( Dr V T D’Souza, now a consultant Homoeopath in the city, had served as chief Homeopathic physician for 33 long years from 1959 to 1992 at Fr Muller's and the late Dr Mody had been his long-time colleague and associate. We couldn't have got a more competent person to write an authentic eulogy in honour of the dear departed. - Editor)
October 10, 2006
Mangalore: He was the first physician to be appointed by the Fr Muller Charitable Institutions on November 1, 1955.
Born in Ahmedabad and with post graduate qualifications from Mumbai, he served the Institutions till the end of his days, breathing his last at Ahmedabad on October 7, 2006 at the age of 83.
A warm hug from the then Bishop Basil S D'Souza (now deceased) on the occasion of Dr Mody's completing 60 years of life
Being felicitated by a junior colleague
Being garlanded by the late Bishop as the erstwhile director and present parish priest of Bendur, Fr Peter Noronha looks on
In an era of paucity of qualified physicians and when the specialists and super-specialists were yet to enter the field, Dr Mody served the Institutions as the sole physician with tremendous zeal and enthusiasm, making his name synonymous with that of the Institutions. He would be found at the bedside of the patients by day or night whenever he was called. This was in addition to the thorough daily rounds of the entire medical wards, when the number of patients was almost a hundred.
Occasionally he was called to operate the Boile’s apparatus for giving anaesthesia to the patients of Dr P Venkat Rao who was a Titan in surgical profession.
To me he was the ‘truest friend’. But when it came to Homoeopathy, he was ruthless with his criticism, yet remaining a “noblest foe”. He would do anything necessary for my family, especially when I was away often on Homoeopathic work in Bangalore or New Delhi.
Whenever he was out of station, I had to look after the entire medical ward in his absence. I was entrusted with this responsibility, as I was then working closely with him and I myself had been fully equipped with very good allopathic training at the Holy Family Hospital, Ranchi. While I was looking after his patients, I was careful enough to refer any unfavourable case at the right moment to the Chief Medical Officer.
A rare picture of three great associates at Fr Muller - the writer of the tribute, Dr V T D'Souza, is seen offering a memento to Fr Marian Fernandes, the then director of Fr Muller institutions, on his completing 50 years of life, as the late Dr Venkat Rao and Dr V V Mody look on
Dr Mody addressing the gathering at a function
He was the most favourite physician of the entire Gujarati community of Mangalore and for one year he was the President of the Gujarati Mahajan Association and the then-governor of Karnataka Dharma Vira had come for the installation.
He was the founder of the Lions Club of Mangalore and when the local MLA Manel Srinivas Nayak was to be installed as president, US Ambassador to India Chester Bowles was invited and Dr V V Mody was solely responsible in getting ambassador Chester Bowles to pay an official visit to Fr Muller CharitableInstitutions.
During the year when he was president of the Indian Medical Association, South Kanara branch, he arranged a number of meetings of the IMA at Father Muller Charitable Institutions.
He thus worked tirelessly for the patients of Fr Muller’s Hospital, for the prestige of Father Muller Charitable Institutions and for the welfare of the citizens of Mangalore city in general.
Twelve years ago, he had lost his beloved wife Dr Jasumati V Mody who was also working for Fr Muller’sHospital as a Paediatrician for a number of years. She was his greatest help, but undaunted at the loss, he carried on his meritorious work till now.
Thus passed away a noble soul, whence come next such ! Let us all join in consoling his loving son Dr Pranav Mody, a renowned Orthodontic Surgeon, his daughter-in-law Anupama Mody and his sweet grandchildren Vidhi and Meghana.
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