Born to be great

Chennai

Hand of God,  A biography of Dr KM Cherian
Author :  Priya M Menon
Publisher : Times Group
Price :  Rs. 499

Biographies are a tricky genre — especially those of people who continue to stay relevant and are regularly feted for their achievements. No matter how compelling the back story, there is a hesitation in picking up the book for fear that smaller and more personal details of the subject’s life may be overshadowed by his or her vast achievements. In that aspect, Hand of God, A biography of Dr KM Cherian is refreshing. Biographer and author Priya M Menon has been able to crack through the renowned surgeon’s veneer of absolute professionalism to give us engaging glimpses of a childhood spent in the plantations of Kerala to deeply insightful accounts of what inspired his professional choices. What we do know about Dr Cherian, the founding chairman of Frontier Lifeline in Chennai, and the Dr K M Cherian Heart Foundation is that he is India’s leading heart surgeon, a healer of international acclaim for pioneering new treatments and a staunch advocate of organ donation. Having always been a man of science, an interesting dichotomy that comes through in the book is how Dr Cherian’s life appears deeply intertwined with destiny.

The book opens with an anecdote about a prophecy made even before he was born. His mother, Mariamma, was told by a tribal chieftain that her unborn child would be a boy who would become a healer of the heart. We all know how that played out! As the book unfolds, it’s clear that Mariamma herself seemed to have the gift of foresight. Over the years, this ability of hers helped the doctor in a couple of potentially life-threatening situations. The highlights of the narrative are vivid accounts of little Joji’s (as Cherian was affectionately called) childhood in Kayamkulam, a small town in Kottayam, Kerala. This section of the book comes alive with keen descriptions of family members, food (steamed cylinders of puttu and orappam ), pets and classmates (in particular, Kunjumon, the egg predictor, and fly-infested ‘Eecha’). It also makes clear that the rosycheeked child had curiosity and powers of observation that belied his years. Cherian’s honesty while discussing his personal life must be appreciated. Details of his marriage and other inter-personal relationships are often glossed over in biographies, but not in this book.

Yet, the most compelling bits remain the real-life medical drama that was a constant in his life. Not many know that he was on the ill-fated Tamil Nadu Express when it derailed in 1981 and he spent the next eight hours helping the injured; or the medical challenges he faced that led to his famed medical innovations. The doctor’s tone remains neutral and grounded through the crests and troughs of his illustrious career: he speaks of success and failure with the same emphasis, never indulging in the hubris that such monumental achievement often brings. On the downside, a large part of the book is dedicated to matters to record, but that can be forgiven because by the time one comes to page 325, what shines through the entire narrative is the doctor’s passion for his work, ending on the same note of peace echoed by his father in the opening chapter- ‘Thiptiaayi’ (I am content).