Obituary for Ashok Cherian, Retired Cardiac Surgeon
19 October 2023
(Last updated: 19 Oct 2023 15:07)
by David O`Regan
Ashok Cherian
Written by David O`Regan
“Be a good human being, a warm hearted, affectionate person. That is my fundamental belief.”
Dalai Lama
Ashok touched the lives of the many he met – he maintained the affection of all; from school friends of sixty-five years to the people he met briefly along the way. There was something about him that compelled people to visit, often with their families, and sometimes driving hundreds of miles or flying great distances. A gentle, kind man who never had a bad thing to say about anyone. The embodiment of humility, generosity, and kindness.
“It is a kingly act to assist the fallen.”
Mother Teresa
The stories of Ashok’s childhood were more than entertaining – he laughed that he was a mistake, the youngest of five children. The tenderness and devotion to parents was evident in the evening ritual of kissing his father’s feet before going to bed. Considering his parents’ position in Indian society and politics; he met many dignitaries but the one story that stands out was the fact that he was slapped by Mother Teresa for being impertinent.
“Knowledge gained through experience is far superior and many more times useful than bookish knowledge.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Ashok dedicated his life to cardiac surgery and during his career of thirty-five years he met and worked with the good and the great e.g., Debakey, Barnard, Yacoub and Ross. He was effectively Donald Ross’s right hand man and had immense respect for the man. What he had learned spanned the history of cardiac surgery and heart perfusion. There was very little he had not seen or done. Ashok for many reasons never reached consultant status in the United Kingdom but he was called upon to be a consultant whenever it was convenient for the system. That did not undermine his influence and in his later years he was a locum consultant to great effect in many parts of the country. He was not afraid and had more courage than most surgeons to intervene when many thought that intervention was futile; sometimes vociferously, they thought he was foolish. However, the patients survived and kept in contact with their saviour; some ten years after the events.
“A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others.”
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
With an enormous amount of experience, there comes wisdom. But what really made Ashok unique was his unwavering dedication to teaching. He had the patience of Job and was willing to stand opposite for hours on end, helping and developing the future generation of surgeons. He made training a priority sometimes to the annoyance of the anaesthetists. Many of us benefited and for many he become an inimitable mentor and coach. He was to the go to person when you were faced with wicked problems.
“Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.”
Dalai Lama
It was a privilege and pleasure to have Ashok as tutor on the nationally and internationally acclaimed PAR Excellence courses.We referred to him ‘Yoda’ as the ‘force was strong with him’ and in the right light there was some resemblance in appearance. He held everyone’s attention at course dinners with his innumerable stories spiced with wit and observation.I pressed him to capture all of these in a book and we had made a start – digital ignorance and deteriorating health thwarted our efforts.We were up to fourteen chapters in our discussions.I remember seeing a photograph of his birthday party at the age of seven and marvelled at the fact there were two tigers sitting on the lawn in front of the family.Who would know?This is a man who said that all his material wealth would fit into a single suitcase.Humble and kind; very kind.A gentle and unassuming soul.
“Humility and gratitude go hand in hand."
Swami Satchidananda
In his own words, he was happy and wanted for nothing.He said he had found peace.He was a spiritual man – in a literal sense he warmed to fine whiskey and the stories flowed. Happy have we met, happy we part and happy may we meet again.Rest in peace Ashok. Our thoughts are with his wife, Fiona.
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