Andhra Pradesh - Others   

Standing tall despite odds

B.V.S. Bhaskar

G.V.N. Murthy

Chintaluru (East Godavari): Standing for an hour or two is a difficult thing for any one. If it is for lifetime, it is miserable and impossible. No one other than G.V.N. Murthy of this village near Mandapeta in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh is having such uncomfortable posture in entire Asia. Murthy can't sit like others or bend his legs to relax or lay down on floor or bed without taking assistance of somebody. He lost the ability to sit or fold his legs 25 years ago. No medicine has cured his disease and proper diagnosis has also not been done. But, Murthy took life as a challenge. Surprisingly, he is leading a normal life with wife and two children in this tiny village, which is popular for ayurveda medicine in the country.

Genesis of trouble

G.V.N. Murthy, popularly known as `Standing Murthy' or Cable Murthy in surrounding villages was bitten by a dog. He took 14 injections on his stomach, as that was a popular anti-rabies injection that time. After a few months he developed severe backache and knee joint pains. As the disease progressed, Murthy's spinal cord was affected and thighs conjoined slowly. His brother G. Ravindranath and sister-in-law Suguna took Murthy to different doctors in different States.

"Several doctors experimented on my unique disease. Some one said it is rheumatic arthritis and others said it is polio arthritis. Finally, no diagnosis has been done and I can't bend my spinal cord as it lost action due to loss of fluid or jam in between spinal card joints,"said Murthy. He was taken to Banglore for nature cure treatment and also ayurveda medicine in his village.

Family support

After Murthy lost his father, who was a private medical practitioner in his village, he took up the job. "I survived because of my brothers and other family members. I took life as a challenge and continued my PMP practice and also started cable operation business in our village,"he said about his livelihood.

"Knowingly (about disease) I got married to him and we have two children," said Chandra Jyothi, Murthy's wife.

From dawn to dusk he has to stand and walk, as his knees did not allow him to bend them. He has no problem to move around the village or go to any town as he is having specially designed moped-cum-motorcycle. Local mechanics used different parts to make this unique motorcycle. In the evenings he gives medicines and gives injections in lay down posture or standing posture to his patients.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Gouravelli project promised for upland areas of Karimnagar
Standing tall despite odds
TDP to oppose `creamy layer' for BCs
SSC examination: take police help at problem centres, officials told
CPI (M) faults State on Girglani
YSR reiterates stand on talks with naxals
Fee swindled: 72 students denied permission to write exam
Unruly scenes at ZP committee meeting
Workshop held on minimal access surgery
Minister denies hand in TDP activist's murder
Tributes paid to RDO
Wastewater treatment in mill

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu