Showing posts with label Dr. R. S. Thanabalasundaram. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dr. R. S. Thanabalasundaram. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

A TRIBUTE: Dr. R. S. Thanabalasundaram



email from Gunsie
 In remembrance  of a great teacher - the Best. Jey.

July 16th was the Birth Anniversary of the late Dr. R. S. Thanabalasundaram, the well known Colombo Consultant Physician. Born in Jaffna in 1922 he was the eldest in a family of eight children. He was the son of Mr. Chelliah of Kokuvil who was a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP), well recognized at that time in the medical field since qualified doctors were limited.
The early education of Dr. Thanabalasundaram was at St. John’s College, Jaffna. For secondary education he entered the prestigious Royal College in Colombo through a competitive scholarship examination. He had an excellent academic record at Royal College winning many prizes including the Turner Prize for outstanding academic performance.
Pursuing higher studies he entered the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ceylon and graduated with first class honours which included distinctions in Medicine, Surgery, Gynocology and Obstetrics. Joining Government Medical Service he served in the outstations including Jaffna, Rambukkana and later at the General Hospital, Colombo. Proceeding to London for Post Graduate studies he was conferred the Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) and later obtained a Doctorate in Medicine (MD).
In June 1956 he married Pamathy, daughter and only child of N. Sivagnanasunderam, retired District Judge from Point Pedro. She herself has had a good academic career with a Is’ class Degree in Sanskrit and thereafter a Masters Degree. For a short period she taught at Ladies College, Colombo, a well recognized school for girls, and was also a Visiting Lecturer in Sanskrit at the Aquinas University in Colombo. She died somewhat pre-maturely with cancer in January 1978.
I came to know Dr. Thanabalasundaram through one of his sisters, Dr. Gnanes Selliah, later Balasubramaniam, with whom I was associated in London in 1969/70 when she was pursuing Post Graduate studies in Medicine and I was following a Diploma in Development Administration while in the Public Service in Sri Lanka. I came to associate with Dr. Thanabalasundaram very closely after the demise of Pamathy and his children pursuing studies overseas. I used to visit him very often in his Horton Place residence where he has treated numerous patients over the years. I live in Pamankada and often when I come to the heart of Colombo for Buddhist engagements and other activities .I visit him and engage in long discussions on a variety of subjects including Buddhism. Although he was a Hindu, he was interested in Buddhism especially in my work in that field. He often read my Buddhist articles to the press and Buddhist journals of which I was editor namely, The Annual Vesak Sirisara and The Buddhist, the quarterly journal of the Colombo YMBA. Often in the evenings returning from meetings of the Colombo YMBA, I use to meet him at his home. Moreover, when I had the time between engagements I visited his home and spoke to him. If he was attending to patients at home or visiting Nursing Homes I attended to my own work making myself thoroughly at home at his residence which became a second home to me.
Dr. Thanabalasundaram retired pre-maturely from Government service when Private Practice for Government Consultants was withdrawn by the Government and developed a roaring practice as a Consultant Physician. At that time with limited Specialists in the Medical Arena, a Consultant Physician treated a large variety of patients. The hallmark of Medical Consultation was the physical examination where the Physician carefully observed the reaction of the patient to pressure exerted on the body. This is in contrast to the situation today where the side bed to examine patients is hardly used and doctors relying on medical reports from laboratories. An error or a mix-up of reports could lead to a wrong diagnosis.
He visited numerous homes to treat patients and fees at that time in the early 1960s, was Rs.20/- for consultation at the residence of the Doctor and Rs.25/- for a visit to the home of the patient. In contrast today doctors do not visit homes and we often have the sad situation of a seriously ill patient’s wife or husband or close relation consulting the doctor who prescribe treatment without seeing the patient which to layman appear most unsatisfactory. This aspect is unfortunately not highlighted in the social media.
I had been his patient and close friend for over 35 years from early 1970s until his demise in 2007. I missed him very much as a patient. He so well understood my medical condition that often for not too serious ailments he prescribed treatment on information provided over the telephone. To me his treatment was most often successful.
A competent Consultant Physician he was so devoted to his profession and the welfare of his patients. Dr. Thanabalasundarm had three children and all are doing well overseas. During his last illness for almost three months at least one of them was in Colombo despite their commitments overseas. His son Sudarman Thanabalasundaram is in UK while two daughters Suchita Srikanthan and Sumangala Santiapillai are in the USA and UK respectively.
Dr. Thanabalasundaram was born as a Hindu, lived as a Hindu and died as a Hindu. So I wish him Moksha. However, taking in to consideration his interest and reasonable understanding and appreciation of the Dhamma I wish him the Supreme Peace of Nibbana.
May all beings be well and happy. May they all eventually pass away as they must peacefully without being a burden on themselves or others.
Rajah Kuruppu,
Colombo 6.
The Island 2/08/15