P.V.Rama Varier was a native of Sri Krishnapuram in Palakkad district. His father Kunghan Varier was a 'Kottara Vaidyan'. The Zamorin of Kozhicode was treated by him.
P.V.Rama Varier was a native of Sri Krishnapuram in Palakkad district. His father Kunghan Varier was a 'Kottara Vaidyan'. The Zamorin of Kozhicode was treated by him.
Kunghan Varier and his spouse Kuttyvarasiriar were keen to make their son Rama Varier an Arya Vaidyan. Arya Vaidyan P.S.Varier ( Founder - Arya Vaidyasala Kottakkal ) was the Guru and uncle of Rama Varier. The young Rama Varier learnt Ayurveda as per the ancient Gurukula tradition.
"One had to live, stay and study under the teacher. Time was not a factor. One had to study until such time the teacher felt that the student was ready. Father learnt Ayurveda for about 20 hours a day for almost 20 years.
He was made a trustee of Kottakkal Arya Vaidyasala quite early in life. Those were times when the facility functioned like the hospital at Vellore. It did not believe in having branches. Father was keen to Ayurveda global. It was his vision to take it around the world. Due to a small misunderstanding, father took leave and moved over to Coimbatore.
Three people were responsible for his introduction to the city and they were Justice Kuppuswamy Iyer, Dr.R.K.Shanmukham Chetty and G.D.Naidu. In fact G.D.Naidu received my father in his residence, 'Gopal Bagh' in the year 1942 with the 'send off' party invite of Kozhikode! Father began his practice informally in the year 1942 and his clinic used to be opposite to St.Francis Convent ( old Gestetner office ) on Trichy road.
His main interest was writing prescriptions based on his investigations. The patients had to organize the medicines on their own. People wanted quality medication but Rama Varier stated that a full company was required to make medicines. S.R.S.Mani Iyer and G.V.Doraiswamy Naidu insisted that he begin an ayurvedic venture. They supported my father by investing money in the company.
Thus AVP was born in 1948. G.V.Doraiswamy Naidu was a pillar of strength for my father. He used to tell my father that money borrowed should be returned on time and this was the best way to build goodwill. G.D.Naidu used to help my father by sending VIP patients. He once sent V.V.Giri for consultation. Eventually father became a very famous physician in Ram Nagar and he used to visit the houses of that area by 5:30 AM. He used to return to the clinic by 8:30 AM. My mother Pankajam was the 'Lakshmi' behind him.
He was wonderful bridge player and was the energy behind the City Club. Father was full of arts, science, culture and politics, stated 'Padmashri' awardee P.R.Krishnakumar ( Managing Director - The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy ( Coimbatore ) Limited.
P.V.Rama Varier had kept his doors open for everyone. He used to host people irrespective of caste, religion or ideology. His guests included popular people like Frontier Gandhi , A.K.Gopalan, E.M.S.Namboodiripad, Deoras of RSS and Y.B.Chavan. "Father could not sleep unless he had 20 guests staying for dinner. People from all communities could be counted among his patients. Medicine sales were his only income for he did not believe in charging fees for consultation. He taught me a great lesson.
He asked me to learn the art of licking and killing people who have harmed one in life by loving them. Father was a witness to a number of decisions including the Siruvani pact signed by Chief Ministers M.Karunanidhi and Achuta Menon. His Holiness Swami Chinmayananda, V.K.Krishna Menon, Chief Minister K.Kamaraj and Dr.C.Subramaniam have come to our house.
Nearly 170 Mahatmas have been our guests. He used to arrive with a number of people by 11 PM in the night and they used to be in the 'wanted' list due to their participation in the freedom struggle. Interestingly, the policemen searching for these people would also be in another part of the house! My father's towering personality made it happen. He was quite close to Rajaji and stopped smoking because of him, "smiled P.R.Krishnakumar while beginning to teach a few students pursuing Ayur Vedic education.
The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (Coimbatore) Limited had run a 7 year programme (Plus 2 plus 5) for students who had cleared their tenth standard at Mangarai between the years 1978 and 1986. The programme had produced some of the finest ayurvedic physicians.
P.V.Rama Varier had driven the car for Mahatama Gandhi, Nehru and Jayaprakash Narayan during his Kozhikode days. " Father wanted to see if Rajaji and E.M.S.Nambodiripad could get together. He was of the feeling that these two intellectual giants should work together in the interest of the country. The Maharaja of Mysore was treated by him.
Jamsaheb of Jamnagar invited father to start the Jamnagar University but he did not want to work for another person. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan ( Frontier Gandhi ) was also his patient. Father realized his 'life dream' of globalizing Ayur Veda when WHO ( World Health Organization ) recognized Ayur Veda. He was too excited and he said that the Prime Minister should inaugurate our hospital. Ultimately Morarji Desai did the same.
Indira Gandhi had also visited our facility. This had been his wish. Father was deeply attached to Sri Ramaswamy of Sri Krishnapuram. He used to regularly attend the Sri Ramanavami celebrations at the residence of Binny Subba Rao. Top businessmen like P.A.Raju Chettiar, G.K.Sundaram, G.R.Govindarajulu etc., were among his circle of friends. We purchased the land for our facility from R.K.Kandaswamy Chettiar. Father passed away just before inaugurating the 'Dhanwantri Temple'. He had a vision for Ayur Veda and he was able to achieve it said P.R.Krishnakumar.
People say that Coimbatore has become a global medical destination after the arrival of ' Lord Dhanwantri ' to Coimbatore. P.V.Rama Varier had successfully put Coimbatore on the Ayur Vedic map of the world.