The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Tributes paid to physician

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Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
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Tributes paid to physician

Special Correspondent

— Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

Homage: (From left) K. Veeramani, president, Dravidar Kazhagam; K. Ayyaru Vandayar, former Minister; and Arcot N. Veeraswami, Electricity Minister; at a function to mark the unveiling of the portrait of K. Ramachandra, former superintendent of Government General Hospital and professor of medicine at Madras Medical College, on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: A host of speakers, led by Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veeraswami, on Wednesday recalled the services rendered by K. Ramachandra, former Superintendent of the Government General Hospital and professor of medicine at the Madras Medical College, at a function to mark the first death anniversary of the physician.

The speakers described him as a humanist and a caring doctor, particularly for those who were from the economically-weaker sections. A scheme of gold medal was instituted in memory of Dr. Ramachandra for top-performing students graduating out of the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University. Mr Veeraswami said Dr. Ramachandra, popularly known as KR, had the ability of diagnosing the health problems of patients without subjecting them to various tests. He was not against the rejection of Indian medicine.

Responding to a suggestion made by K. Veeramani, president of the Dravidar Kazhagam for naming the Vepery High Road after Dr. Ramachandra, the Minister said efforts would be made in this regard. He also inaugurated the endowment lecture series.

Mr. Veeramani, who unveiled KR’s portrait, recounted how Dr. Ramachandra had attended to DK founder E.V. Ramasamy, who was struck by the doctor’s simplicity. T. P. Kalanidhi, Director of Medical Education (in-charge), and K. Ayyaru Vandayar, former Minister, said the youth should imbibe the spirit of service, demonstrated by Dr. Ramachandra.

Maheshwari Rajaraman, KR’s daughter, said her father received several honours, including the Johnstone Gold Medal for the best outgoing student in MBBS, Dr. Rangachari Prize in Medicine and the Padmashree. He retired as superintendent of the GGH and professor of medicine at the MMC in 1974. S. Subramanian, secretary of the endowment committee, and Meenakshi Roopchandar, another daughter of KR, were present.

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