A MEMOIR

To be in the proximity and to have a dialogue with VVIPs and VIPs is a rare possible opportunity for a common man. When I started hearing about Miss Anna Mani in 1980s as a world famous scientist , I never had a hope of seeing her once in my life as she was on inaccessible heights in the domain of Science. Anna Mani was an Indian physicist and meteorologist. She retired as the Deputy Director General of Indian Meteorological department and further served as visiting professor at Raman Research Institute, Bangalore. Her main achievements are in the field of Solar radiation, Ozone and Wind Energy Instrumentation. In 1960, Anna Mani started her work on measuring atmospheric Ozone, before the world even understood the Ozone layer's functions. She designed an instrument , Ozonesonde, to measure atmospheric Ozone. She also set up a meteorological observatory at the Thumba rocket launching facility.

Now, let me come to my unexpected meeting and later my close association with her. Anna Mani was succumbed to Parkinson disease during her last decades. She could manage her activities of daily living(ADL) during the initial few years independently. But later, as Parkinson being a progressive disease, she became bedridden . But it was amazing that madam was fully perfect in her intellectual efficiency through out her life and was leading a research project of Government of India. As physiotherapy is an inevitable adjuvant for Parkinson treatment, my service was requested. I attended her regularly for four years. These four years were very valuable for me. She was a very strict lady but humane. She was glad to teach me or anyone all what she knew but the time was limited for me. As you know, that Parkinson is an incurable progressive neurological disorder, the drugs and remedial physiotherapy could only retard the progress of the disease. The Parkinson rigidity transformed her to a bed patient of serious movement disorder. There were two maids to attend her, one postgraduate lady to read out the thesis of the students doing research under her, one driver of her car and wheel chair and her loving mastiff dog, Sony. There were ten scientists working under her in a Govt. Of India project of wind turbine generators installed at various places of South India. She managed all her activities on bed and wheel chair. She was very positive in all her approach. She was a terror, as said by many staff in meteorology, who worked under her. I too felt it true as regards to her dedication to attain the goal. But she was a kitten in personal interaction. It is still mysterious to me how she liked a painful stretching exercise and stressful walking, which, usually majority of my patients try to evade. Madam waited for me at 4.30 pm everyday for a walk 200 steps . I had designed a special gait by which she used her own legs for walking 200 steps. That was the only way she could make an active walking with her rigid legs. She would be exhausted after the physiotherapy and walking. But she thankfully reciprocated her enjoyment and relaxation after physiotherapy. She was gloomy on the days she could not walk. These were the occasions I felt satisfaction on my job.

Madam had an inseparable attachment with her mastiff, Sony, a female dog. She took leave for two days due to the agony once caused by the hysterectomy operation of Sony. Her infatuation for dogs is well known world over. She received around hundred greeting cards from various countries during Christmas and New year, all pictures of different types of dogs in varying expressions. I knew about the different pedigree from these visuals. She wouldn't throw the cards after a glance ,as we all do with ingratitude. She would ask her maids to stick all the cards on all four walls and those would remain there for one month. Madam would become enthusiastically talkative in her low voice of microphonia , when you ask anything about Sony. She said that Sony was her protector from many detrimental situations. Once Sony protected her from being hit by a railway engine while waiting on platform. Sony was trained to give her the three times wrapped tablets exactly when the clock rang. After the day's physiotherapy in the evening, there was a cross country for one kilometer with in the residential area. The team consisted of, madam in wheel chair, the driver, the two maids and the all time companion, Sony. This was the routine for many years. But one day, that disaster happened ! Sony had an inherent habit if sniffing the small holes of the compound walls while walking. One day, while walking together, suddenly she ran back to house compound and fell dead. It was a snake bite from the hole while sniffing ! You can imagine the agony madam went through. Physiotherapy was stopped for one week mourning. Sony was buried in her compound with heavy heart. An attractive monument was built for Sony , who served her selflessly for fourteen years. That monument is still existing in Trivandrum, telling the story of her unbroken love to Anna Mani, even after her sad demise and transfer of possession of that property.

Madam had a close association with our former president, Dr. K R Narayanan since both of them were in UK. Therefore, Dr. K R Narayanan and Mrs. Usha Narayanan visited her twice in Trivandrum when she was bedridden. I was with madam for physiotherapy during both times. Madam introduced me to President and wife. When they visited second time, Mrs. Usha Narayanan asked me, " Mr. Vincent ?" I was thrilled to answer, "Yes madam ". It was a privilege of my profession.

The great advantage , I got by being with these luminaries is that they got enough time to talk to me and share their knowledge from the storehouse of abundance. Their one minute was precious and they were inaccessible during their active days. But when they were with me they were at ease and had plenty of time to dispose. Madam had no faith in any God. I wonder how come an atheist be so humane, generous and affable in life. The curtain fell on that life of dedicated research , magnanimity and philanthropy on 16th August 2001.