Ten Rupee Doctor T A Kanagarathinam passes away at 96
Dr T A K Rathnam
Thanjavur: Dr T A Kanagarathinam, fondly known as the ‘10 Rupee Doctor’ for his unwavering commitment to affordable healthcare, passed away on Saturday in Pattukottai at the age of 96. The doctor was celebrated for his decades-long service to the underprivileged, offering treatment for as little as Rs 2 when he began his practice, gradually raising it to just Rs 10 by 2010.
Dr. Kanagarathinam, a respected and longtime resident of Srinivasapuram, is survived by his wife, K. Rajalakshmi, three daughters, and a son. Born in 1929 in Ammaiyappan, a village in Tiruvarur district, his early life took him to Burma (present-day Myanmar) before his family eventually settled in Pattukottai.
A graduate of the prestigious Madras Medical College, Dr T A K Rathnam began his private medical practice in Pattukottai in the late 1950s. In the 1960s, he went on to establish a clinic on Periya Theru. Throughout his long career, he handled numerous obstetric cases, either at no charge or for nominal fees. According to members of the local medical fraternity, Dr Kanagarathinam personally handled or supervised around 50,000 childbirths over his career. His work has earned him several awards.
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