Known as the ‘Two Rupee Doctor,’ S. Jayachandran took his last breath on December 19. The native of Chennai, Tamil Nadu Jayachandran was an inspiration to many. When the news of his death spread, people in large number came to pay their respects.

According to The New Indian Express, the 71-year-old doctor, was suffering from lung problem for several months and on Wednesday he succumbed to his illness, leaving the residents of Chennai in a state of mourning.

An alumnus of Madras Medical College, Jayachandran was known for his generosity and kindness in the city. In his 43-year-long career, he gave free treatments to thousands of people. His elder son, Dr J Saravana Jagan said, “He used to always talk about doing service to people. He would tell that people in North Chennai are from economically weaker sections and they can’t afford much, so we should help them.” For most of his practice, Jayachandran’s fee was Rs 5 or Rs 2. He also used to give medicines to patients and often used to buy them food from his pocket.

Saved life of many people

As soon as people heard the news of Jayachandran’s demise, many started to put up orbituary posters outside Jayachandran’s house-cum-clinic on Venkatachalam Street in Old Washermenpet, Chennai. One of his old patients, Vinoth, who was saved by the doctor at the young age of seven, had also put up a poster. While talking to The Hindu, Vinoth said, “I was brought here to him in an unconscious state. But in the evening I walked back. I brought my daughter as a 6-day-old infant when she vomited blood, and he saved her too.”

According to the reports, Doctor Jayachandran used to open his clinic very early in the morning. Many patients from different parts of the city would begin queuing up at his clinic since 4:30 am. On an average, he treated at least 250 patients on a daily basis.

While talking about Jayachandran, his long-time well-wisher, M.D. Dayalan, said that the doctor would send elderly patients back home by rickshaws if they came walking to his clinic. He added that the doctor also gave money to many of his patients to buy footwear if they had diabetes or had any foot injury.

Another long-time friend Ernest Paul said Jayachandran always took pride in being a resident of north Chennai. Paul added that Jayachandran always wanted to project his area in a good light.

“Should be given Padma Shri award”

According to Jayachandran’s friends and relatives, there was special respect for the “Two Rupee Doctor’s” prescription among the people. His elder son said that many trusts and social organisations came forward to donate money to him, but the doctor never accepted it. Instead, he requested the organisations only to donate medicines that he distributed to his patients free of cost.

N Raman, former director of Botany Department, University of Madras and Jayachandran’s close friend said that the doctor also used to refer patients to scan centres, where they would get concessions.

Jayachandran was also nominated for Padma Shri award in 2016 by his well-wishers and friends for on the grounds of humanitarian service. However, he did not receive one.  “He deserved the award, but he didn’t receive it,” said Raman. Jayachandra is survived by his wife, also a doctor, and a daughter and two sons. His last rites were performed on Thursday.

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