Restoring heritage buildings—or even entire precincts—comes with many risks. One major issue, for instance, is the careless disappearance of commemorative plaques and markers. Take the recent redevelopment of Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore chennai . Here, the plaques at the entrance, which recorded donor names, disappeared during the process. Initially, the local councillor claimed officials had preserved them safely.
However, workers later found them in what could only be described as a rubbish heap. Since then, they have vanished again. Meanwhile, authorities claim they have “been taken care of” a phrase that can mean many things in Tamil.
Demolition Makes Things Worse
The risks grow even greater when authorities demolish historic buildings to construct new ones. For example, the descendants of Dr MR Gurusamy Mudaliar have raised concerns. They question why his name has disappeared from a block at Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) after reconstruction. So far, enquiries with local authorities have yielded no answers.
Unfortunately, this lack of clarity only deepens the concern. The doctor still has other memorials. For instance, a road in Kilpauk bears his name. A statue stands outside the General Hospital. In addition, he endowed a school, and another has recently come up in Periamet. Even so, a block in a medical college would likely have meant the most to him.
Early Life and Medical Career in Chennai
Dr Gurusamy Mudaliar was born on June 16, 1880 (some accounts say 1883), in Nelamangala in the princely state of Mysore. He completed his BA at Central College. He then moved to Madras and earned an MB&CH from Madras Medical College. He joined the Indian Medical Service and first served in Thanjavur. Later, he moved to Madras.
In 1921, he became Professor of Materia Medica at Madras Medical College. In 1922, he took over as Professor of Pathology. His appointment as Professor of Therapeutics in 1925 sparked debate. Until then, authorities had never given that post to an Indian. Dr Gurusamy Mudaliar, however, proved his critics wrong. He more than justified the faith placed in him.
A Master of Diagnosis in Chennai’s Medical History
Many stories highlight his skill as a medical practitioner. Some accounts overlap with those of his contemporaries. However, all agree on one point. He mastered the percussion technique of diagnosis. This method involved tapping different parts of the patient’s body to detect illness.
Today, advanced technology has almost replaced it. Perhaps the eminent vascular surgeon Dr N Varadarajan was among the last practitioners of this technique.
Personal Beliefs and Educational Legacy
Dr Gurusamy Mudaliar was deeply religious. The Dr Gurusamy Mudaliar Thondaimandala Tuluva Vellalar School, which he founded in 1951 at Wall Tax Road (VOC Salai), still displays the portrait of Lord Murugan that he worshipped. The school’s design reflects his vision. It features high ceilings, natural light, and ample ventilation.
In “Anraiya Chennai Pramukargal”, Randor Guy notes an interesting detail. Dr Gurusamy Mudaliar preferred sitting on a windowsill rather than at a desk while treating patients.
The KMC Connection
Kilpauk Medical College did not have a direct link with Dr Gurusamy Mudaliar. The campus once formed part of Hyde Park Gardens, owned by the Rajah of Panagal. In 1924, he donated the land to establish the Government Indian Medical School. In 1948, this institution became the College of Indian Medicine. In 1955, authorities constructed new buildings across the road.
When K Kamaraj inaugurated them, one block was named after Dr Gurusamy Mudaliar. The college closed in 1960. KMC later took over the premises.
Disappearance of a Name
In 2024, authorities replaced the old buildings with a modern multi-storey facility. The upgrade was necessary. However, it does not reflect the character of the earlier structures. During this process, the Dr Gurusamy Mudaliar Block disappeared.
His name has not returned since. he Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, under which KMC functions, should consider the family’s request. Restoring his name would inspire future students.
A Lesser-Known Contribution
Dr Gurusamy Mudaliar lived in Kilpauk, on the road that now bears his name. He passed away in 1958. Few people know about his connection to early cinema. In 1918, R Nataraja Mudaliar made “Keechaka Vadam” , the first film produced in South India.
As a silent film, it required title cards for dialogue and narration. Dr Gurusamy Mudaliar handwritten all these cards. Clearly, unlike the stereotype about doctors’ handwriting, he wrote neatly and legibly.
This article appeared in The Hindu-https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/when-historic-markers-in-chennai-are-demolished-without-explanation/article70835802.ece
Video on this topic– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ7WEeBQ61M&t=169s
My book, Chennai, A Biography can be ordered-https://sriramv.com/2021/12/27/how-to-buy-autographed-copies-of-chennai-a-biography-from-outstation/20.ece
