Mysuru: Two renowned Physicians of the city Dr. B.V. Rajagopal, 81, and Dr. C. D. Sreenivasa Murthy, 78, will be honoured by the Association of Physicians of India (API), Mysore Chapter, as part of Physicians Day, tomorrow (Dec.29) at Hotel Southern Star at 8 pm.

The API was started on Dec.23, 1944 and majority of the Physicians in the country are its members. At present there are 16,500 members. In Mysuru the API was formed in 1986 (API Mysore Chapter).

Speaking to Star of Mysore, one of the Founder-Members of API Mysore Chapter, Dr. S.P. Yoganna said, “The first President of the Association was Dr. N.A. Jadhav who was called the ‘Walking Medical Encyclopaedia.’ The others who laid a strong foundation to API in the city included Dr. P.R. Ananthram, Dr. P.R. Shinde, Dr. M.Ramashetty and Dr. K.B. Subbaiah. None of them are amidst us today.”

Asked about honouring of the Physicians by API, he said that this was the first time in its 32-year history that API, Mysore Chapter was honouring the Physicians of the city. It was due to the efforts of the current Chairman Dr. Laxmegowda, Professor of Medicine, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, that the two renowned Physicians Dr. Rajagopal and Dr. Sreenivasa Murthy, who are also the Founder-Members of API, are being honoured.

Physicians Day

The Physicians celebrate Dec.23 as ‘Physicians Day’ throughout the country. The main of this Day is to honour Physicians who have served the community and who have concern for the health of the people. Hence, the senior-most and one of the first Physicians in the city, Dr. Rajagopal and Dr. Sreenivasa Murthy are being honoured, said Dr. Yoganna.

Profiles

Dr. B.V. Rajagopal, who is popularly known as “Mysore Physicians’ Bhishma” hails from a family steeped in ancient system of Ayurveda in Nanjangud. He was born to B.V. Pandit and Laxmi Devamma on Sept.27, 1937.

He joined Government Medical College, Bangalore, in 1956 and received the certificate as the ‘Best Outgoing Student’ in 1956. He bagged Dr. Mekhri’s prize for scoring highest marks in Physiology. He was captain of BMC Tennis team for three years. He did his Post-Graduation in Lucknow University in 1965 and Post Doctoral training in Medicine and Cardiology in USA and UK for three years.

Dr. Rajagopal is the first private Medical Consultant in the city to set up facilities that included ECG, Path Lab X-ray Unit and Physiotherapy. He was the Professor of Medicine at Adichunchanagiri Medical College for ten years. He was the Honorary Professor of Medicine at Mysore Medical College for six years and National Professor of Medicine, IMA College of General Practitioners, for three years.

He was the National Vice-President, Indian Medical Association (1993-94), President of IMA Karnataka State Branch (1982-83), Chairman of API Karnataka Chapter (1986-87), President of Cardiological Society of India, Mysore Chapter (2005-2006) and President of CSI Karnataka Chapter (2006-07).

Dr. C.D. Sreenivasa Murthy (CDS), who hails from a well-known business family in the city, passed out of Mysore Medical College in 1961 with a Gold Medal and as the ‘Best Outgoing Student.’ He did his MD from the prestigious PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research), Chandigarh in 1965. He studied Cardiology as a specialisation and is practising as a heart specialist since the last 42 years.

There was no Diploma in Cardiology those days and CDS with just ECG, stethoscope and clinical knowledge had been diagnosing serious heart ailments and saving the lives of the people, said Dr. Yoganna.

He has held prestigious offices of one or the other organisations and this includes as the Chairman of Indian  Medical Association, Chairman of API Karnataka Chapter and Mysore Chapter and President of Cardiological Society of India, Mysore Chapter, Chairman of MPMRT (Mysore Physicians Medical Research Trust).

CDS has been very active in the social service sector too. He was the Chairman of MRC (Mysore Race Club) and MRC Eye Hospital, Vice-Chairman of Mission Hospital for 15 years, Trustee of Vasavi Vidya Nikethana and MRC Charitable Trust, former Chairman of Mysore Doctors Club and DDG (Deputy District Governor) of Lions International (Dist – 324-D1) and Past Deputy Grand Master, Grand Lodge of India (Free  Masonry). He is a known sportsman also, excelling in swimming and golf and is the Founder-Member of Golf Club of Mysore.

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