
< guidance was always incisive, pro-poor.
action-promoting. He listened, he
to enjoyed, he cherished and he acknowlK edged.
In April 1998. CHC reached its 15th
milestone and we were looking forward
to his reflections in person at the review
meeting. However, he was hospitalized and so he wrote his
last bits of advise from the 1CU hospital bed :
But the tasks/challenges ahead while it continues to play
the role as a ‘think-tank ’laboratory of ideas, and a Resource
Centre there is an urgent need to cany out a planned epi­
demiological study taking into account the fast-changing
health scenario, consequent to the shifting demographic pat­
tern. and the impact of national policy and the political
economy, certainly, the impact ofLPG (liberalization, pri­
vatization. globalization). The study should be on behalf of
the ‘poor and the marginalized' taking into account their
needs and 'wants' and ofbeing twice/thrice alienated and
still as recipients ofthe crumbs being thrown at them by the
extant health system which includes the blooming private
sector.
As usual supporting, encouraging, stimulating, and
provoking. That was the man. That was Prof. George Joseph.
While thanking providence for the gift of such a wise coun­
sellor. we in CHC would have paid him the greatest tribute if
we can make these exhortation and dreams even more viable.
May his life continue to inspire us! ■
/>/• Ravi Narayan. Communi tv J tea Ith Cell, lianyaloit
(CMJI. Vo! /■/. Number I. Jan-Mar 199lh
Health Action • November '99

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