Dr P Bhanumathi BHANUMATHI AMHA By Faris Arakkal DILEEP calls her Bhanu as she is not particular about her children calling her amma. But she wants her school to be christened AMHA. Bhanumathi is the mother of 52 children of Association for Mentally Handicapped Adults (AMHA). She has been running the school since 1996 at Karyatukara. She stays at this school and the school is her home. Dr P Bhanumathi, associate professor at Sree Kerala Varma College Thrissur, had a troubled life. She had three siblings who were mentally disabled. She grew up in a village near Pattambi, hearing people calling them "Menon's mad children''. Thus, the urge to build a home for the mentally disabled took root in her from childhood. Now, people in the age group of 14 -58 learn and live here under her wings. "I took the oath to be their mother," says Bhanumathi Teacher when asked about her family. Her husband M Saleesh helped materialise her dream. They mutually agreed for not having children. "My two brothers also live with them and there is no discrimination among my children," she said. The school has both day-schoolers and residents. She has to raise funds to run the school since there is no clear fee structure. Now, a hostel has been built with the help of her students. "They are not mentally ill. They are mentally disabled. They can be classified under autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. Hence, they need urgent care and a little training. Crime rates are high and that most parents dare not leave their children alone. So they turn to this school,'' she said. Bhanumathi Teacher is now content and not craving for any honours. She was selected as Vanitha Best Woman of the Year 2000 and also Ramankutty Achan Smaraka Award. Teacher over the years lost the love of her kith and kin. But she has the help of her trained staff. Celebrations are never far from the children. National Day for Mentally Retarded was observed on December 8 at the school. On the occasion, the students were trained to stage a play under Rangachethana Ganesh. They staged the play at Regional Theatre. Bhanumathi Teacher's only hobby now is reading. Her advice for the mankind is "unconditional love" for all