As a former boss celebrates his father’s birthday, some reflections
By Shevlin Sebastian
Vinod Mathew was the Resident Editor of the New Indian Express, Kerala,
for a little more than eight years, until March 31, 2019. I was part of his
team as a feature writer. Now and then, during our conversations, he would talk
about his father, AM Chacko. He was a retired Additional Labour Commissioner.
But he now worked as a farmer, was very active in the church, and played
badminton daily.
Three years ago, Chacko Sir had a stroke. It occurred at 6 a.m., while
he was waiting to be picked up by another player. This happened to be the local
parish priest Fr P K Chacko.
The priest noticed that Chacko Sir’s voice had slurred. He immediately
informed Vinod in Kochi. Thereafter, he made Chacko Sir change from his
badminton gear into a shirt and trousers. Fr. Chacko drove him to the
Pushpagiri Medical Hospital, seven kilometres away. Because of Chacko Sir’s
high level of fitness and the swift treatment, he made a full recovery. Today,
he continues to play badminton and arrives at the court every day at 6.30 a.m.,
the first in the over-sixty category to do so.
I had never met Chacko Sir. But when Vinod and his family were going to
celebrate their father’s 90th birthday, he invited a few of his former
colleagues. Along with former News Editor Anoop Thomas and his wife Elsy Paul,
we journeyed to Tiruvalla.
At the function, Vinod said the reason the family decided to celebrate
it was because his father had told him, “There is no point talking good things
about me after I die. Then I cannot hear it. So, better do it when I am alive.”
This statement struck me. In Kerala or India praise is rare. But we are
quick and relentless with our criticisms. Unlike the West, we don’t honour and
celebrate the achievers in our midst, unless they are celebrities.
I was keen to meet Chacko Sir, because, like him, I have been exercising
daily for over thirty years. In the earlier years, it would be a run, but now
it is six days of swimming while the seventh is devoted to running.
There is a difference in the body language of those who exercise daily
and those who don’t. Those who do have a lightness about them as they walk
about. Those who don’t, tend to move ponderously, as they grow older, and put
on weight and lose their sharpness (sorry guys, couldn't avoid taking this
potshot!).
It was a wonderful event. Many people showered praise on Chacko Sir.
They included bishops, priests, parishioners, friends, relatives and former
colleagues. Chacko Sir has led an exemplary life, always smiling, and helping
people in whatever way he could. And when I shook Chacko Sir’s hand, his grip
was firm. He exuded an aura of positivity.
Much later, my former colleague Chandrakanth Viswanath, who now works
for News18.com, told me
a telling anecdote.
After lunch, when Chandrakanth was washing his hands, Chacko Sir was
standing there. And when some of his badminton club colleagues cheered him, he
raised both his arms skywards. “That shows how spirited he is,” said
Chandrakanth.
But this is not to forget Chacko Sir’s wife, Aleyamma, who turns 90 on
December 29, and has been the rock of the family. They have been married for 61
years. Aleyamma retired as Regional Assistant Director, Social Welfare
Department, after a 30-year career. The couple have four children – Vinod,
Vineetha, Veena and Vidya.
It was good to meet former colleagues. Anoop stole the show with his
flamboyantly colourful shirt, his goatee, his flowing hair, and a black beret.
Many people thought he was a film personality. On the opposite pole was the
always low-key Anil S. He had come all the way from Thiruvananthapuram, 118 kms
away.
As usual, we exchanged news about other colleagues and the state of the
print media.
Chandrakanth spoke about the joys and troubles his wife Geethu
experienced as she set up a publishing company. This turned out to be an
eye-opener.
It was good to connect with people. In book-writing mode these days, I
rarely meet anybody. It is solitary and silent. I spend a lot of time staring
at walls.
After the formal function, we went to Chacko Sir’s 55-year-old home. It
had received a fresh coat of paint and looked as new as ever. Vinod spoke about
the history of the family by pointing at photographs on the walls. I also saw
the current extended family.
Vinod’s daughter-in-law, Vanshikha Narain Saigal, is from Lucknow. When
I asked her whether she knew Malayalam, she sweetly said, “Korichu Korichu (a
little).”
She spoke about another reality: of travelling on expressways from Noida
to Lucknow, with her husband, Aaron, touching speeds of 160 kms per hour in
their car. Vanshikha also reminisced about her pet dog, a Lhasa Apso with the
name of Bailey, which is now being looked after by her brother since she is out
of town.
Listening intently was Pradeep Pillai, of News18 Kerala, who had a ready
smile on his face. His handshake was as firm as Chacko Sir’s. And his joie de
vivre was visible on his face. It helped that it was a rainy day and the
climate was very pleasant.
Following tea, and many goodbyes, on our return, Anoop and I engaged in
a host of topics. Since we ignored Google Maps, it was inevitable we would go
down the wrong road, turn around, go left and right, so that we could talk
uninterruptedly. But inevitably, we reached a road where Anoop knew the way
back. So, we reached Kochi at 8 p.m. And I hopped on a Metro train to go home.
It was a day when an elderly eminence gave a subtle but powerful message
on how to age gracefully.
Thank you, Chacko Sir!
