Heart Matters: The Heart does not understand religion – Part 3

Chennai

Famous Actor Padmashree Kamal Haasan & Arcot Nawab were personally present at Frontier Lifeline to bid farewell to the 20 Iraqi children who were in the PINK of health as they returned to their nation after successfully recovering from life saving complex surgeries.

Kindness has no boundaries. Colour knows no language. Congenital heart disease, which could not be treated in Iraq, had made the children blue. In the 1st week of March 2004, Dr K.M. Cherian received an email & a call from an old friend who had trained along with him in the University of Alabama, USA. He was then working as Prof. of Paediatric Cardiology in the University of Miami, Florida. He enquired whether Dr. Cherian would operate on 20 Iraqi children with complex congenital heart diseases Free of Cost. Frontier Lifeline, still in its infancy, agreed to do so, if they were together at the same time.

The repeated attempts by the former Air Force Doctor to get a special air force flight for the  children failed. However after a news report,   the Christian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) of New York, offered free tickets for the 20 children and 20 attendants to travel to India. The children, most without parents and sheltered in a destitute home in Baghdad, had been identified by the Jewish organization “Brothers Together” of Shevet Achim.  Mr. Jonathan Miles of the organization accompanied them to India.

Medical investigations revealed that all the children suffered from complex heart defects and presented blue baby symptoms. They were operated upon within a week of their arrival. When they departed for Iraq on March 20th, His Holiness Sri Jeyendra Saraswathi Swamigal came to bless them and bid farewell as well.

Dr. Cherian who performed the surgery, is seen with them. This humanitarian act had far-reaching international repercussions. Four Indian truck drivers taken as hostages from Kuwait were being held in Iraq. Efforts by the Indian Foreign Ministry towards their  release failed.  Mr. E. Ahmed, the then Honourable Minister of External Affairs of India contacted Dr. Cherian and requested him to appeal for the release of the hostages. Dr. Cherian, though willing, wondered, “Will my voice have any impact?”

However, Mr. Ahmed arranged for an audio clip from Dr. Cherian through AIR in which Dr. Cherian highlighted the humanitarian aspects and charity extended to the 20 Iraqi children by Indians. He appealed to the Iraqi officials to release the Indian hostages as a reciprocal token of good will. The hostages were released the next day. It is unclear whether it was due to Dr. Cherian’s  heart-felt appeal, reflecting his care for human lives or the miracle & mercy on the part of the Iraqi officials.  

“This gesture, although related to medical care, transgressed all boundaries to save four families. Kindness is definitely more powerful than aggression.” Here is another example of harmony. MUSLIM children identified by a JEWISH organization, supported by an American Christian organization (CBC) and operated by an Indian (HINDU) team headed by a CHRISTIAN doctor.

‘The heart knows no boundary The heart knows no religion’ Dr. Cherian quotes Henry Burton’s words, “Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on.” This is the miracle.

The writer is Director of X Factor Group of companies