Dr. A. N. Chandrasekaran

Dr. Arungundram Nagarajan Chandrasekaran (born 15 October 1938), is considered the Father of Rhuematology in India and one of the key persons in the development of modern medicine in India. He is also a philanthropist and adopted a village called Arungundram to set it as a model for development.

Arungundram Nagarajan Chandrasekaran
A. N. Chandrasekaran
Born	1938 (age 84) Ramayampet, Nizampet District, Telengana, British Raj
Nationality	Indian
Education	Madras Medical College, University of Madras (MBBS Degree, 1963), University of Madras (MD degree, 1970)
Occupation	Physician, Rheumatologist, Medical Officer, Administrator, Teacher
Spouse	Nirmala Chandrasekaran

Childhood education

Arungundram Nagarajan Chandrasekaran was born in a family of educationists and administrators. His ancestors were from Padaliputhira now known as Patna. They came along with King Rajendra Chola about 1000 years back when he conquered the Ganges Peninsula and brought Gangai water to Tamil Nadu (Gangai konda Cholapuram) and settled at Arungundram village which was Culturally, Spiritually, Religiously at its peak level.

Dr. Chandrasekeran was born at Ramayapet which was in Nizampet Dist. of Nizam state now with Telengana in the year 1938. Later he joined his grandparents at Kanchipuram. His Grandfather was Rao Baghadur Arungundram Duraisamy Iyyar, Retd., Deputy collector of composite Madras Presidency. Before joining school he was initiated into education by his holiness Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peedam and blessed by Sri Ramana Maharishi of Thiruvannamalai. He studied at Municipal school and Pachaiyappa’s High school at Kanchipuram and passed the S.S.L.C. Examination and joined the Loyola college at Madras for his intermediate studies. During his school days, he was a bright student and was awarded many prizes for his academic and oratory capacity. He passed out with 1^st class marks during the intermediate examination.

Medical college education

Dr. Chandrasekaran joined the Madras Medical college in 1957 and received his MBBS Degree in 1963 from the University of Madras, India and MD (General Medicine) in 1970 also from the University of Madras, India^[1].

Then, he had a special training in Rheumatology at the United Kingdom from Prof. J.J.R.Duthie of Northern General Hospital, Edinburgh (UK). He was selected as the Common Wealth Medical Fellow for 1975-1976 to get the training at Northern General Hospital, Edinburgh (UK). In 1976 he was selected by American college of Chest Physicians (FCCP). In the year 1990 he was selected as a Fellow of the Indian Association of Medical specialties (FIAMS) and in 1991 he was selected as Fellow of Medical sciences academy (FIMSA). In 1992 he was selected as Fellow of Indian college of Physicians (FICP) and 1993 Fellow of American college of Rheumatology (FACR).

Fellow of Royal College of Physician, President of Royal College of Physician. Edinburgh, UK - 1994 Fellowship

In 1994 he was elected as a Fellow of Royal college of Physicians of Edinburgh (UK) (FRCP). In 1996 he was also elected as Fellow of Royal Society of Medicos (F.R.S.M.), Fellow of All India Medicos Society (F.A.I.M.S.), Fellow of the society for advanced studies in Medical sciences (F.S.A.S.M.S) and the Fellow of the Association of college of Chest Physicians (F.A.C.C.P). He was given DSc. (Doctor of Science – HONORIS CAUSA) by the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University in the year 2013 for his contribution to the Medical fraternity.

Medical service

Army medical service

In the year 1963 he was asked to join the Army Medical Corps of Indian Army during National Emergency. He was the First RMO of 3/8 Gorkha Rifles and served for 4 ½ years . During that period he was a Principal advisor to the commanding officer in all matters relating to the general health of all troops and supervise in detail the hygiene and sanitation of the battalion both in peace and war. Work being almost an obsession with him, he was instrumental in training the medical platoon in their professional duties and improving the functional efficiency of the Medical Inspection room and the Regimental Aid post.

In the words of his commanding officer LT.COL. T.J.JACOB “The qualities of leadership, selflessness and complete identification with troops which Captain Chandrasekaran possessed in abundance came to prominence in war. He has actual combat experience throughout the 1965 war, when he gave his best as a soldier and doctor. Never flinching from danger and in utter disregard of personal safety, he had been a source of inspiration to the troops especially during the darkest hour of battles, when timely medical aid was of paramount importance and the knowledge that it would be readily available to the needy was by itself a great morale booster. Many a precious life was saved in battles through the untiring efforts of this illustrious Medical Officer of the battalion, whose conduct in war was in keeping with the highest traditions of our Army”. He was responsible for treating not only soldiers but also the civilians at somewhere in the northern sector of Jammu and Kashmir. He was also very popular with the civilians population for his attitude, care and concern for the patients.

In the words of colonel O.P. Kapur, Colonel Commandant “I still remember 4^th September 1965 very vividly when you as my Doctor at the TOP SUNJOI in Jammu and Kashmir spent the whole day without even a drop of water in looking after the wounded men. I can still picture your going from man to man and giving them medical aid and during this process, your hands and your clothes had become completely red with the blood of the wounded soldiers. How gracefully and tenderly you wore those marks of blood over your hands and clothes the whole day, as that was the blood which saved the country’s honor during 1965. During that time, bullets and shells were flying over your head while you are evacuating the patients to the tents for the treatment”.

He was awarded three medals for his stint army in 1965 has Raksha medal, Sainya Seva medal – Services medal – (with clasp J & K) Samar Seva star.

Tamilnadu medical service

He joined Tamil Nadu Medical service after being released from Army Medical Corp in 1967. He served as Assistant Surgeon, Assistant Professor, Professor, Director Medical and Rural Health Services.

In the 1972 he started the Department of Rheumatology at Madras Medical Collage and Rheumatic Care center at Govt. General Hospital at Chennai. It was a 30 bedded ward with laboratory, Physiotherapy, Nursing and a small operation theatre for doing Arthroscopy. The laboratory is so modern that it has facilities to do Thermo graphics studies, Tissue typing for diagnosis of Rheumatic disease and Renal Transplantation. The Experimental Lab has proved the efficacy of Asparagus in reverting Osteoarthritis in experimental rats.

As a Medical Officer he was responsible for treating patients with Rheumatic Disease, teaching students of Medicine both undergraduate and Post graduate regarding Rheumatic Disease. The Rheumatic out-patient unit was very popular with daily attendance of 100 to 120 patients and in-patient to its fullest capacity. During ward rounds the discussions about the patients’ present condition, treatment modalities and future rehabilitation were discussed.

Education

Since the specialty was first of its kind in India, the DM Rheumatology program was started in the year 1991^[2] and till now 50 DM candidates are available in Tamil Nadu due to the program. Many Districts have a Rheumatologist to treat Rheumatic Disease and many teaching Hospitals to treat and teach Rheumatic diseases.

To create awareness of Rheumatic disease periodic annual conferences and International conferences were held at Chennai. Many research works such as PhD Programmes were conducted in the department and about 20 Drug Trials were conducted to note the efficacy, side effects and drug interaction were studied and presented in national and International conferences. This study included Ayurvedic Medicines and Allopathic Medicines. Many I.C.M.R. and State Research projects were conducted and presented. In I.C.M.R. and W.H.O. projects to study the efficacy of Ayurvedic Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis, funded by World Health Organisation was carried out for the first time in India at Department of Rheumatology at Govt. General Hospital, Chennai, India.

To create an awareness about Rheumatic diseases he visited nearly 400 cities and towns in India on Sundays to give education and lecture to students, General Physician and General Practitioners.

Personal achievements

Dr. A.N. Chandrasekaran has trained 53 students of Medicine in Rheumatology and guided 6 Ph.D. students.

He has published nearly 300 scientific papers in National and International journals and presented nearly 300 papers in conferences. He has contributed chapters in API Text Book of Medicine (1986 and 1992), Review of Medicine (1986), Postgraduate Medicine (1988 and 1994), Medicine Update (1994), Practical Rheumatology (1994), Reviews in Neurology (1994), Balliere’s Clinical Rheumatology (1995), Clinical Immunology (1995), Diet in Health and Disease (1995), & many Patients Education Booklets for Indian Rheumatism Association, Pfizer, Searle India and Boots India Medical Company’s.

He was a Examiner for Ph.D. Medicine - 1984 , M.D. General Medicine 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 , 1986 , 1987 , 1987 , 1988 , 1989 , 1990 , 1994 , National Board -1984 , 1987 , 1989 , 1989 , 1990 , DM CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY 1993 , 1994 , 1995 , DM RHEUMATOLOGY - 1993 , 1995 , 1996 .

He held many administrative posts like warden – Postgraduate Hostel, Secretary – Library committee, Deputy Superintendent of Govt. General Hospital, Vice Principal In-charge of Madras Medical College^[1].

Dr. B.C. Roy award, His Excellency Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, President of India - 1992

He was awarded with the Dr. B.C. Roy National award by Medical council of India in 1992, for his contribution and development of Rheumatology. He was awarded the R.E.A.C.H. Foundation Award by Academy of Archaeology and sciences of ancient India (AASAI) for digging out many statues of ancient Pallava and Chola periods and Constructed 18 Temples at Arungundrum village, Vellore district, Tamil Nadu, India.

He was given the life time achievement award by 2009 - Indian Rheumatism association, India. 2010 - Madras Medical College, Chennai, India, 2011- The Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University, 2013 - Mr. K.G. Medical University Lucknow, India. He has attended many International conferences (1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994) and delivered orations - (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994) and visited 20 countries on profession assignments.

Dr. A. N. Chandrasekaran was been selected for the Asia Pacific League of Association for Rheumatology Master Award 2020^[3], for his contribution in the field of rheumatology and the award was presented officially at the opening ceremony of the APLAR 2020 virtual meet on October 24.

He has conducted a delivery of a child in the Air India Flight on Sector Frankfurt sector and a Myocardial Infarction for a patient of Air India Flight in Bombay New York sector.

He does yeoman social work, sparing his time, energy and funds after his retirement from Tamil Nadu Medical services. His public service covers building health centers and temples. His welfare activities include:

A Primary school at Arungundram Village

A Primary school at Arungundram Village, Medical Camps for poor patients at every 2^nd Sunday of the month since 2004, A Community Hall for people of Arungundram 2010; A Maternity Hospital which was handed over to Govt. of Tamilnadu in 2011 where till now 900 normal deliveries have been conducted without any complications; A Library with more than 20,000 books; A police out post building handed over to Govt. of Tamilnadu in 2010; Eighteen Temples on Arungundram Hillrock; Raised the Rajagopuram for a Temple complex; An Annanda Mandapam in Arungundram for poor feeding and Sri Chandramouleeswarar Vedic School at Arungundram Hill.