Apollo God on earth!

He walks like a Badshah surrounded by a group of aspiring and ambitious young doctors and assistants who dream of making a name and a career like their boss who leads them.  The corridors of the hospital come alive seeing this dynamic doctor and the floors of the hospital feel the gentle massage as he walks into his room no 107, considered auspicious.  Patients become impatient on seeing this doctor to have a private consultation  to get rid of their bone related problems!  The four walls of the room brightens up on seeing their master with whom they have built relationship since the past 25 years!  Once in the hospitals, on duty and call, this gentleman is transformed into a personality out there  to serve the patients and to bring some cheer into their lives!

Meet Dr R Gopal Krishnan, Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon of Apollo Hospitals, Chennai who has a string of Degrees and qualifications attached to his name and who is ever happy to be in the operation theatre of the hospital to serve the patients and to relieve them of their miseries!

This "Vaidyanathan" the equivalent of a doctor in sanskrit is never tired of surgeries and has the label of a singing doctor! He is well versed with the film songs right from the 1950s and up to date be it Tamil, Hindi or English!

I had the opportunity of having watched one of his surgeries live and I could brave it as the entire operation theatre came alive with some of the old Kishore Kumar songs played by one of his assistants which kept my thoughts and vision away from the operating table but for RGK, the music was a "non-hired assistant" which helped him better his performance in surgeries day after day and for all these 25 years of glory!

The personality that he is relates to that of a Maharaja and his palace where scores of people come in and go, many come to consult, many come in as house guests and where the burner in the kitchen has never known the definition of " Being cold" ! The house is comparable to "Akshya Patra" where food is provided to one and all.

This story goes back 25 years back when RGK joined Apollo Hospitals, Chennai to join hands with Dr P C Reddy with  a quest to put the hospital prominently in the country's map of health care and to carve a niche for himself. Dr  P C Reddy honoured Dr RKG recently when the hospital celebrated its 25th silver jubilee. The growth of the hospital has its cascading effect on this doctor as well in terms of growth, prosperity and recognition in the field of Medicine.  He is also instrumental in creation of several Orthopaedic consultants personally trained by him who are placed in different hospitals all over the country and finding popularity and footing on their own. He has a long list of young aspirants who have expressed their willingness to work and get trained under him.

 Shoba, his better half gave 100% support both physically and morally in all the efforts that Dr R G K took to shape his career.  There were days in her life when this doctor would go to the hospital and only to return after 3-4 days attending to duties in the hospital to which he was totally dedicated and committed. All these things would not deter Mrs shoba Gopal Krishnan who was always ready to perform the duties of the household without a shrink on her forehead!  Such was the extent of patience and support that she exhibited which allowed and enabled Dr R G K to go after goals that he cherished to become what he is today! The age old saying that behind every successful man is a woman is so apt in this context!

He travelled to Siberia 2 decades back to work with an eminent IInd world war Russian surgeon named Dr Illizarov to master the technique of limb lengthening and demonstrated to the world that Limbs can be grown to certain specified lengths and became a boon for many physically challenged persons who thronged the hospital to find a permanent cure for their problems. sometimes, he jokes saying that he can lengthen only those parts with bones and nothing else!!!

Sometimes, the doctor does get annoyed when people in the house start prescribing ways and methods to overcome a bone related problem to patients, in his abscence, which they might have acquired through knowledge and by being with the doctor all these years! Like the alchoholic spirit, the anger just evoporates in seconds and does not percolate into his mind ever!  This quality of this amazing doctor is worth copying by all means!

A great lover of sports, this doctor devotes at least 2 hours in a day to maintain his physical conditions well.  Squash is the favourite game that he would prefer even when woken up at nights!  The only complaint he has is that Team India never wins when he sits down to watch them playing anywhere?

Archana and anand are the 2 pupils of his eye with his wife shoba occupying his heart! There are scores of others friends and relatives who are very dear to this doctor as well.  He is a great Philanthropist and a reader of books of all sorts that enhances knowledge.  He always advocates that one must go in depth to understand the essence of the subject matter.  He is a true friend, indeed!!!

--
Raju
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"Give a handful from your plenty"