Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

The Children'sA life sketch of Dr. Shahurao B. GordeWE ASK NOT FOR LIGHTER BURDENS, BUT FORGreater StrengthFifty years ago a young unmarried doctor, Shahurao B.Gorde, one of the first graduates of Miraj Medical School,was sent by the American Presbyterian Hospital in Miraj,India, to a village named Ashta. Here he was to open adispensary. The young doctor went to Ashata with greatenthusiasm, but all his hopes and dreams were shattered.The villagers did not want a man whose religion was differentfrom theirs. They did not want his foreign medicineand they did not approve of his Western dress. They treatedhim as an outcast. They would not give him a house inwhich to stay. The poor young doctor did not know what todo; he was discouraged and disappointed. His first thoughtwas to go back to Miraj to see the head of the hospital, hisfavorite teacher, guide, and friend, Dr. William Wanless,but where would he get a bullock cart or a horse, the onlymeans of travel in those days? Moreover, he was not a manwho easily gave up. He knew that his Lord would open a wayfor him. He prayed. He went from door to door asking for aroom, but everywhere he was rejected. Late in the evening ayoung, high-caste Hindu had pity for him and gave him aroom and food. His prayers were answered; he was encouragedagain.Dr. Gorde was a man of prayer. He had great Christianfaith and conviction. He was a good speaker and had a goodvoice. After dinner he started his evening prayers withsinging. The people in India are deeply religious and veryfond of singing. This attracted the people in the house. Thechildren and men came to his room and the women listenedto him from an inner room. A few of the neighbors also camein.For a few months he had a hard time, but slowly hewon their love and confidence. He began to make friends. Hegave talks on health and education. He opened his dispensaryin a small room, and gradually patients began to come tohim. He was made a member of the Municipal Council andafter two years he was elected president.At this time plague broke out in the village and thesurrounding area. The people had never heard ofinoculation, so it took a lot of teaching and persuading.People began to come to Dr. Gorde when they saw the goodeffects of his 'pricking' as they called it. He went fromvillage to village and from house to house encouraging andpersuading thousands of people to take the inoculations, toburn the dead rats, kill the living ones, vacate the infectedhomes, and live in the open fields. They built temporaryhuts and lived there until the plague had passed. He askedthe Municipal Council to clean the village, burn all rubbish,and disinfect the houses. He worked day and night, restingbut little. He worked alone with none to help him.Because the work was heavy and daily increasing, theWanless Hospital gave him a young Christian to help him.The two of them threw themselves into the work withrenewed strength and enthusiasm. He started each day'swork with prayer and Bible reading. People began to come ineven greater numbers, for he had won a place in the hearts ofthe people of Ashta. Later he employed an evangelist.The dispensary became too small for the growingwork, so he built a 125-bed hospital and a small house forhimself with money received from the Wanless Hospital inMiraj. The new hospital was named Austin Dispensary andit was opened by the District Collector. He paid high tributeto the work of Dr. Gorde and to the American missionarieswho made it possible to build a well-equipped hospital there."I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHOSTRENGTHENETH ME" was written on the hospitalwall. Dr. Gorde received great inspiration from this verse.Sabbath days he would go preaching. Many peopleasked to be baptized. The number of Christians grew eachyear. The hospital hall became too small to hold all thecongregation for the Sabbath worship services. It was timethat the people of Ashta had a church building of their own.Land was purchased on a corner of the main road and abeautiful church was built. The village that had refused togive shelter to a young Christian doctor now had a churchbuilding and a congregation of 600 Christians.Each day Dr. Gorde's work began with this prayer:' 'We ask not for lighter burdens but for greater strength andwisdom." The patients loved that prayer. Within a few yearshe became well known, not only as a devoted skillful doctor,but also as a wise counselor and loving friend. People beganto call him 'dada' — a term of affection — meaning 'olderbrother.' People from far and near began to come to him fortreatment and advice.Once a month the missionary doctors from Miraj cameto Ashta to give specialized treatments and to operate.In 1935 plague and cholera broke out again in andaround Ashta. Dr. Gorde inoculated thousands and treatedthe many suffering patients, working day and night. TheGovernment of India, in appreciation of his work for themillions of suffering people, bestowed upon him the greatesthonor by awarding him the KAISER-I-Hind gold medal.See page 9