C. T. Mathew

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C.T. Mathew (Changanacherry Thomas Mathew) (born Oct 23rd, 1932) is an Indian Orthodontist and was the first Director of the Calicut Government Dental College. Born in 1932 to Thomas and Elumma of the Manimury family in Changanacherry, Kerala he took his B.D.S. (Bachelor of Dental Science) from Nair Hospital, Mumbai and later Masters in Orthodontics (M.D.S.) from the same institution.

Dr. Mathew joined the Kerala Government Service in 1959 and was initially posted to the Government Dental College in Thiruvananthapuram. In 1969, he joined Calicut Medical College as Head of the Department of Dentistry. The department of dentistry underwent systematic expansion under him and became a full-fledged Dental College with graduate and post-graduate dental training. This growth was largely due to the untiring efforts of Dr.Mathew. After serving as the founder-director of the Dental College, Dr. C.T. Mathew retired from Government service in 1988. He then served as Professor of Post-Graduate studies in A.B. Shetty Institute of Dental Sciences for about ten years. Dr. Mathew also was an active member of the Dental council of India and notably was responsible for regularising the rules for membership to the Council. He was also the President of the Kerala Dental Council. Dr. Mathew is a keen academician and has served on the faculty of dentistry of various universities. He was also the first Chairman of the board of studies in dentistry of the University of Calicut.

Dr. Mathew is also known as an eloquent speaker and is an active member of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. He was also a charter member of the Rotary Club of Calicut East and Club President. Dr. Mathew is deeply interested in the history of the Catholics of Kerala (Saint Thomas Christians).

He is married to Subiny of the Pullamkalam family of Changanacherry.They have three children, Thomas an agriculturist in Calicut, Elizabeth, an orthodontist in Johannesburg, Sebastian, an ophthalmologist in Kuwait. All three children are married and with children. Currently Dr. Mathew is leading a quiet retired life in Calicut along with his wife and spends his time writing, reading and in social work. In 2006, he translated the autobiography of the late P.J. Sebastian, freedom fighter and social activist, from its original Malayalam to English.