Dr.Albert Schweitzer

Touching Anecdotes from the life of Dr.Albert Schweitzer


Dr.Albert Schweitzer was born in Alsace (now part of France, then Germany) on Jan14,1875. His father was a Pastor. Schweitzer showed passion in his boyhood days for playing the organ. Later he became world's leading expert in organ making. He took his Ph.d from Strasbourg and later obtained an advanced degree in Theology.Served as a principal in a Strasbourg College. He is the author of the most famous book in Theology titled as ' The Quest for the Historical Jesus '.

Dr.Schweitzer felt a strong yearning towards a direct service to the humanity. His often repeated sermon was " We must make atonements for the terrible crimes we read of in the news papers - not only that but also for what we don't read ".

Schweitzer surprised everyone in 1905, when he was 30 , that his profession would not be theology nor philosophy but would be medicine. He declared that this activity (medicine) would not be merely talking about 'the religion of love' but actually putting it into practice. He created a sensation in the medical school " When I went to the Prof.Fehling, that time Dean, to give my name as a student, he would have liked best to hand me over to his colleague in Psychiatric Dept." He specialized in tropical medicine first and then went on to do surgery when he was 38.

Dr. married Helene Bresslan, a trained nurse. Dr. and Mrs. went to Africa and built a hospital in Lambarene which was then a part of French Congo,now Gabon in Africa. When World War I broke, as he was a German by birth, he was taken as a prisoner of war by French Army. Schweitzer had a feeling of deja vu in the prison room that he knew the room from some past experience. The mystery was solved when he remembered Vangogh's picture in his mind. He later learnt that Vangogh who was a well known artist who underwent treatment in the very same building which served as a mental institution then. Vangogh committed suicide later.

Dr.Schweitzer remarked that life should only be negated when it is for a higher value and purpose - not merely for a selfish and thoughtless action.

He became the father of a girl child called Rhena when he was 43 years old. She did not see much of her father in her early ages as the Dr. was seriously engaged in the eradication of Malaria. But when Rhena's children grew, she acquired technical lab skill and went to Africa to serve with her father in the hospital. She became the Superintendent of the hospital after the demise of her father. She served for many years and married an American doctor Dr.David Miller who volunteered in the hospital.

Dr.Albert Schweitzer's fame became increasingly wide spread over the years and people flocked to Lamberene to see him in action. Dr. remarked " Every one should find his own Lamberene ". He formulated what he liked in the words " My Life is my argument".

Dr. Schweitzer was honored in 1953, when he was 78, the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work.

Little known was Dr.'s humor. When once he went to his native place, the whole town went to the Railway Station to receive the great son of the soil. They searched him in A/C First Class, I Class, II class but not to be seen . At last they saw him getting down from the III class. " What Dr.? why III Class ?? " - was the question from every one. Schweitzer replied with a knotty smile " What to do - there is no Class IV compartment in the Train !!". He led a very simple life in service to the humanity.

Dr. Schweitzer passed away at a ripe age of 90 in September 1965. He will always be remembered for the noble deeds he carried out with a missionary zeal.