By Mei Kuan
Celebrating Dato’ Dr Madhuri Majumder, the Perak Society for the Promotion of Mental Health launched the Madhuri’s Garden and a second coffee table book about the icon titled, “The Joy of Living: Dato’ Dr Madhuri Majumder” at the society’s premises at Ulu Kinta, Tambun yesterday (March 20).
The joint project was held in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Greentown with the presence of Deputy Minister of Education, Dato’ Dr Mah Hang Soon as the guest of honour.
The Madhuri’s Garden is a gift and personal donation from Dato’ Majumder, the current president of the Perak Society for The Promotion of Mental Health, to the residents of the society’s daycare centre at its 20-acre premises. She has been the third president of the society since 1986 for 34 years.
“The Perak Society for The Promotion of Mental Health was established in October 1967. To date, the non-profit organisation has 5 chalets with 73 residents and 25 staff members. Residents who recover from psychosocial disabilities are placed in the mainstream of society by the counsellors. Running on the motto ‘Curing by Caring’, our activities include counselling sessions, music and art therapies, ceramic and handicraft production. Our main objective is to rehabilitate emotionally disturbed persons,” explained Dr R Udaya Bhanu, organising chairperson cum honorary secretary of Perak Society for The Promotion of Mental Health.
“It has been a cherished dream of Dato’ Majumder to create a garden for the residents of the daycare centre to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. It will have a therapeutic effect. Today, the dream is realised,” he enthused.
“Dr Madhuri became the first lady dermatologist in Malaysia. She set up Luther Clinic with a consultant psychiatrist in October 1969 and the clinic became the first real breakthrough in this country and the first of many steps towards breaking down the public apathy and prejudice against cured patients and mental health,” highlighted Dato’ Dr Mah Hang Soon during the outdoor event.
“To name a few, Dr Madhuri is an appeal patron of the Salvation Army, founder member of the Ipoh Fine Arts Society, past president of Ipoh’s Orchid Society and vice president of the Ipoh Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, as well as one of the founding members of the Rotary Club of Greentown, which she helmed in 1995 as the first ever lady president,” Mah added.
Meanwhile, the second coffee table book in hardcover titled “The Joy of Living: Dato’ Dr Madhuri Majumder” is written by Vishalache Balakrishnan and published in 2020.
“The coffee table book chronicles the life journey and shows the different facets of Dato’ Majumder’s life. She has inspired the Rotary Club of Greentown to carry out a large number of mental health projects over the last two decades. Thus it is no surprise that in our rotary district, the Rotary Club of Greentown is a flagbearer in mental health projects,” shared Dato’ Dr Sushil K Ratti, past president of Rotary Club of Greentown.
The Perak Society for the Promotion of Mental Health is located at Lot 18200, Batu 8, Ulu Kinta, 31150, Tambun, Ipoh. To learn more, the society can be reached at 05 5335457.
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