There are journeys that are measured in years, and
there are journeys measured in lives touched. As I retire on 10th May 2026 as
Head of the Department of Medicine from Father Muller Homoeopathic Medical
College, I realize that my life in this institution has been far more than a
professional career. It has been a lifetime of learning, teaching, healing,
friendships, discipline, responsibility, and gratitude.
One of the earliest and most important influences
in my life was Dr P. Narayana Rao (Retired Principal of
Poorna Prjna College, Udupi) and his wife, Madam Vinutha Rao,
who inspired me to choose Homoeopathy as a profession. At a stage in life when
career decisions shape one’s future, their guidance, conviction, and belief in
the healing potential of Homoeopathy left a deep impression on me. Looking back
today, I realize that my entire professional journey at Father Muller’s began
with the influence and motivation they provided. Their role in shaping my path
toward Homoeopathy will always remain one of the most significant blessings in
my life.
I joined Father Muller’s as a student in 1987,
young and uncertain, carrying dreams that were still taking shape. What I
encountered here was not merely an institution, but an environment that shaped
character, intellect, and purpose.
The Fellowship of 1987: Friends Who Became Family
Shiva Prasad, my senior—my dearest friend from those first nervous days. Who could
have imagined that the boy sitting next to me would one day become Principal?
We never envied each other; we only pushed each other to be better.
Arun Kunder, with his
quiet strength. He was never the loudest in the room, but when he spoke,
everyone listened. That quietness was not weakness—it was a deep reservoir of
steadiness that anchored our entire group.
Semparuthi, Mathivanan,
Wilson, Sherin, Lekha, Beena, Manju, Metty, Sr. Mercy, Kalaislvan and
many others that bring an instant smile to my face. Where would our study
groups have been without them? They were always there, solid and dependable. We
shared classrooms, examinations, anxieties, laughter, aspirations, and
the struggles that every student undergoes. We cried over failed tests,
celebrated passing marks like victories, and walked together through the long,
exhausting years of learning to become doctors. Time moved us into different
roles and responsibilities—some became leading clinicians, some moved away,
some rose to heights we never imagined. But the memories of those formative
years remain vivid and deeply cherished.
They taught me that medicine is never a solo
journey. It is a caravan.
The Giants Who Shaped Me: My
Teachers
Among the towering influences in my student life
was our respected Principal, Dr K. A. Joseph. Though he
is no longer with us, his presence continues to remain alive in the values he
instilled in generations of students. He was strict, thought-provoking, and
compassionate all at once. He expected excellence, but behind that firmness was
genuine concern for students and the profession. He taught us that medicine was
not merely about acquiring knowledge, but about developing integrity,
discipline, and responsibility.
I remember with gratitude Dr Varambally,
our Anatomy teacher, who truly loved his students. His affection for teaching
and his concern for learners made Anatomy come alive beyond textbooks and
dissection halls. In many ways, he taught us that teaching is first an act of
caring.
Dr Gautam Ash, who
taught us Anatomy and Surgery, was another remarkable teacher. His clarity in
teaching, depth of understanding, and dedication to students inspired many of
us. It was under him that I later began my teaching career in Anatomy in 1993.
I still remember the responsibility and nervous excitement of stepping into
academics under the guidance of someone I respected immensely.
Dr S. K. Tiwari, our
teacher in Materia Medica and Repertory. Materia Medica and Repertory can be labyrinths, but he made
them feel like gardens. Simple. Logical. Beautiful. He had a rare ability
to simplify difficult concepts. He made learning accessible and practical,
removing fear from subjects that often seemed overwhelming. Later, when he
became Principal after Dr K. A. Joseph, he carried that same simplicity
into leadership.
Dr A. K. Singh first
taught us Physiology and later Medicine. Destiny brought me back to him years
later when he became my Head of Department after I joined as a teacher in the
Department of Practice of Medicine. His guidance during my early years as a
faculty member helped shape my identity as a clinician and teacher.
Dr S. K. Nanda, our
teacher in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, taught with exceptional sincerity.
More than facts and legal procedures, he made us understand the importance of
ethics, rules, regulations, and professional accountability. His lessons remain
relevant even today, especially in a world where medicine constantly faces
ethical challenges.
Dr Sunny Mathew, who
taught Material Medica and Preventive and Social Medicine, transformed learning
into a joyful process. His approachable nature and simplicity in teaching
removed barriers between students and subjects. He reminded us that learning
flourishes best in an atmosphere of encouragement and enthusiasm.
The Pivot: 1993 – Becoming a Teacher and a
Clinician
In 1993, I joined Father Muller’s as a teacher in
the Department of Anatomy under Dr Gautam Ash. Within a year, I
moved to the Department of Practice of Medicine — a department that eventually
became my academic home for more than three decades. From a young teacher
trying to find his footing to eventually serving as Professor and Head of
Department until my retirement in 2026, the journey has been long, demanding,
fulfilling, and deeply transformative.
Over the years, I understood that a teacher is not
shaped merely by degrees or experience, but by students. My students made me a
complete teacher. Every question they asked compelled me to think deeper. Every
clinical discussion sharpened my understanding. Every batch brought new
perspectives, new challenges, and renewed energy. Teaching was never a one-way
process; I learned continuously from those I taught.
My clinical journey began in the OPD as an
assistant to Dr A. K. Singh. Those were my apprenticeship
years—learning not just diagnosis, but how to sit with a patient, how to
listen, how to let silence do its work. Dr Singh was patient with my
inexperience, firm when I needed correction, and generous with his wisdom.
Later, I had the privilege of being a unit head,
and I did not walk that path alone. Alongside me were Dr Shaji Kumar—a
brilliant mind who went on to join CCRH, Dr Praveen Raj, who rose
to become Principal of Alva's Homoeopathic Medical College, and Dr
Amitha Baliga the HoD of Materia Medica. We were not just colleagues;
we were comrades. We debated cases, shared the burden of difficult prognoses,
and celebrated every small victory. To see them grow into the leaders they are
today fills me with pride. It proves that Father Muller's was not just a
workplace—it was a launchpad for greatness.
My patients made me a good clinician. Every patient
carried a story beyond symptoms and diagnoses. They taught me patience,
observation, humility, empathy, and responsibility. Clinical medicine is
ultimately about human beings, and patients remain the greatest teachers for
any physician willing to listen carefully.
Through all these long years, I have been blessed
beyond measure to have walked alongside some of the finest souls in our
college. There was Dr Ramakrishna — not just a skilled
clinician, but a true healer whose very presence made patients feel reassured
and cared for. His calmness and compassion reflected the noblest qualities of
the medical profession. Then there was Dr Guruprasad — a
towering personality in Materia Medica, yet remarkably humble in his approach
to teaching. He never merely transferred knowledge; he inspired students to
think, question, and develop a genuine love for learning. Dr Girish,
our dear Medical Superintendent, was far more than an excellent prescriber. He
was a pillar of quiet strength and wisdom, dependable in every circumstance,
someone whose balanced judgment and calm presence brought stability to those
around him. And Dr Roshan Pinto — ever smiling, ever warm —
transformed the teaching of Organon into something deeply engaging and almost
poetic. His enthusiasm and cheerful spirit had a unique ability to lighten even
the most difficult days. Over time, these individuals became far more than
colleagues or fellow teachers. They became true friends. In the long and
winding journey of my professional life, their companionship, support, and
friendship have been among my greatest blessings — a source of enduring
gratitude that I carry quietly in my heart every single day.
My Department – The Extended family
The Department of Practice of Medicine was not
merely a workplace for me; it became an extended family over the years. Every
colleague brought a unique strength and personality that enriched the
department in different ways. Dr Dolphin was the
uncompromising guardian of rules and academic discipline. Her sincerity,
punctuality, and strict adherence to institutional and academic standards
ensured that the department always functioned with structure and
accountability. Beneath that firmness was a deep concern for students, their learning,
and the quality of academic training. Dr Rajachandra brought
with him an infectious enthusiasm for the finer trivia and fascinating details
of medicine. His curiosity and delight in discussing unusual clinical findings
and lesser-known aspects of medical science kept academic interactions lively
and intellectually stimulating. Dr Nandini, before her marriage and
departure from the college, brought tremendous energy and vibrancy to the
department. Her enthusiasm, active involvement, and youthful spirit added
warmth and momentum to both academic and departmental activities. Working with
such colleagues made the department not only academically productive, but also
a place filled with learning, camaraderie, and memorable moments.
The Silent Pillars: My Family
As I look back, I also recognize the silent
sacrifices made by my family. While I devoted long hours to academics, patient
care, examinations, departmental responsibilities, conferences, and
administrative duties, my parents and family held the fort quietly and
steadfastly. Their support gave me the freedom to pursue my responsibilities
without hesitation.
And somewhere amidst this long professional
journey, my children simply grew up. There is both pride and poignancy in that
realization. Time moves silently. The years we think we are postponing somehow
pass by unnoticed. Yet, despite all the demands of professional life, family
remained my anchor, my strength, and my place of peace.
What I Carry Forward
Retirement may mark the end of official duties, but
the lessons, values, friendships, and experiences gathered over these decades
will continue to remain alive within me.
Retirement is not an end. It is a changing of
rooms. I leave behind my office, my desk, my HOD nameplate. But I carry with me
the stern kindness of Dr Joseph, the love of Dr Varambally, the simplicity of
Dr Tiwari, the nurturing of Dr A. K. Singh, the skill of Dr Gautam Ash,
the joy of Dr Sunny Mathew, the ethics of Dr Nanda, and the laughter of Dr
Shiva Prasad.
Retirement is not an end. But I carry with me the
quiet strength of Arun Kunder. The steady presence of Semparuthi and
Mathivanan. The friendship of Sherin, Lekha, Beena, Manju, Sr. Mercy, Metty,
Kalaiselvan and many others. The friendship and rise of Shiva Prasad, Shaji Kumar,
and Praveen Raj.
I carry the faces of hundreds of students who now
are across the world. I carry the whispered thanks of patients.
As I step away from institutional responsibilities,
I do so with a heart filled not with regret, but with gratitude. Father
Muller's gave me a profession. But more than that, it gave me a purpose.
So on this last evening, I sit quietly. I am not a
Principal. Not an HOD. Not even a Doctor. For a moment I am simply that young
person from 1987, grateful beyond words for the privilege of having served.
To my Teachers: Thank you.
To my Colleagues: Thank you for the journey.
To my Students: You completed me.
To my Patients: You humbled me.
To My Family: You held me up.
And to the restless healer within me—she's not
retiring. She's just beginning to listen.
With folded hands and a full heart,
Dr Kamath, MK
Retired HOD of Medicine, Father Muller HMC
1987 – 1993 – 2026
