Medical Superintendent – Dr. Saramma Kurien, “Vanitha Ratnam”

Medical Superintendent –

Dr. Saramma Kurien, “Vanitha Ratnam”

Taluk Hospital, Vaikom (1974–77)

Dr. Kanam Sankara Pillai

9447035416 | drkanam@gmail.com ⸻

written by ChatGPT

I have known many women in life—teachers, classmates, colleagues, staff, and patients. Most of them did not remain long in memory. But there is one “Vanitha Ratnam” (Jewel among Women) I can never forget: Dr. Saramma Kurien, retired Additional Director of Health Services, Vakathanam Onnattu family, who passed away recently at the age of 93. ⸻

Encounters

I first saw Dr. Saramma Kurien during my MBBS clinical training at the District Headquarters Hospital, Kottayam. At that time, the senior civil surgeons included Dr. Anna K. Dan of the Kalarickal family (aunt of Dr. Sam Mathew Kalarickal, the “Father of Angioplasty in India”) and Dr. Saramma Kurien. Dr. Saramma specialized in family planning procedures. I first witnessed a Post-Partum Sterilization (PPS) while she performed it. (Male sterilizations—vasectomies—were then conducted by Aravindakshan Nair, who later became Director of Health Services. After retirement, he worked at James Hospital, Mavelikkara. Once, when my child needed an emergency appendix operation at midnight, he performed it without hesitation, and even waived the fee. Such medical ethics are rare today.) ⸻

Joining at Vaikom After completing my DGO from Kottayam Medical College, I approached District Medical Officer Dr. Anna K. Dan to rejoin service. She directed me to Vaikom Taluk Hospital. I hesitated, as Vaikom was known then as a “stronghold of communists.” But Dr. Dan insisted: “You’ll get excellent practice there. And above all, the superintendent is our own Saramma.” Thus I joined Vaikom as the first qualified gynecologist. Although my examination results were still pending, Superintendent Dr. Saramma Kurien gave me full freedom to practice independently. She allotted beds for my patients, provided facilities for my surgeries, and extended support that most civil surgeons of that era never would. ⸻

A Supportive Mentor Dr. Saramma would call me for her own cesarean sections and hysterectomies, and allowed me to call her for mine—at midnight or dawn—she came without hesitation. She never scolded, never criticized, never obstructed. She showed no jealousy over the practice I was gaining. Instead, she encouraged me—even lending me her own driver so I could learn driving. This was rare. In those days, most senior civil surgeons harassed juniors, blocking their practice rather than supporting them. Many senior lady doctors in health services acted like “goddesses of wrath” toward juniors. Unfortunately, even in medical colleges, the attitude was not very different. Later, when I worked under Dr. Irene Skinner, Superintendent of Thycaud Women & Children’s Hospital, I faced the opposite experience. Though I prepared her radio talks, she repaid me by blocking two of my increments. ⸻

Lasting Impressions Once, Dr. Saramma told me her daughters had seen her struggles and did not wish to become doctors. Later, I believe at least one of them did. After leaving Vaikom, I never met her again. I failed to note her hometown or contact number. Though I asked many, I could not find her while she lived. Only through the newspaper did I later learn that she belonged to Vakathanam, and that she had passed away. Forty-four years had passed in the meantime. It gave me a deep sense of loss—that I could not thank her personally once more. ⸻

Conclusion Among all the women I have known in my lifetime, this “Vanitha Ratnam” remains unforgettable. I pray for eternal peace for Madam’s soul, and share in the grief of her family.