Tamil Nadu’s beloved ‘Ten-Rupee Doctor,’ Dr. T. A. Kanagarathinam, dedicated over six decades to serving the poor with compassion and humility. His legacy continues to inspire doctors across South India.
Pattukottai, Tamil Nadu: Even four months after his passing, the people of Pattukottai still speak of Dr. T. A. Kanagarathinam—affectionately known as the “Ten-Rupee Doctor”—with reverence and gratitude. The veteran physician, who dedicated more than six decades of his life to providing affordable medical care, passed away in June 2025 at the age of 96.
He died at his residence in Srinivasapuram, Pattukottai, after being bedridden for nearly five years due to age-related ailments. Dr. Kanagarathinam is survived by his wife, K. Rajalakshmi, three daughters, and one son. His death marked the end of an era in rural Tamil Nadu’s healthcare landscape—but his values and memory remain deeply rooted in the hearts of those he served.
Dr. Kanagarathinam began his medical practice in the late 1950s and soon opened a clinic on Periya Theru in Pattukottai. Trained as a gynecologist, he served thousands of women and families across the Thanjavur district. By the 1960s, he was already known for charging exceptionally low consultation fees—starting with ₹2, later increasing to ₹5, and eventually fixing it at ₹10 in 1990.
The fee remained unchanged for decades, earning him the affectionate nickname “Ten-Rupee Doctor.” People from more than 50 nearby villages came to seek his care, many traveling long distances because they trusted both his medical expertise and his compassion.
Over the years, he is believed to have attended to thousands of childbirths, providing care to generations of families. For many, Dr. Kanagarathinam was not only a doctor but also a counselor, confidant, and constant presence during times of crisis.
Beyond his practice, Dr. Kanagarathinam’s generosity defined his life. He often waived consultation fees for patients who could not afford to pay and personally distributed free medicines to those in need. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he demonstrated extraordinary kindness by waiving nearly ₹9 lakh in rent for tenants in the commercial building he owned beside his clinic—at a time when many struggled to survive financially.
His quiet philanthropy earned him admiration across the region. Residents recall that his clinic was always modest, but the warmth with which he welcomed patients made it a place of healing in more ways than one.
In recognition of his contribution to community healthcare, Selvam, a retired headmaster, and K. Ambidhasan, known locally as “Kottai Ambidhasan,” are co-authoring a book titled “En Vergal, Vizhuthugal.” The book aims to chronicle Dr. Kanagarathinam’s life, values, and enduring impact on Pattukottai’s people.
Today, even months after his passing, his story continues to circulate on social media, in local gatherings, and among young doctors who see him as an example of medical integrity.
Dr. T. A. Kanagarathinam’s life reminds Tamil Nadu—and the wider medical fraternity—that healthcare, at its core, is an act of service. The Ten-Rupee Doctor may be gone, but his principles remain timeless: compassion over profit, and healing over business.
In Kerala, Dr. A. K. R. Gopal, fondly remembered as the “Two-Rupee Doctor,” served patients for decades at a token fee of ₹2, treating generations with quiet dedication until his passing in 2025 at the age of 80. Similarly, in Karnataka, Dr. Shankare Gowda, celebrated as the “Five-Rupee Doctor,” became a household name in Mandya for offering low-cost consultations and continuing his mission even after recovering from a life-threatening illness.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)
