News has just reached us that our very dearest Thangammakochamma (83), Mrs. John Matthan, wife of my late father's younger brother, who made a name for himself in the Indian Railways, passed away yesterday in Bangalore after heart failure. Omenakochamma (wife of my cousin Ajit Matthan) and my godmother, Chinchaya (Mrs. M. M. Thomas) had given me news that Thangammakochamma had been in hospital and had been ailing for the last few months.
Born on 14th December 1921, she was a member of the well-known Dr. Peter family of Trichur. Two of her sisters are extremely well known, Chinnammakochamma, Mrs. K. M. Philip, of Bombay, wife of my mother's surviving elder brother, and Mollykochamma, wife of Jollychayan (Dr. V. Kurian), known internationally as Amul Kurian of Anand.
Thangammakochamma was known in her own right as well as the wife of Johnnyappapen who was an outstanding sportsman, including in his later years as a golfer of some repute. Johnyappapen was a Pope Medal winner from Bishop Cotton's Boys' School. He joined the Railway Engineering College at Jamshedpur. Together they built a glorious career travelling all over India as well as the world as they modernised the Indian Railway industry. We used to love to visit their Railway salon when they arrived in Bombay Victoria Terminus Station.
Mr. J. N. Iyer, retired from Indian Railways as Additional Chief Electrical Engineer, wrote on the Internet in an article entitled A Saga of Achievement - An Untold Story from Indian Railways
"With active support from the new General Manager, Mr. John Matthan, one of the finest persons with whom this writer has worked, the Electrical and Mechanical Engineers of ICF set about designing the two-tier AC Sleeper coaches and AC Chair Cars, with yet-to-be-developed indigenous equipment. The Power equipment consisted of axle-driven 18 Kilowatt brushless alternators with V-belt drive, 800 Ah lead-acid battery and controls. The concept of brushless alternators and V-belt drive was new to Indian Railways. Such high capacity battery sets also had not been used in the past or manufactured in India."
Johnnyappapen was a man of few words, while Thangammakochamma could keep an audience rapt in their seats with her non-stop chatter. Together, they made a wonderful couple, full of life and vibrant. We all loved Thangammakochamma and looked forward to her visits to our home as we could get all the news in an interrupted and delightfully explicit manner. When they lived in Railway Baug in Colaba in Bombay, I used to rush over to their house at any opportunity, as it was always an interesting couple of hours in Thangammakochamma's company. And Johnnyappapen used to treat us youngsters as one of his own friends. Neither of them ever talked down to us youngsters.
When Johnnyappapen was tragically struck down by a speeding lorry on 22nd January 1989, far away here in Finland, Annikki and I felt the tremendous loss. Thangammakochamma was obviously affected most of all as her life-long companion was snatched from her in the prime of his retirement.
Today, they are together in spirit till the day of resurrection will once again join all these souls together.
From Finland I would like to convey our sorrow to all Thangammakochamma's surviving family members as we mourn someone we loved very deeply.
No comments:
Post a Comment