Marthanda Varma Sankaran Valiathan — the Karmayogi

Some human beings are born to serve the human race and Dr M S Valiathan, the pride of Kerala, will make it into the list in a canter.

The word "multi-talent" is thrown around a lot, but the adjective suits individuals like Dr Valiathan. As a world-renowned heart surgeon, India received the greatest benefit of his genius in the name of Sree Chithira Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences!

Through this institute, Malayalees learned that a hospital can also serve as a research institute. Valiathan proved that the growth of modern medical science is a joint effort of various disciplines like engineering and science. He was quickly able to foresee the fact, that the existence and growth of modern medicine relies on drugs, vaccines and medical devices. Valiathan worked for this and meticulously reached his goals.

Sree Chithira Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences was probably one of the first centres in India to develop stents indigenously. At a time when private hospitals were splashing lakhs for imported stents, Valiathan proved to be a difference, as he showed stents can be manufactured in India with the same quality at a lower price,

After studying at Thiruvananthapuram University College, he obtained his MBBS ( first batch) from Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. After completing his MS from University of Liverpool, Valiathan returned to India only after taking FRCS. he then worked for some time at Post Graduate Institute, Chandigarh. Throughout his life, he made it a practice to take both work and research hand in hand. He did advanced studies in cardiac surgery at foreign universities including Johns Hopkins.

Despite having such an ornate set of degrees from globally acclaimed institutions, Valiathan returned to Kerala to serve the people of his homeland. Not many harbour such love for their homeland, when a foreign land lures you to better living standards and lucrative jobs. It is said that Valiathan’s immense respect for the Travancore royal family was also one of the factors that brought him back.

As a late tribute to him, we should implement his suggestion to start an Infectious Disease Research Center in institutes like Sree Chitra Institute to further strengthen the surveillance of viral diseases in the context of the previous COVID scare. 'Sushruta Pathrika', which he wrote about the Sushruta Samhita, which can be described as the world's first surgical pathology book, and 'Vagbhata Pathrika', which introduces the Ashtanga heart to modern practitioners, are works that highlight the importance of Ayurveda in ensuring health care, though fully embracing the modern Western treatment method.

India honoured him with Padma Vibhushan while copious other awards reached him from all quarters of the world. We here at Kerala Kaumudi pay our tributes to the inimitable medical researcher who lived a fulfilling life.

World-famous cardiologist Dr M S Valiathan passed away at Manipal Hospital Wednesday night. He was 90. He was the first director of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences.