Where the Mind is Without Fear

…and the head is held high. This is the sentiment that Viji Venkatesh has been spreading across the country with her book ‘Maximo and the Big C’, tale of a little birdie that finds its wings in the face of adversity.

Viji was in Bangalore the past weekend to share this message with pediatric cancer patients at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology and then through a book reading at Landmark store, Forum mall.

Viji Venkatesh enthralling her audience with her book ‘Maximo and the Big C’

A cancer advocate for more than 30 years, Viji Venkatesh is the India head of Max Foundation, a U.S. registered non-profit organization working with cancer patients globally. The Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of people with blood cancer and other rare forms of cancer. The Foundation helps patients identify and access treatment programs, while continuously ensuring their emotional well-being. This year Max Foundation is running its 2013 Cancer Awareness Campaign worldwide with ‘Maximo’ and its inspirational story, the idea for which came from a 70 year old cancer survivor Maria Isabel Gomez and was given life by another patient Savian Fan, through his lively illustrations.

Viji, who culminated the idea into a story says, “The C in the title is left to the interpretation of a child. It could be Courage, Compassion or simply a Cat. The story is a lesson in how to fight fear”. With her compelling story telling and engaging conversation she had the kids hooked on to the story, such that at the end of the book reading Maximo was alive and very much a part of every child’s little world. When asked what they learnt from the story, a little one replied “Never be afraid. We should be brave”. All the participating children carried away a copy of the book, thanks to actor Salman Khan and his Being Human Foundation for underwriting the cost of 5,000 books, to be published in English and many other regional languages.

Engaging her little listeners

Viji, an English Honours graduate from Lady Shriram College, Delhi University always wanted to be a teacher. But it wasn’t meant to be. She joined a fund raiser for a cancer organization in year 1987, that worked for the well-being of factory and mill workers. She then went on to set-up preventive oncology department at Tata Memorial hospital. Few years down the line she was invited to join Novartis to set-up their drug donation programme and then later, when Max Foundation joined hands with Novartis, Viji transitioned to Max Foundation to administer Novartis’ drug donation program full-fledged in India. Today with an eighteen member strong team she is not ready yet to hang up her boots as she feels responsible for the careers of her team members and also for all the patients she works with. “I am courageous because patients are courageous. It can be emotionally draining when one loses patients but being a confidante and sharing their worst fears while dealing with the ailment is liberating and gratifying”. Fully supported by her husband in her endeavor, the couple is fondly called Amma and Appa within the circle of Max.

After having already covered more than six cities next on her itinerary are Pune, Patna and Ahmedabad. Viji goes on this journey with an unencumbered spirit, sharing her warmth, effervescence and infectious attitude. As I leave the event I hear a patients’ daughter asking Viji “Have you stopped giving hugs? I haven’t got mine as yet.” Immediately she finds herself encircled by two arms and I am reminded of another Amma who is known for her hugs. Kudos to Viji Amma for touching and enriching so many lives!