FORMER TEACHER IN PNG LAUNCHES MEMOIR IN KERALA, INDIA

A FORMER educator who taught in different secondary schools in Papua New Guinea has launched his autobiography in his village of Punnaveli, in Kerala, India.

Dr Kaipuraidom Mathai George, who taught with his late wife, Elizabeth, in Holy Name Girls School, in Dogura, in Milne Bay, and Aiyura National High School, in Eastern Highlands, in the 1980s launched his autobiography on April 2.

The launch was done in the presence of about 500 friends, church leaders, family members and community leaders.

Photo: Dr KM George (left, front) watching as a copy of the book is presented by an elder to an official guest.

 

It was the right time for the retired professional who has served in institutions in India, Malaysia and PNG to publish his memoir, since it was a month after he turned 90 years old on March 6.

The educator who is known as Mr George by his students in PNG, was born on March 6, 1926, as the ninth child and fifth son of KA Mathai and Saramma Matahi in a family of twelve children.

An email received on April 10 by The National states that the memoir titled “Amazing Grace: Dr KM George’s Life Story”, is not George’s first publication”.

Being a committed member of the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Dr George has authored more than a dozen books, including Historical Development of a Developing State, Sabah Malaysia (1891-1991), Church of South India, Life of Union (1947-1997), among others.

A few years ago, Dr George emailed his former students in PNG to send their recollections of their years at either Dogura or Aiyura and it is likely that some of the sketches of those years in the 1980s are in his book.

The book starts with George’s life in his village of Punnaveli and then his journey to school and college and to his working or studying overseas, including completing his doctorate degree from Columbia Pacific University, in California.

After the Georges left PNG at the start of 1989, they returned to Kerala.

Unfortunately, George’s wife, Elizabeth passed away in May 1991 due to cancer.

The couple has a daughter Sarah, who is a medical practitioner in United Kingdom and lives with her husband, a chartered accountant, and their two sons.