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September 19, 2004  

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  ANNAMMA JACOB: FROM DEATHBED TO BUSINESS AND LATER
Annamma Jacob, Ramapuram, Pala, Kottayam

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25 years ago as Annamma Jacob received the last rites on her deathbed in a Military Quarters in Ambala, all the onlookers wept, yet a mysterious smile lighted her face. But life refused to leave her body which had by then been paralysed below the waist. Still, the doctors said that the paralysis would spread above the waist and result in the fatal collapse of the lungs.

As Annamma prayed from the sincerity of her helplessness to grant her strength, a change seemed to occur in her condition. Brought to Sri Chitra Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, half her body regained its movement by the efforts of Dr.Mathew Cherian and Dr.Radhakrishnan. And when her condition improved enough for her to move in a wheelchair with the help of someone, she began to think of future plans.

In 1965, Annamma had won the first prize in a national level elocution competition conducted by Malayala Manorama Balajana Sakhyam. Her friends had half jokingly said at that time that she would be living by her tongue. This became prophetically true as she plunged into business. What started as a small venture was soon the Kerala distributor for 6 multinational companies including Johnson & Johnson.

But the ups and downs that is this life continued its tidal effects there too. The organisation that had a daily turnover in the range of lakhs of rupees soon got into red. By the time she realised what was happening, her trusted lieutenants had sabotaged the enterprise and withdrawn its money from the bank. Her plea to the court was unsuccessful and she who had not wept while receiving the last rites was inconsolable.

But for someone who suffered 4 other paralytic attacks after the Ambala episode, loss of business was not the end of the road. Her family of traditional doctors has the secret of a scented coconut oil, which she is now trying to bring out on commercial basis.

Mother of 3 daughters, Annamma considers self confidence as her strength. And her view to face life: never look at those better off than you, but consider those less fortunate.

 

 

 

 

Courtesy: VR, Vanitha, March 15-31, 2004

Contributed by: Administrator

 

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