Hidden Gems of Vellore: Stephen B. Hansdak M.B.B.S; M.S
JULY 17, 1931 – AUG. 1, 2002
When Dr. Ida S. Scudder started the one bed hospital in the village of Vellore in south India, she had visions of providing health care to the people of many parts of India. Early in her efforts, she started a school to train nurses and then a college to train physicians. Her efforts under the guidance of her God resulted in the creation of the Christian Medical College and Hospital. Dr. Scudder had the vision of teaching young women and men who would take medical care, with compassion and love, to the various parts of the country and the world. The students who train at Vellore are drawn from all the States of India and some foreign countries. The ethos of CMC Vellore that is exemplified by the graduates of this institution is seen in many parts of this world.
One
of the examples of this great ethos was Dr. Stephen B. Hansdak. He
was my friend and classmate. His story is exciting and his
achievements are fantastic. He was a ‘Hidden Gem’ that was produced by
the vision of Dr. Ida and the grace of the
Lord.
Stephen was born on July 17, 1931 to a Santal family in the village of Dumaria in Jharkand. The Santals are tribals in the areas of Bihar and Jharkand in northern India. He was the 7th child in a family of 10 children. His father, Kistu, was a primary school teacher and part time preacher. His mother, Roshni, did not have an education but raised her children with solid tribal and Christian values.
Stephen was a third generation Christian in that region. When his grandmother was accused of being a witch (dani) and condemned to death by the people, his grandfather, Palu ran away from the village with the entire family, leaving everything behind. They took shelter in the home of the Missionary at the Santal Mission. There they became Christians. Palu went on to become a Pastor. Rev. Palu Hansdak and his wife had 8 children. Kistu was the eldest son and he was Stephens’s father.
The family was very poor and everyone had to work. Stephen herded cows and sheep till the age of ten. In between his jobs, he would attend the mission school. At thirteen, in 1944, he was sent to a Boarding school where he could study full time..
His parents grew vegetables and paid the school fees with the farm produce. Stephen recalls doing laundry for the other boys in the school. He not only earned some money this way but also got free soap to wash his own cloths. Stephen excelled in sports and became the school champion in several events. He did so well in his studies, he came out in the first division in the school final examination.
The Principal of the school was an American Missionary who encouraged Stephen to take up science and biology so that he could become a doctor. Stephen had to turn down this offer due to financial difficulties,. but the Principal was persistent and obtained a scholarship from the church. With this help, Stephen was able to complete his college requirement then apply to CMC Vellore to study medicine.
Stephen started his medical studies in 1955. This is where I first met him. Though he would talk constantly, it was nearly 30 years later before I found out why. Stephen knew that his command of spoken English was not good even though he could read and write it well. So, he told me many years later, he was practicing his English on me every chance he got. He did so well that he got the first prize in Physiology and completed all his classes in record time. He graduated in 1961 with the degree of M.B., B.S.
In May 1961, Stephen and his wife Alice joined the Mohulpahari Christian Hospital in Dumka, Jharkand. This is in the heart of the Santal tribal area. In 1965, they returned to Vellore for postgraduate studies. Stephen did his Masters in Surgery and Alice did hers in Nursing. They returned to Dumka in 1968. The American Missionary, Dr. Kristopher Hagen, handed over the position of Medical Superintendent to Stephen in December 1969. He held that position till 1996 when he retired at the age of 65. During that period, the hospital grew from 75 beds to 130 beds. A nursing school offering general nurse/midwifery course was also started. In 1986 a new hospital building was constructed. The entire institution was made self supporting under the leadership of Stephen and his team of nurses, staff, administrators and doctors.
Stephen received the Paul Harrison award in 1988. His son has taken up the banner and continues the surgical practice that his father started in Mohalpahari.
Hansdak family. Dec. 2001
This I believe fulfills one of the visions of Dr. Ida Scudder.. Take simple folks like Stephen and Alice Hansdak, train them to be excellent clinicians and teachers and send them to the remotest parts of the world to practice good medicine, show the love of God and to continue the work by passing it on to the next generation. And few people at CMC ever realized what this simple tribal boy accomplished!
.
Stephen B Hansdak. 1931 – 2002.
WELL DONE, YOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.
You are a “GEM” and you exemplify the vision of our founder.
Mani M. Mani
Member, Board of Directors
Photos by Mani M. Mani
