My Papa!! My Hero!! (part 2) ‘Report Card’ of an octogenarian

‘Report Card’ of an octogenarian: Written by Mr I Xavier

                       Name:             Poovathinkalmattackal Scaria John

                       Born on/@:      11 October 1929 / Uthimoodu, Ranni, Kerala

                       Profession:      Formerly Malayalam teacher and at present farmer

                       Specialist:       Hurdles, Long Jump, Steeple chase,

                       Credits:          103 Gold Medals, Silver and Bronze
                       Participation:   Sports Meets held at State, National and

                                             International levels, including World Masters

                                             Athletics Championships

        Born to a couple specializing agriculture and farming in 1929, Papa John started to grow on a hilltop. Losing his mother at a very tender age, and being the eldest sibling in the family, the responsibility of upbringing his three younger brothers, and the housekeeping, including cooking, fell on his shoulders. All the more determined he grew up along with his brothers.

        In the absence of proper road and bridges those days, climbing up and down the hillock en route to school on a daily basis, leaving no trees unclimbed in the forest, and leaping the brooks in order to cross them (and at times losing some of his stationeries down the stream…), greatly strengthened his physique. Joining the first batch of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) of Travancore helped to discipline him, while playing basket ball in the college team helped tone his muscles.

        Thus, Papa John started his athletic activities at the age of 23 in 1952. He participated in the 110 metres hurdles, 200 metres hurdles, steeple chase, long jump, 4 x 100 metres relay and long distance running. In spite of his ageing graciously, and even after his retirement from teaching Malayalam at school, he continued to take part regularly at the State level meets, National level and Asian level meets. So far he has participated in the Asian level meets held in Kuala Lumpur (2011), Chinese Taipei (2013) and finally his debut at the World Masters’ Athletic Championship held in Lyon (France) where he stood first in 200 metres hurdles, and 80 metres hurdles winning two gold medals and third in the long jump and received a bronze. Winning medals in the past 63 years and the weight of the collected metal almost outweighs his body weight.

        He is a voracious reader of contemporary magazines, novels, etc. During his college days he was more attracted by Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Miserables’. He kept the theme, characters and also the sequence of events taking place in and around Paris (France) in the good frame of his mind all these years which helped him understand the portrayal of the historian well during his recent visit to Paris to take part in the World Masters’ Athletic Championship in Lyon (France) between 4 and 16 August 2015.

        Having been adjudged the ‘Best Master Athlete 2015’ by the Asia Masters Athletics (AMA) following his spectacular performance in France is a feather in his cap.

        Papa John, at the age of 86 years, never sits idle at home. He looks after his rubber plantation, banana plantation and vegetable garden. He spends time with his poultry and livestock. He continues to maintain his physique by walking, cycling and swimming.

        What he wants to share with the younger generation are his experience with nature, cultivating good habits, discipline and respecting parents and time. Are we listening to him?