AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS

Open Heart

Dr. SADANAND LIMAYE, OAM

For service to medicine, and to the multicultural community

Iam greatly honoured,” Dr. Sadanand Limaye told Indian Link, full of humility. “I don’t know what I have done to be bestowed this great honour, but someone thought I was worthy of it, and I feel immensely honoured!”

A cardiologist and humanitarian, Dr. Limaye is well-known in Adelaide’s Indian community, of which he has been a part since 1974.

He is just as well-regarded at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide, which sponsored him when he rst came out here, and where he continued to work until recently.

“It was where I became a cardiologist in 1979,” Dr. Limaye recalled.

In 1985 Dr.Limaye requested that he would like to work part-time at the hospital and start his private practice. They easily agreed and the practice that he started nearly 25 years ago as a one-man service, Northern Cardiology at Elizabeth Vale, had 16 cardiologists when he left. He only retired fully from his practice about 18 months ago at the age of 76.

Sadanand Limaye was born in Naldurg in Maharashtra. His father was a civil engineer and transferred from place to place quite regularly, so young Sadanand did not attend school until he was 10 years old.

“My dad taught me English and Maths at home and that was it!” Dr. Limaye recounted, laughing. “When I was in Year 10, my father

Healing With Inner Work

Dr.

us the best education and upbringing despite struggling on a paltry pension.” decided to settle down in Aurangabad. I nished school there and went on to study at the Government Medical College.”

In 1971 his wife Shobha (also a doctor) and he moved to the UK. He did his MRCPA in London and the plan was to go to the US. However, he would have to start as an intern in the US and this did not appeal to them. Then, his neighbour, who was Australian, suggested Australia. “You land in the morning and you will have a job in the afternoon!”

Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide sponsored him, and Dr.Limaye says they arrived with 10 pounds in his pocket. “I was the 10-pound non-pom,” he laughed.

Dr. Limaye retired from Queen Elizabeth Hospital several years ago, but still went as a volunteer and taught students, registrars and others, sharing his years of knowledge and experience. For 25 years he has been going to Port Pirie once a month to provide a cardiac service there. In his private practice he did not charge the gap and bulk-billed patients so that they wouldn’t be out of pocket.

Dr. Sadanand Limaye was also the rst recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by South Australian Indian Medical Association (SAIMA) in 2010. A great honour indeed to be recognised and feted by his peers.

Upon retirement, Dr.Limaye has devoted his energies to community work and the study of Hindu philosophy and religion and the Sanskrit language as an auto-didact.

“There is so much to learn,” he mused, “especially Sanskrit grammar. And the scriptures.”

Today he conducts weekly classes at his home on the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita etc. He also performs pujas upon request. When Adelaide’s Ganesha Temple rst started in 1985 and there was no regular priest, Dr. Limaye was one of the people conducting the worship. He also solemnizes marriages. He has conducted more than 25 weddings - two in India, two in America and some interstate in Australia!

How does he nd the energy and inspiration to do so much?

“My wife and I lead active lives,” he replied with a smile. “I have everything I want, no complaints!”

He recounted an incident when, as an 18-month-old baby he had trachoma in his eyes and his parents thought that he might become blind. His mother took him to the TuljaBhavani Temple in Tuljapur and prayed for his recovery. Soon thereafter, he was able to open his eyes, and, he says, he has not had to wear glasses until very recently. And even then, just for reading.

“I am happy. My name Sadanand means ‘happy forever’. And I am!” he laughed. “My greatest happiness is my family. My wife is always by my side. Our two daughters Vidya and Sandhya have professionally done very well and this is a great satisfaction for us.”

Vinaya Rai

She has spent a lifetime listening to people’s stories with empathy, compassion and respect. In a career spanning over 50 years, Melbourne-based psychotherapist Dr. Sabar Rustomjee has helped people navigate some of the most challenging times in their lives. Dedicated to rede ning possibilities and improving lives, she is a proud recipient of the OAM honour this Australia Day.

Speaking with Indian Link Sabar detailed her life story. “I was born in Sri Lanka in a Parsi family of doctors. Even as a young child I knew I wanted to be a medical practitioner; I would wear my father’s stethoscope and parade around the house pretending to be a doctor. My father’s untimely illness caused the family to move to Mumbai, India for his treatment. I was only six years old when we lost him to cancer. My Indian mother raised my sister and I in Mumbai providing

Sabar quali ed, by scholarship, to enter the prestigious Grant Medical College, graduated with honours in 1959 and became a medical practitioner. Soon after her internship she migrated to Sri Lanka to marry Dr. Piloo Rustomjee, a trainee surgeon. After a decade of working in Sri Lanka, followed by a stint in studying Pediatrics in Liverpool UK, Sabar moved to Shepparton in Victoria in 1969 with her family. She started working with the Mental Health Authority, Victoria, in March 1969. It was during that time that she was introduced to Individual and Group Psychotherapy by her ‘brilliant’ supervisor Dr. Tom Murray.

Profoundly in uenced by Sigmund Freud and his theories Sabar continued to grow the breadth and depth of her knowledge by obtaining a Diploma of Psychological Medicine and Membership of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry.

In 1986 she joined the Monash Medical Centre as Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. Her work there included Liaison Psychiatry in the Renal Unit and in the Breast Cancer Group of Patients.

Her interest in Group Psychotherapy grew and in 1996, she was elected

President of the Australian Association of Group Psychotherapy. In 2000, Sabar was elected President of the International Association of Group Psychotherapy, having already served as Treasurer. She held this post till 2003, and has been on the Board of Directors till today.

Recalling a career highlight, Sabar recounted her work with psychosis. “As part of my research I carried out a unique 22-month experiment in the treatment of rst and second episode psychosis with 35 patients. The results were dramatic, curing all but one patient.”

Delighted to have received the Australia

Day recognition Sabar shared with Indian Link her interpretations of Freudian concepts with stories of dream symbolism, the unconscious, xations and defense mechanisms. She also dwelt on the highlights of her long and distinguished career.

Communicating hope and optimism formed a major part of Sabar’s professional life. She recalled a patient who was admitted to the Casualty Department at Monash wanting to commit suicide and jump to death along with her young son. With warmth and compassion Sabar was able to convince her patient that taking her own life was not the solution. Her creative approach to problem solving helped improve many lives.

Sabar has travelled the world extensively giving lectures on Group and Individual Psychotherapy, particularly in Japan, UK, USA, Italy, Greece, India and Spain. Her published works on subjects like Containment and Failures of Containment, Creativity of Social Dreaming, Solitude and Agony of Unbearable Shame, and working between Eastern and Western cultures have been well-received in professional circles.

Sabar has now retired but continues to contribute to her eld in various ways. She is currently in the process of publishing her book on Analytic Psychotherapy titled From Contempt To Dignity.

Simmi Singh