“The Leading Hands” is the autobiography of Padmabhushan Dr Jacob Cherian.
It’s the story of an extraordinary journey of life.
A life that reached out to people with open arms and reached up to God in childlike sincerity. In this troubled world, its so easy to get overwhelmed with the futility of it all, and sink into cynicism and apathy. He could have done just that with his humble background and the many hurdles that he had to face. But he was a man who dared to dream again and again in spite of several rude awakenings. He dared to love, again and again though the returns were meagre.
Reading into his life helps us to understand that God still holds the hands of those who reach Him, and guides those who trust Him. Here are a few tit bits from his book to inspire and encourage you (All content from the book “The Leading Hands” has been reproduced after seeking written permission from Christava Sahitya Samithy, Thiruvalla, who have both Published and distributed the Book. We acknowledge their amazing work in putting together this precious book)
Introduction
God has wonderfully guided me and helped me through many miraculous events and episodes during my of 84-years. He answered many of my prayers: some immediately, others delayed, and a few unanswered. Strange are the ways of God! So, I felt an urge and was obliged to share these experiences in writing. I have decided to record them as an offering of gratitude to God who provided all my needs beyond expectations. All hopes and fears, life’s ups and downs, I believe, will encourage many people and will strengthen their faith in our God and Saviour through His wonderful kindness and faithfulness.
Birth
I was born in my mother’s home in a small town called Kottarakara in Kerala. My grandmother, who was a traditional midwife, attended to mother’s delivery. I had tremendous faith and belief in God that He knitted me together in my mother’s womb without any defect. Therefore, on a starry cold night, before the cock crew, my beloved mother brought me forth into this world of light and darkness, happiness and suffering. I was born without any complication.
Childhood
As per the customs, about a month after my birth, I was taken to my father’s place which was a very interior and remote hamlet – hardly accessible by any transport in those days. There was a neither a hospital nor a clinic nearby. By God’s grace, I was not attacked by an severe illness, except for a bout of fever. And by sheer God’s grace, I recovered from that typhoid fever without any complications.
Even my father could not attend on me or take care of me; for, he, being a priest, was too busy to get involved in such temporal chores at home. So, my dearest mother nursed me at home, in addition to a younger brother born in the family by this time. But, to my irreparable sorrow and longstanding grief, he died of severe dysentery, without getting proper medical aid when he was hardly 3-years of age!
As years passed by, I could understand how the Almighty God had protected me through thick and thin, from all major ailments and accidents in a place where a proper medical aid was not readily available. During most of my childhood days my paternal grandmother looked after me. She had to specifically look after me more than my mother, because my mother had to care for my younger brother. Moreover, she had to take care of the farm that was in a remote village. Consequently, I became too much attached to my grandmother in my younger days.
College Studies
The college study, that was just a dream, had become a reality! Taking my school certificates one fine morning, my father’s cousin, Mr Kariachan and I started for Chenganacherry by bus. After reaching there Mr Kariachan, the cloth-merchant, took us to the college Principal. He was a Carmelite Roman Catholic Father, Romeo Thomas, a tall figure. After going through my SSLC mark-list, he asked me what subject (group) I wished to take. I was too ignorant to anser his question then. Hence, after consulting with Kariachan, I told the Principal that I would like to take the first group consisting of Mathematics, Physics and Logic, hoping to become a mathematics teacher after graduation. I chose Syriac as second language instead of Malayalam. My ambition to study was further nurtured when my uncle read my palm and predicted a bright future for me!
I was put in the cheapest hostel, costing Rs 300 per year. Mess fee was only Rs 15 per month. So, the hostel and tuition fee, on an average , came about Rs 25 per month. Because of the 2 nd World war, every food commodity became dear and scarce, particularly because Burma rice was not imported. Every essential commodity was supplied only through ration card. So, all the essential things became so scarce and costly that for every breakfast we were served with one ripe “Nendhrakai”(Kerala Banana) and Uppumavoo(grounded rice pastry which is salty and sweet). Rice and curry was servced only at noon. At night, rice gruel was served with beans. By God’s grace, I got a scholarship, given to the “model” students. The scholarship was of much help to me in those days.
The Catholic fathers were running the college with very strict discipline. All the students in the college and hostel were dealt with very strict discipline, even with regards to religious practices. We, the Protestant students had gathered together for prayer in one of our hostel rooms. My roommate, John Mathew from Chenganoor, was handicapped (post paralytic), who later on became a good mathematics teacher in Govt. High School at Chenganoor. He was so good in teaching that he was given the “Nallasiriar Pattam”(The Best Teacher Award) – a National award given to the best Teacher by the President of India. John was of immense help to share his Tiffin, lend books and notes with me. My father was supporting me inspite of a great financial strain. So, I made up my mind to study well. My friends helped me in solving many problems in my studies. I used to have combined studies with the best students of the class.
Future Ambition
I gave my testimony wherever I went saying “God worked wonders by giving me First Class”. I returned to my college and got admitted for B.Sc course with mathematics as main and Logic and statistics as subsidiary subjects to study. The ambition of becoming a good teacher got changed into becoming a missionary or a Pastor. Moreover, the creditable success in the intermediate examinations confirmed my further in my faith and decision. I used to spend much more time to meet friends in order to share the Gospel and Christian experiences than concentrating on my studies. In this fashion, two years of B.Sc flew away. The final examination came. I could not write the examination for the obvious reason that I did not study well. But to my surprise when the results came, I passed in all the 3 parts.
During an SCM conference in Kottayam, by Gods grace, I came across Dr Yesudasan of the Christhu Kula Ashramam, Thirupathur. He was one of the Leaders at the conference. During the conference, he was kind enough to give me sometime to discuss and pray for the future of my Christian work. Toward the end of my conversation, he invited me for the usual summer camp at the Ashram in May, 1946. My intimate friend and group member, a brilliant boy studying in the 2 nd year Intermediate course, agreed to accompany me to the Ashram for the summer camp. After the University examinations, we both started for the Thirupathur Ashram. When we reached the railway station, we noticed, to our great surprise, that Bishop Abraham Mar Thomas was also boarding the train to go along with us. I was rather scared to face te Bishop because he was the one who had secured a seat for me, with full scholarship in the Theological College at Serampore for the next academic year.
But my father, though a Marthoma priest himself, was not willing to send me for Theological studies and to become an Achen (Pastor/Father/ a priest) of the church. Because, he used to say that I might do evangelical work but not within the constraints of a cassock. This matter was conveyed to the Bishop also.
Nevertheless, we boarded the train going to Thirupathur along with the Bishop. While he was travelling in the first-class compartment, we were in the 3 rd class compartment. At last we all reached Thirupathur Railway Station at about 3pm. As soon as we reached Thirupathur, Periannan (elder brother) – Dr Yesudasan welcomed me hugging with a hearty smile. (He was the one who had invited me to the Ashram for the summer camp). The Ashram had sent a conveyance, a bullock cart, to the railway station to bring the Bishop. Hence, we had no difficulty in reaching the Ashram along with the Bishop. The Bishop was put up with Dr Yesudasan and Dr Paton in the main building meant for the permanent members of the Ashram.
Resolved to become a Doctor
Every evening the Bishop used to call me to write his letters to various people in the church. Them, we used to go for a walk together. During our evening walks, we discussed many things. On one occasion, we were particularly discussing the good prospects of Achen’s children. (No doubt, the discussion turned out to be the deciding point about my future. No doubt that becoming an Achen / becoming a Doctor are both Christian vocations. But while consulting the Bishop and Dr Yesudasan, both were pulling me in two different directions. The Bishop wanted me to go for Theology and become and Achen, While Dr Yesudasan recommended me to become a missionary Doctor.) Finally after a month’s prayerful discussion and exposure to medical work at the Ashram, both of them agreed to becoming a medical missionary doctor, about which I had not even dreamt till that time. As soon as this discussion was arrived at, I remembered what my friend told me about 25 years back that I should become a Doctor. Tossed with this idea, I was then confronted with three problems:
1. In which medical college will I get admission?
2. Where will I get the financial resources to do my medical studies?
3. Am I eligible to be admitted in medical college since I had not taken Chemistry and
Biology at Intermediate level?
I was being burdened by these burning questions. But somehow, I finished one month in the
Ashram, doing some volunteer service in the Ashram-hospital. This was a good novel
exposure for me to do rural medical service in a mission hospital style.