Renowned Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr S V Adinarayan Rao passes away
Dr. Sunkara Venkata Adinarayana Rao
Vijayawada: An 85-year-old orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Sunkara Venkata Adinarayana Rao, who restored hope to thousands of polio-affected and physically challenged persons, passed away on Saturday evening, January 17.
Known not only for his exceptional surgical skills but also for his warmth, humility, and empathy, Dr. Rao became a beacon of hope for the physically challenged. Patients fondly called him “Vikalang Bandhu” and “Poliowalon ka Devata.” Patients travelled from distant States such as Rajasthan and Gujarat, and even from the USA, Canada, and other countries, to seek his expertise and compassionate care.
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Born on June 30, 1939, in Bhimavaram of West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Adinarayana Rao displayed academic brilliance and compassion from an early age. He received his schooling at U.L.C.M. High School and went on to pursue medicine at Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam. He completed his MBBS in 1966 and earned his M.S. in Orthopaedics in 1970.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Adinarayana Rao was deeply passionate about football. A keen footballer during his college days, he later played a transformative role in promoting the sport in Visakhapatnam. He served as president of the Visakhapatnam District Football Association for over three decades and was instrumental in elevating the Visakha Trophy national football championship, which attracted top football clubs from across the country until the early 1990s.
A committed academician and administrator, Dr. Rao held several prestigious positions. He served as Professor of Traumatology and Professor of Orthopaedics at Andhra Medical College, Professor of Orthopaedics, and Superintendent of the R.C.D. Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled in Visakhapatnam, and later as Director General of Prema Hospitals. As the founder and managing trustee of Prema Hospitals, he dedicated himself to providing affordable and free surgical care, particularly through nationwide polio surgical camps.
In recognition of his service, Dr. Adinarayana Rao received several prestigious honours, including the National Award for Best Service in the Field of Welfare of the Disabled in 1998 from the Government of India, the Diwaliben Mohanlal Mehta Award, and the Bhagawan Mahaveer International Award in 2002. His lifetime of dedication was crowned with the Padma Shri, awarded in January 2022.
He is survived by his wife, R. Sasiprabha, a noted gynaecologist and former Director of Medical Education, Andhra Pradesh, a daughter, Dr. Sesh Kamal, and a son, Sasi Kiran, both working in the United Kingdom, reports the Hindu.
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