Mysuru: Policemen are supposed to attend the distressed and troubled people, but here in Mysuru lives a Head Constable, who does not just attend the distressed lot but has the capability to heal them too!
Meet H Alexander from Lourdnagar of Lashkar Mohalla, a Head Constable of Jayalakshmipuram police station who is carrying on his shoulders the great responsibility of forwarding the legacy of his father, who was an illustrious traditional doctor of his times.
Following the footprints of his father, Alexander too administers traditional medication to people who come to him with hope. His father’s popularity was such that people from distant places used to come down to meet him. After his father’s death in 1992, Alexander had to step into the shoes of his father.
Once the Head Constable’s uniform is hung for the day, Alexander becomes the ray of hope for scores of people who come to meet him to take medicines for their health problems. Alexander gives medicines for over 30 ailments including piles, stomach ache, diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, joint pains, health issues pertaining to women including menstruation complication, diabetes, blood pressure, hair fall, headache, cold and cough, kidney related issues including kidney stone etc. He also administers antidote for venom.
With the innate knowledge of identifying over 100 medicinal herbs, he has become a ‘Pandit in Khakhi’. Growing up observing his father J Irudayam, young Alexander picked up the art of blending right herbs for ailments at a very early age. The fame of Irudayam was such that he had a close bond with the Royal family of Mysuru and the Royalty had even gifted him a medicine mixing bowl.
His attachment and closeness to his father had transferred lot of knowledge to Alexander automatically. As a mark of respect to his father and as a memory of the blissful days when the duo used to venture into forest to collect medicinal plants, Alexander has made a medicinal garden in his house, where he makes it a point to spend about two hours a day, taking care of them.
The Master Chef
Alexander is a policeman, a ‘vaidya’ and an outstanding cook, all rolled into one. Apart from mixing some traditional concoctions to heal his patients, Alexander makes lip-smacking and finger-licking delicacies too, which had brought him job offers from plush hotels from various states and even abroad.
He follows the ‘desi’ way of cooking, where mortar and pestle is used for grinding masalas and firewood is used to cook the food. From array of biryanis to yummy fried delicacies, specifically the crab and fish items, there is magic in Alexander’s fingers, say the ones who have relished his culinary delights. He can made over 18 varieties of salads. What more, Alexander can stir up over five varieties of tantalising wines, most famous being his grape, ginger and rose wines.
Speaking to newskarnataka.com Alexander says that he owes everything that he has today to his father, who gave away the asset of knowledge of traditional medicines to him.
“My father’s popularity was immense and when he died, the ones who believed in his medicines told me that I should carry forward his legacy. I had to fight back apprehensions because I knew I would always be compared to him. After seeking blessing of several senior pandits, I took a dive into this world of traditional medicines and here I am doing my bit,” he says adding that when it comes to cooking, his technique is simple and minimalistic.
Alexander is continuing the legacy by transferring the knowledge he gained from his father. While Alexander is mixing his medicines, his daughter Milagres Anthony assists him whenever she is around. An assistant professor in St Philomena’s College, Milagres is keen on knowing more about medicines.
Love for temple
A striking side of Alexander that comes as a surprise in today’s times of communal hatred and suspicion for one another is his passion for a local temple that has been left incomplete.
A Christian by birth, Alexander is determined to complete the work of Chamundeshwari temple (Samayapuram Temple) in N R Mohalla. He says that even if he fails to build his own house in his lifetime it would never hurt him, but if he does not have the temple built, he will be disheartened.
Alexander could take up multi-tasking because he is completely supported by his family, especially his wife Mary Shylaja, who is a police Inspector of Gangammanagudi station in Bengaluru. This 53-year-old policeman who has completed his 28 years of service in the police department is all smiles because of the contentment he draws by serving the society-both as a policeman and as a pandit!
