Today’s tree of Rural Development Institute owes it’s development to many involved at the seed stage (late 80s/early 90s). One among the many professionals who assisted the founder Swami Rama during this period was Dr. Martin Jerry. Today, as we pay homage (Dr. Jerry passed away on March 21, 2023), our mind and hearts go back to those early days.
Dr. Jerry was a physician, scientist and medical researcher who specialized in clinical immunology and oncology. He was the Principal Investigator (from Canadian side) for the Himalayan Rural Development Project (1991-1995) funded by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in partnership with the University of Calgary. The goal of the project was to strengthen the primary health services in the Garhwal region and implement it across four districts (Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri and Uttarkashi). The strategy was focused on participatory approach keeping in mind the sustainability of the project. It integrated Western, Eastern and indigenous systems of medicine. The project also focused on adult education, non-formal education, income generation and environmental issues such as drinking water and sanitation.
Right from the start of conception to project implementation, Dr. Jerry was a father figure anybody from the Indian group could connect with. The cultural nuances as well as the spiritual bent of the mountain communities were all borne in mind while navigating the professional requirements of physicians, sociologists, and anthropologists in carrying out this comprehensive health and development project in the mountainous Garhwal region.
Dr. V.D. Semwal, who worked as a Program Officer at that time shared that Dr. Martin Jerry was a dynamic leader, excellent physician and a good researcher. He always preferred to engage with community and encouraged their participation in problem solving during his annual visits. He also mentioned that Dr. Martin had exceptional skills in training and empowering the team members. He was very humble, spiritual and a great human being.
Mr. Sunil Khanduri also has some vivid memories about Dr. Jerry. As Mr. Khanduri remembers, during those times the health and transportation facilities were very poor. Often, the serious cases reached the camp site by doli (palanquin) or cot. The coverage of primary health care such as vaccination, antenatal and postnatal services was very limited and most of the time the community was not ready to accept these services. Under these circumstances, Dr. Jerry initiated Himalayan Rural Development Project which worked as Sanjeevani for the mountainous rural communities of the region.
In closing, quoting from pg 119-120 Sutras of the Inner Teacher by Martin Jerry MD and Marian Jerry Ph.D.: “Swami Rama was a stunning example of impactful and effective action. He was a planetary figure. Few realize the extent of his inherence in so many fields of endeavor in many countries.”
