Written by Ashly Thankachan
“Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance”. The Sixties lead us to a different perspective of life. The interactive session started with an answer to one question “sir do you have anything to say to the younger generation? The reply made us laugh “I am the young Generation”.
A doctor, a professor, 24 years of service in the Armed Forces in Regimental, Research, Staff, Instructional and Command appointments in the Army Medical Corps; Col (Dr) VMP Thomas firmly believes that “good childhood exposure and family background helps a child to become a good citizen. The parents have a great role in their offspring’s character molding and behavioural development. Mr VT Mathew and Mrs Annamma Mathew were part of a liberal family that helped their three children not only to be successful in their careers but to be good human beings.
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”. He was a bright student and active in his academics and extracurricular activities. Basketball, Volleyball, football etc, helped him to get more focus and active in his school and college years. He learned ‘never to give up from his father and ‘have a sense of integrity, perseverance, and sincerity from his mother.
1971 Indo – Pakistani war inspired him to be a part of the big organization “INDIAN ARMED FORCES”. His career started at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, which transformed him from a “young boy to a young man”. From 1981 Jalandhar (Punjab), his internship and first posting, to posting across the country in both peace and field formations and the fortune to have worked under the active supervision of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in DRDO helped him to be a strong and disciplined citizen. He said about this situation as “Challenges make us strong”.
Being an independent, strong man is a big challenging task in everyone’s life. People are afraid of death in old age. When he got to know that the friend who was in the college passed away, he felt that “everybody dies but I believed in immortality”. It’s quite impressive to understand the reality. As he faced difficult health conditions twice in his life, he realized that 'positivity' is very important in our life. He said that one has to think positively even in near-death situations. It surprised me no end as to how a person can think positively during the most difficult situations. On being asked his opinion about suicide which is one of the leading causes of death among young adults he said that “We have only one life, I can’t think how people commit suicide. Life is precious”. The best qualities he maintains in his life are calmness, analyzing situations, and facing situations with optimism.
“In the journey of life, he values the companionship and understanding of his spouse Dr Becky M Thomas. He believes that a happy and supportive family life will help us to be strong and to endure. The motto that he abides by in life is “BE HAPPY, AND BE POSITIVE”
The session has inspired me a lot and it ends up with a funny question “do you treat yourself, doctor”. The reply made a beautiful smile on his face. “If you treat yourself, you have a fool as a patient and knave as a doctor”. I always learned so many things from him like calmness, professionalism, work ethics, etc. I wish him good health and fortunes in his entire life and people will get inspiration from his presence.
