To Diptipur, with love

  They say you are never the same again after you have travelled in the East.  Five years there in the 1960s and a return trip 13 years ago had whetted my appetite for more.  Added to that, I have made further friends and connections with Orissa in the past two years, so it was rather like coming home when our aeroplane finally touched down in Bhubaneswar.

  My friend, Linda, and I travelled from east to west within the state, and Bishop Samson Das had planned a wonderful, extensive tour for us, seeing much of his diocese and many places where Geoffrey and I had lived and visited as a family in the 1960s.

  The journey from Cuttack to Diptipur, on 3rd December, took more than eight hours.  The roads were not good.  Samson's vehicle was comfortable, though full of luggage and passengers (Dr Rajnish Samal's wife and daughter travelled with us).

  As we entered Diptipur, our vehicle had a puncture.  We phoned Rajnish, who came to pick us all up.  It was good to meet him after all the emails and phonecalls and, as we drove along, everything was so familiar: the hospital, church, school, bungalows, agricultural project and the children's hostels.

  The hospital buildings were looking smart.  A work party from north London had done some painting - and the staff had been busy with paint brushes too.  There is still plenty of work, though, for willing helpers.

  After settling into our room in the Samals’ bungalow, we were ready for a shower, followed by a meal of rice and curry with the medical staff.  It was good to meet Dr Henry's wife, Nancy, again.  The last time we had met was in 1961 at language school in South India.

  We were up at 6am and met 30 of the hospital staff for prayers at 7.30am.  After this, Rajnish, Dr Paul and Dr.Dip did their hospital rounds.  We saw the operating theatre, the eye theatre, labour room, pharmacy and so on.  We also saw the leaking roofs.

  There were seven eye patients in one ward on whom Dr Paul had operated the previous day, and we said ‘namaska’ to other patients and new mothers with their babies.  After breakfast, there was time to take in the surroundings, to greet other guests arriving for the Golden Jubilee celebrations, to meet people who knew me from years gone by and to realise how much work had gone into organising such a gathering.

  Lunch and dinner was fitted in - both meals comprised delicious rice and curry - and so we went to bed early to prepare for the big day.

  Up at 6.45am, we were at prayers at 7.30am.   

  Everything was being prepared for the celebration -- the enormous brightly coloured pandal (tent), the stage, flowers, garlands, chairs, music, singing items, drumming and dancing.

  Dr Rajnish had done a marvellous job and everyone was playing their part to make the day a success.

  We ate breakfast of chapati and vegetable curry following which, we went to see the feast being prepared for 500 guests.

  It was time to change into our best salwar kameez (bought in the Indian clothing shops in Luton) and make our way to the pandal for the 10.30am start.

  The welcome song sung by the nurses and Dr Ipsita Dip began the proceedings at 11 am. There followed prayers, Bible readings, the giving of garlands, welcomes, special songs, the director's report, the introduction of chief guests, addresses, other messages and memories, the giving of gifts and, finally, votes of thanks, prayers and benediction, a closing song, the distribution of sweetmeats and some Oriya dancing. It had been three hours of happy jubilee celebrations and a wonderful day.  The weather was perfect.  And the feast was delicious.

  Before ending the day with the hospital staff, we went to the school to talk to the teachers and the pupils - and to see that they, too, need money - to provide sufficient desks and seats for each pupil and to repair the leaking roof.  The small toys, pens, crayons and Linda's teddies that I had brought from the UK I took to school the next day for the teachers to give to their own children and grandchildren.

  Our last full day in Diptipur was spent in going carefully and painstakingly around the hospital buildings and grounds with Dr Rajnish, talking about the future plans for staff and buildings, seeing the many jobs which need to be done and the immediate priorities.

  He is so committed and yet life is not easy for him and his family.  We felt that the least we could do is to help in whatever way we can and to give support and encouragement.  Later, we were taken to a nearby leper colony to meet staff and patients.

  Our final meal together with the hospital staff was cooked by Rajnish's wife, Litty.  I was very tempted to say ‘yes’ to Rajnish's request to go back.

  At 6.30 the next morning, we left on the 12 hour drive over to the east coast through the hilly Khandmal district - home to the present troubles.

  The most recent news from the hospital - received in January - is that in-patient numbers at the eye hospital are rising, and the outpatients’ department is keeping increasingly busy too.

Aileen Hagan.