By Manik Mehta, Bernama
Frankfurt : Germany is not Britain or America where Asians get prestigious national awards conferred on them.
Indeed, it is very rare for an Asian to be awarded the prestigious German Cross of Merit Award, but this is precisely what a Malaysia-born Indian has achieved.
The septuagenarian’s dedication to the cause of helping the sick and physically-challenged people finally caught the attention of the German politicians who recommended the prestigious award – almost as good as a knighthood — be conferred upon him.
Shivadas Pattanath is a man who avers “social service is my passon”.
The 74-year-old who is devoted to social work, helping the aged and those afflicted with disability after his retirement in 1996, was recently awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz, the German Cross of Merit.
“I was born in Taiping where my father, a major in the colonial British army, was stationed when Malaysia was still under colonial rule. I spent my early childhood in Malaysia, and have pleasant memories of that country,” he told Bernama in a recent interview.
Pattanath, who held an Indian passport until 1982 when he was naturalised as a German, lives in Langen, near Frankfurt. He said his father hailed from Kerala, South India.
His success is not exactly a rags-to-riches story. He came to Germany in 1963 as an intern, specialising in textile technology.
“I am a textile technician and was educated in Chennai. I was keen to further my studies in England. However, I was refused visa to study in England because I could not show evidence of sufficient funds to support my study in that country.
“I worked in Fulda with a textile company until 1965. Subsequently, I worked at Frankfurt Airport from 1974 until my retirement in 1996.
“My argument for social service is that God has been so kind to me that I decided to give back what I got in life. I am also a member of the German Red Cross and have donated blood 88 times!,” he said.
Besides his personal involvement in helping old and disabled people, Pattanath is also an avid fund raiser for charitable and social causes, having raised funds totaling 40,000 euros for charitable and social purposes.
The award, which has a citation from German President Horst Koehler, was forwarded to the Mayor of Erlangen for handing over to Pattanath at a ceremony.
Comprising a cross-engraved gold medal, it was conferred upon him by the district president Peter Walter and town mayor Dieter Pitthan.
“I was in tears when I heard that the meritorious cross would be awarded to me. I was so excited that I called my wife in her office during work and informed her. She too, was excited,” recalled Pattanath.
Although foreigners sometimes face discrimination and often, open hostility in Germany, it is ironical that a coloured foreigner should come forth to help Germans and as Pattanath says, “anybody of any colour, caste or religion”.
“Many Germans may resent foreigners in their country but heres one foreigner who wants to help them in every way he possibly can,” he adds.
Pattanath is married to Sabita who works as human resources and administration manager for an airline in Frankfurt. She supports her husbands efforts to help less-privileged people.
“I am blessed with good health and look almost 20 years younger than my age. Why should I not help others who have health problems or disabilities I take care of about 150 people,” he says.