My father was a strict man. But he was a hard-working doctor who tried his best to help all his patients in the Ulu Remis hospital. I honor and respect my father because he always tried his best to support his family.
This blog is a humble way to shower praises on my father and honor his name! He went through a lot of challenges in life. As a young person he loved his mother and was unfortunate that his father died when he was just 19 years old. My grandfather had 9 children and he was quite poor. However, my grandmother was the iron lady who took care of all her children and was attached to her husband.
At the age of 17 years old, my father left India for Malaysia, accompanying his older brother’s wife (Mrs. Cherian) for her journey to Malaysia after her marriage to my uncle (Dr. Cherian). He joined the INA (Indian National Army), that was led by Subhas Chandra Bose (born on January-23-1897 and died on August-18-1945), during the second World War.
My father was just around 20 years of age at the time he joined INA during the second World War. Subhas Chandra Bose was the leader who believed in fighting for India’s independence from the British, and greatly inspired my father. My father did not believe in the non-violent movement led by Mahatma Gandhi (born on October-02-1869 and assassinated on January-30-1948).
As an achievement, my father fought in the second World War (1941 to 1945). He also served as a medical standby in the group led by Subhas Chandra Bose. In fact, my father worked closely with Subhas Chandra Bose for the time that he was a soldier. My father used to tell us many stories about his World War experiences.
He went through a lot of hardships and torture by the British and Japanese. He went to prison and was proud to serve as a POW (Prisoner of War). He believed that he was one of the soldiers who fought for India’s independence. He had witnessed the severe torture by the Japanese, when they used to force Indian soldiers to drink soap water, and jump on their abdomens. Many soldiers died through these extreme measures but my father was spared by God’s grace!
My father was never recognized for his services. His other friends received monetary compensation from the Government of India. This was something that my father regretted for a long time.
After the war ended, my uncle obtained a job for my father in Malaysia. My father started his career as an assistant doctor to his older brother (Dr. K. M. Cherian). After that, he got married on May-29-1950 and brought my mother to Malaysia. In the early part of 1956, my father moved to Ulu Remis and became the head doctor. He took along our mother and two older sisters.
He worked in the same hospital till 1969. However, he lost his job and we, as a family came to India. My father wanted to live the rest of his life in his own hometown. He achieved his goal and took care of educating all his four children.