Padma Awardee Prof .MRR : "The Father of Palliative care medicine"

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Indeed, the palliative care movement in India is inseparable from the contributions and pioneering efforts of Prof. MRR. His dedication and vision have been instrumental in shaping and advancing this crucial field of medicine in the country.

Palliative care medicine was introduced to India in 1993 when the visionary Prof. Mr. Rajgopal initiated its inception in Kerala. The journey began in a side room of the Anesthesia department at Calicut Medical College. Dr. Suresh Kumar, my friend and classmate, played a passionate role in shaping this novel concept in Kerala. He transitioned from anesthesiology to dedicating himself entirely to palliative care medicine.

Initially, palliative care started in a small room within the anesthesia department and was later relocated to a more suitable space near the pay wards. Subsequently, the Institute of Palliative Care was established within the medical college campus, pioneering a community-based palliative care concept, likely a first in the world and definitely the first in India. This revolutionary concept gradually spread across Kerala, with the people of Kerala wholeheartedly embracing it and playing a crucial role in supporting millions.

The Kerala Government also recognized the significance of palliative care and encouraged Panchayats to take up this initiative. The Kerala model of palliative care gained worldwide recognition, with the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsing the Institute of Palliative Medicine (IPM) in Calicut as a model palliative care center. Thousands of community volunteers were inspired by this concept and became integral to the palliative care system in the state of Kerala. Numerous training programs, both short-term and long-term, emerged, attracting many participants.

Prof. MR Rajagopal, known as the father of Palliative Care Medicine in India, was honored with the Padma Shri by the Indian Government. His podcasts, write-ups, and lectures are renowned worldwide, and his book "Walk with Weary" is truly exceptional.

The first two pictures depict the inception and dedication involved in establishing this new branch of medicine in Kerala. Prof. MRR brought WHO collaboration and empowered his students like Dr. Suresh to take the project forward, providing them with complete freedom to nurture this specialized field.







The Video by Mammotty

The video featuring Mammooty, the super megastar of Kerala, remembers how he became involved in the palliative care movement, perhaps the first in India, certainly as the founder and patron of the movement. It is surprising to note that he does not recall the name of Prof. MR Rajagopal, the father of Palliative Care in India and a Padma Awardee. The MRR award certainly does not belong to the so-called "Pranjiyettan" category.

I've written this blog to highlight this amnesia regarding my most respected actor's memory lapse about my most beloved mentor.

Video in YouTube 
My Personal note 

“The history of palliative care medicine in India is closely linked with Sir, who is regarded as the father of Palliative Care Services in the country. For reasons that remain unclear, he was sidelined at some point. Currently, he is at the helm of Pallium India in Trivandrum. To me, Prof. M.R.R. is more than just a teacher; he has been my mentor, my guide, and the person who has shaped both my life and career.”





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