Ayurvedic exponent Raghavan Thirumulpad dies

Raghavan Thirumulpad, 90, eminent Ayurvedic and Naturopathy exponent, died at his residence Chalakkudi near here today, family sources said.

His wife Visalkaskshi Thampuratty had predeceased him.

Thirumulpad's life was the story of a patient becoming himself into a doctor in his search for cure for his own health problems.

After matriculating, he took up a job in the Railways in Madras in 1940s at a young age. However, he could not stay in the city for long as he suffered frequent attacks ofbreathlessness and had to give up the job and return to Kerala.

He underwent treatment under famous Ayurvedic physician P Vasudevan Nambissan, only to become his doctor's personal aid and then desciple after getting relief from his treatment.

Later, Thirumulpad took the 'Vaidyabhooshanam' degree, which was then the qualifying examination for setting up Ayurvedic practice.

Instead of confining himself to treatment, Thirumulpad devoted much of his spare hours to avid reading and research in Indian system of medicine by delving deep into the basic texts in Sanskrit and the palm manuscripts gathered from varied sources.

He also learnt Homeopathy and Naturopathy and often took a a holistic look at his patients.

An author of several works on wellness in Sanskrit and Malayalam, Thirumulpad profusely contributed articles and commentaries on the subject.

An ardent Gandhian, he also found time for social and charity work.

Thirumulpad had been on the board of studies of several leading Ayrvedic educational institutions in the country. He was recepient of several honours including that of Kerala Sahitya Akademy for his writings.