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| Father Gabriel, Amala Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Thrissur |
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89-year-old Father Gabriel has been leading a well-earned retired life for the past 8 years. But before that, for 5 decades he had toiled in different capacities – as teacher, priest, researcher and more importantly, as founder and head of Amala Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, one of the leading cancer institutes in India.
After completing his theological studies, Father Gabriel went on to study biology. Being the 2nd rank holder in the State, he went on to study B.Sc at Presidency College, Chennai.
Next he took up the post of head of Biology Department at Sacred Heart College, Thevara. In 1956, with the cooperation of the people of Iringalakkuda, he founded the Christ College, Iringalakkuda in a 60-acre campus. By excelling in academics, sports and arts, the college rose to become the No.1 in South India. The UGC Commission, which visited the college at that time, adjudged it the best college in India. For 19 years, till 1975, he was the principal of the college.
In the same year, the Kerala Cancer Society approached him to start a hospital for the treatment of the dreaded disease. Although his visit to the West to gather money for the venture did not prove successful, he was able to network the heads of commerce in Thrissur to sponsor a ward each in the hospital. Thus in 1977, in the 40-acre valley of Vilangankunnu, the foundation stone for the hospital was laid.
In 3 years this institution was inaugurated. Besides cancer, the hospital has facilities for other departments as well as ayurveda and homoeopathy. In addition, he did the more daring thing of starting a research wing in the hospital. Now it is a leading research centre recognized by Indian Council for Medical Research.
He has been honoured for his work in education and healthcare with the All Kerala Catholic Congress award in 1994, Share and Care award of US based Malayalis in 1996 and Man of the Century award of the newspaper, Telegragh in 2000.
Courtesy: Prabeesh P. Nandakumar, Malayalam Weekly, March 28, 2003
Contributed by: Administrator
