Katta metta

Katta metta

Going down the memory lane, there are particular dates/days that stand out vividly in my memories. And one such date is 29th August 1974.

The day started off on a quiet normal note but at lunch time my father gave me the message that I was appointed as a demonstrator in Govt homoeopathic college. I joined my job the same day with a mix of emotions as I was joining the same college I graduated from. Moreover, it sounded to be a rather dicey incidence as I was posted in my friend’s place (he was transferred to another district). I was allotted a social and preventive subject for which the class was scheduled to start the very next day. Thankfully my father who had significant experience in teaching gave me some very useful tips. My first class was an ordeal of course, as the administrators as well as some my senior colleagues were observing the session. To my relief and over my expectations, my 1st class concluded on a successful note. For this I have two of my mentors to thank for - Dr Kishna Rao, who was instrumental in starting Jaisoorya homoeopathic college in Hyderbad, and Dr Siva Shankar, former Addl Director, AYUSH dept Govt of Andhra Pardesh, India. They gave me a chance at teaching as well start my successful career.

Things then went on uneventfully until the year 1976, which was like a sweet and sour soup on a platter of delectable Indian food, as this year marked a new phase in my life – my marriage. I married a Homoeo graduate from a different community much to the consternation and anger of my parents. But with God’s grace and the moral support from my friends, I started my life anew, and carried on with my official work without taking off even a day then (a fact which baffles my daughter to this day). The credit here goes to another mentor, Major Joshi Rao, who helped me immensely in shaping my career.

1982 marked a major event in my life, as my wife and I were blessed with a cute and sparkling baby girl. From then on, we could hardly say life was boring as went through the joyful years of watching our daughter grow. She completed her B.Tech and MBA, and is now working as an Associate Consultant in an MNC at Hyderabad. The credit for her education and her career shaping all goes to my wife who has been a pillar of strength and support for our daughter.

During one of my conversations with Dr Nagabushan Rao, a Neuro-Physician, he said “nobody is going to market your greatness, only you can do it through periodically presenting papers in national seminars and publishing your treated cases in international and national journals.” I took this as a challenge and published my 1st article in the national journal titled “Hahnemann Gleening.” In 1976 I published my 1st International article in British Homoeopathic Journal.

From then on, I presented papers at various national and international level conferences such as Nepal and Sri Lanka International conferences. This paper was on “The study of psychological illness in Prisoners in relation to Sycotic Miasm and childhood exercise induced Asthmas.”

Year 2005 was again a mixed year with sorrow and happiness. I retired from the Government service after successfully serving for 31 years in various capacities lastly as Vice Principal and professor and head of the department of Medicine at JSPS Government Homoeopathic College, Hyderabad.

I was awarded Government Andhra Pradesh best teacher award and it was definitely a life time achievement for me. I felt that at least Government of Andhra Pradesh recognized my talent.

I lost my father, a great teacher and Physician who served the Government of Andhra Pradesh more then two and half decades in various capacities as professor and superintendent in conventional system of medicine. His death created a deep vacuum in my life.