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K. RAGHAVAN THIRUMULPAD (1920-2010)

1.    Vaidyabhushanam K. Raghavan Thirumulpad was an eminent Ayurvedic and Sanskrit scholar. He is an acharya who taught and inspired generations of Ayurvedic and Sanskrit students. Sri Thirumulpad is recognized as a proponent of classical Ayurveda and symbolized a harmonious mix of ethics and rationality in the practice of medicine. His scholastic pursuits contributed much to the acceptance of Ayurveda among the society in general and intelligentsia in particular. For the common man, ‘Thirupad Vaidyan’ was a physician who sensed their emotions and came out with prescriptions which suited their illness as well as their pockets.


2.    Raghavan Thirumulpad was born on May 20, 1920. He completed schooling with first class (1937) and informally learned branches of traditional knowledge like Sanskrit,Jyotisha (Astrology), Tarka(Indian logic),Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar) etc. from different masters of the respective schools. Family exigencies made him accept a job with Railways at Madras. But due to chronic ill-health, he quit the job and came back home to undergo Ayurvedic treatment. Being cured from the illness, in 1944, Thirumulpad learned Ayurveda from Vaidyan P. Vasudevan Nambisan the physician who treated him. After completing 5 years of gurukula, he enrolled for the Vaidyabhushanam examination conducted by Govt. of Cochin and came out successfully. He also attended a course in Naturopathy in 1949 in Mumbai, under Mr.Laksmana Sharma the pioneer of Naturopathy.


3.    Raghavan Thirumulpad started his home-based Ayurvedic practice in 1950.From the beginning itself, he made it a point to abstain from dispensing or trade of any medicines.  Sticking on to his own ethical lines driven by the Gandhian ideologue of ‘Unto the last’ and ‘Trusteeship’ he treated lakhs of patients without insisting on any fees. Many of the Ayurvedic and Modern medical practioners referred their chronic patients to him. The essence of his treatments was lifestyle-centered and his prescriptions were always simple and cost-effective .Throughout his life he stood against commercialisation of medicine. Following the footsteps of Dr.B.C.Roy, he dedicated afternoons for various activities. Thirumulpad taught Ayurveda and Sanskrit informally to several, attended public functions and visited patients at their residences during these hours. Interactions with young practioners and students of Ayurveda were of much interest to him. He continued this until a week before his death on 21 November 2010.


4.    With his extensive literary works and other educational activities, Sri.Thirumulpad contributed appreciably to the field of Ayurvedic education in Kerala. He served as a member of different academic bodies of all Universities in Kerala including Sree Sankaracharya Sanskrit University and thus played a significant role in designing the platform of Ayurvedic and Sanskrit education in the state. He actively involved in programmes which aimed at professional excellence of Vaidyas and formally trained physicians. Many of his works are textbooks for learners of Ayurveda (e.g. Ashtangasamgraha with commentary).  


5.    Founded AMPHIC Pharmacy (Ayurvedic Medical Practitioners Hospital and Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd), a co-operative society of Ayurvedic physicians running a manufacturing unit of Ayurvedic Medicines of superior quality at reasonable price (1970). He was the President of the society for ten consecutive years. Founded ‘Vaidyabhushanam K Raghavan Thirumulpad Foundation for Ayurvedic Studies’ for propagation of Sastric Ayurveda( 2000) towards  publication of books, organizing seminars and classes, conducting annual thesis competition for students of Ayurveda and Sanskrit etc.


6.    His contributions as an author were not limited to the realm of Ayurveda.  Among the 42 books published, there are translations from Sanskrit to Malayalam (e.g. Bhagavadgeetha) Tamil to Malayalam (Thirukkural) Pali to Malayalam (Dharmapada). Some works contributed much to the popularisation of Ayurveda among the public (e.g. Ayurveda-darsanam, Ashtangadarsanam etc.) His works also include poems in Malayalam and Sanskrit, political criticism, book on Naturopathy, in-depth studies on Indian philosophy, and reviews and translations of the authors like Sri Narayana Guru. Motivated by the Nationalistic Movement, he imbibed Gandhian principles in his work and life and participated in propagation of Khadi and Hindi. Had authored a book (Isuvum Mahatmavum) and written several articles in periodicals defending and explaining Gandhism.


7.    His career was adorned by several awards and honors. His theses on various aspects of Ayurveda have won prizes for 13 consecutive years (1966-1978) at the all India thesis competition organized by Kottakkal Arya Vaidyasala. His books have also won Kerala Sahitya Academy (2004) and State Science Technology Council (1998) awards. Fellowship of National Academy of Ayurveda (Autonomous body under Govt. of India) (1998) and Brihattrayee-ratna(2005) awards are National level recognitions. The first Ashtangaratna award of the Govt. of Kerala for outstanding contributions to Ayurveda aptly went to him. (2007). Apart from these, several organizations and bodies have honored him with different titles like Vaidyavachaspathi, Panditharatnam, Bhishagratna etc.