KOTTAYAM: ‘Dr Vandana Das MBBS’, reads the nameplate outside K G Mohandas’ house at Pattalamukk near Kuruppanthara in Kottayam. The proud father had got it fixed on one of the pillars of the house’s entrance gate without waiting for his daughter’s house surgency to complete. Though simple in appearance, it speaks volumes of Mohandas’ love and affection for Vandana.
In fact, everyone in the locality liked Vandana, the lone daughter of Mohandas and Vasantha Kumari of Nampichirakalayil house. Fondly called Vandu, she was a calm, silent and simple girl, who always had a smile on her face.
“She was extremely passionate about becoming a doctor as she wanted to serve people,” said Dr Jishnu Shaji, her former classmate. He still can’t believe what happened. “I can’t understand how a man can attack such a girl,” he said.
Vandana was killed just weeks ahead of a reception that was planned in her honour by the SNDP Kuruppanthara branch on May 28 to celebrate the successful completion of her MBBS.
‘She lived up to parents’ expectations’
For relatives, friends and neighbours who gathered at Nampichirakalayil house, she was a studious child who lived up to her parents’ expectations and was the apple of their eye. Like Dr Jishnu, many can’t believe she is no more. “She was always pleasant; never caused her parents any problem.
We were shocked to learn of her death. I don’t know how her parents are coping with the loss,” said Raghavan, a friend of Mohandas. Her parents were inconsolable. They left for Thiruvananthapuram around 6.30 am immediately after getting information of the attack on their daughter.
They learnt of her death only upon reaching the hospital. Well-wishers who thronged her house since Wednesday morning spoke about the strong bond between the father and daughter. Mohandas, himself a double MA degree holder, yearned for his daughter to become a doctor.
“He dedicated his life for her and planned everything in advance for her. There were talks of her marriage. Mohandas owns an old Ambassador car and wished to take her to the wedding hall in it,” said S Jayathilakan, a relative.
Even while he was busy with his business and social activities, Mohandas, the vice-president of SNDP Yogam’s Kuruppanthara branch, took utmost care of his daughter, said branch president A N Raghavan. “The family never let her go out alone. Mohandas took her to school and college. Her death is extremely unfortunate,” he said.