A gynecologist by profession, he is said to have assisted in between 65,000 and 80,000 childbirths over the course of his lifetime.
Published Jun 14, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 14, 2025 | 9:00 AM
For many in Pattukkottai and surrounding villages, Dr Kanagarathinam was more than a doctor.
Synopsis: Dr TA Kanagarathinam, affectionately known as Thanjavur’s “Rs 10 doctor,” passed away at 96 last Saturday, leaving behind a legacy of over six decades of selfless service. Renowned for assisting in tens of thousands of births and never turning away a patient, he was beloved across villages in Tamil Nadu for his compassion and humility.
Last Saturday, Dr TA Kanagarathinam fondly remembered as the “10-rupee doctor” by the people of Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu, passed away at the age of 96.
A native of Srinivasapuram in Pattukkottai, Dr Kanagarathinam had devoted over six decades of his life to providing affordable and often free medical care to thousands in and around Thanjavur.
A gynecologist by profession, he is said to have assisted in between 65,000 and 80,000 childbirths over the course of his lifetime, according to people who knew him.
For many in Pattukkottai and surrounding villages, Dr Kanagarathinam was more than a doctor. He was a household name, deeply embedded in the lives of the people he served.
Ask anyone in the region about the “10-rupee doctor” and stories of gratitude and affection pour forth. Either their families were cared for by him, or they themselves had been his patients.
Born in 1929, Dr TA Kanagarathinam was inspired to pursue medicine in the 1940s after accompanying his ailing mother to Chennai for treatment. Moved by the compassion shown by doctors and nurses, he resolved to follow the same path.
Malayaiya is one of the long time family friends of Dr. Rathinam
In 1968, after completing his medical education, he opened a small clinic near the Manikoondu area in Pattukkottai. His patients recall that throughout his career, he never charged more than ₹20 for a consultation – starting from ₹2 in the early years.
Dr Kanagarathinam began his practice at a time when rural Tamil Nadu had limited transport and healthcare access.
According to S Malayaiya, a family acquaintance, the doctor would often travel by bicycle or bullock cart to reach patients in remote villages.
Malayaiya, whose father was a close friend of Dr Rathinam, recalled one such gesture of generosity. When Malayaiya left town to pursue vocational studies, Dr TA Kanagarathinam quietly paid his tuition fees.
“He never cared about the time of day or night. Whether it was a delivery or an emergency, whenever patients came to his clinic or contacted him, he would leave immediately to attend to them. Even during the 1970s, when night travel was extremely difficult, he would ride his bicycle in the dead of night to reach a village where his help was needed,” he said.
“If patients had no money, they would offer produce from their homes – cucumbers, jackfruits or other goods. Dr Rathinam would accept these without complaint. He would smile and leave without asking for anything more.”
The doctor also ensured that his clinic had clean rooms where relatives of pregnant women could rest. Hygiene and dignity were a priority for him, Malayaiya added.
Muruga Saravanan, a resident of Pattukkottai born in 1980, shared: “It was Dr Kanagarathinam who helped deliver my mother. I was born in his clinic.”
He continued: “Though his full name was Kanagarathinam, most people here lovingly called him Rathinam Doctor or Rathinam Pillai Doctor. That’s how everyone here remembers him.”
“He was a truly noble doctor who never treated medicine as a business. Even till the end, he lived with compassion and simplicity. He rode a bicycle, grew his own food, and led a life of integrity,” Saravanan said.
Recognition and progressive ideals
Despite pursuing further studies in medicine abroad, Dr Kanagarathinam never sough to flaunt his qualifications.
“He always felt that writing just ‘MBBS’ next to his name was enough,” said Malayaiya.
In recent years, several organisations honoured him for his humanitarian work.
Among them, the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association in Pattukkottai presented him with the “Best Humanitarian of the Region” award.
At the award function, Dr Kanagarathinam had remarked, “I ensured that my son became a doctor too – so that this service doesn’t end with me,” recalled T Dhanapal, a senior member of the association.
Condolence banner for Dr. Rathinam
“He was progressive not just in his compassion but also in his thinking. That’s why he arranged inter-caste marriages for all his children – sons and daughters.”
Following Dr Kanagarathinam passing on 7 June, banners and tributes were seen across villages in the Thanjavur region.
“When I visited villages in and around Thanjavur after his passing, I saw banners in every village paying tribute to him. It moved me deeply,” Dhanapal added.
Today, Dr Kanagarathinam’s son, Swaminathan, continues his father’s work by providing low-cost medical care to underserved communities – a living legacy of a life lived in quiet, unwavering service.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
