North Chennai’s ‘2-rupee doctor’, Jayachandran, breathes his last
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:20.12.2018
A pall of gloom descended over Old Washermenpet on Wednesday as North Chennai lost its ‘Erandu Rubai Doctor’ (Two Rupee Doctor).
Dr S Jayachandran, who became the beloved of residents of the predominantly working class neighbourhood, charging a paltry consulting fee for decades, had been ailing for a few months. “He breathed his last at 5.30am,” said R D Ramesh, a close relative. He was 71 and is survived by his wife and their three children.
Born at Vadapattinam near Koovathur in 1947, Jayachandran moved to Chennai when he was 15. After completing MBBS at Madras Medical College, he began practice at Ullagaram near Madipakkam and a clinic in Kasimedu before moving to Old Washermenpet in the 1970s, said Thooyamurthy, his long-time friend. “The physician used to charge only ₹2 from each patient and continued to collect the same fee till 1998. Later, he revised it to ₹5 and then to ₹10,” he said.
He would serve the poor through the day. “People would begin queuing up at his clinic since 4.30am. On an average, he treated about 250 patients everyday, sometimes offering medicines free,” said Thooyamurthy.
In his trademark safari suit, the doctor was a familiar sight at medical camps in different parts of North Chennai. Dr Jayachandran also doubled up as an activist, highlighting the poor infrastructure in North Chennai. “He was the convenor of North Chennai Rail Passengers Rights Tribune that played a major role in getting the government’s OK for the extension of metrorail from Washermenpet to Thiruvottiyur,” said A T B Bose, a member of the tribune.
Recalling Dr Jayachandran’s contributions towards the demand for converting the heritage Royapuram Railway Station into a terminal, Bose said that his demise was a major loss for the needy. “His connect with the poor people was huge. People from lower economic backgrounds in this locality largely depended on him for medical services,” Bose said.
DMK president M K Stalin was among those who condoled Jayachandran’s death. “The death of ‘People’s Doctor’ Dr Jayachandran is a great loss to the residents of North Chennai,” the leader of the opposition in the state assembly tweeted.
Thefinal riteswouldbe performed at Kasimedu on Thursday, his family sources said.
Dr S Jayachandran
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:20.12.2018
A pall of gloom descended over Old Washermenpet on Wednesday as North Chennai lost its ‘Erandu Rubai Doctor’ (Two Rupee Doctor).
Dr S Jayachandran, who became the beloved of residents of the predominantly working class neighbourhood, charging a paltry consulting fee for decades, had been ailing for a few months. “He breathed his last at 5.30am,” said R D Ramesh, a close relative. He was 71 and is survived by his wife and their three children.
Born at Vadapattinam near Koovathur in 1947, Jayachandran moved to Chennai when he was 15. After completing MBBS at Madras Medical College, he began practice at Ullagaram near Madipakkam and a clinic in Kasimedu before moving to Old Washermenpet in the 1970s, said Thooyamurthy, his long-time friend. “The physician used to charge only ₹2 from each patient and continued to collect the same fee till 1998. Later, he revised it to ₹5 and then to ₹10,” he said.
He would serve the poor through the day. “People would begin queuing up at his clinic since 4.30am. On an average, he treated about 250 patients everyday, sometimes offering medicines free,” said Thooyamurthy.
In his trademark safari suit, the doctor was a familiar sight at medical camps in different parts of North Chennai. Dr Jayachandran also doubled up as an activist, highlighting the poor infrastructure in North Chennai. “He was the convenor of North Chennai Rail Passengers Rights Tribune that played a major role in getting the government’s OK for the extension of metrorail from Washermenpet to Thiruvottiyur,” said A T B Bose, a member of the tribune.
Recalling Dr Jayachandran’s contributions towards the demand for converting the heritage Royapuram Railway Station into a terminal, Bose said that his demise was a major loss for the needy. “His connect with the poor people was huge. People from lower economic backgrounds in this locality largely depended on him for medical services,” Bose said.
DMK president M K Stalin was among those who condoled Jayachandran’s death. “The death of ‘People’s Doctor’ Dr Jayachandran is a great loss to the residents of North Chennai,” the leader of the opposition in the state assembly tweeted.
Thefinal riteswouldbe performed at Kasimedu on Thursday, his family sources said.
Dr S Jayachandran
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