Dr SS Jayaram

From Usha : Today our beloved father, grandfather, and great grandfather of Jayaram family would have been a grand 100!!! Zoom in and see the date. I was surprised!!!

A nice reminder of Dr SSJ / Thatha (his spirit, his voice, his mission) in this video Kala noticed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HnHh7Lj92c0 =86

Footsteps of MPA This Documentary was released during the 40th Year Anniversary of MPA's registration (from 1972 to 2012) on 3rd August 2012.

Here are some photographs from the lunch (devasam) held on 26th June 2014, as well as the memorial service that happened the same evening at the Ranganathaswamy Kalyana Mantapa

Memorial Speech given at Dr. Jayaram’s memorial service on 26th Jun, 2014 at Ranganathaswamy Kalyana Mantapa in Bangalore
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Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am lucky to have the honour of speaking about Thatha today in lieu of the more traditional charmashloka. My name is Mridula, and I am Thatha’s youngest grand-daughter. To the world, he was Dr. S.S. Jayaram – eminent psychiatrist, patriarch of the Mandayam Iyengar community, and an extremely charming man. But to me and my dear cousins on behalf of whom I speak today, he was and will always be our beloved Thatha - with his irrepressible, childlike, endearing smile.

After Thatha’s passing away, his niece Chandrika shared a link to a profile of his on the Mandayam Shri Vaishnava Sabha’s website, put together by Shri Natampally Narasimhan. While I always knew of his illustrious career and his brilliance in academics, I was not aware of all of the details, and it was with a feeling of extreme pride that I read of all his accomplishments. I share some of them with you today, quoting freely from the article.

Thatha was born in 1916 in a middleclass intellectual family and was son of a school headmaster. His schooling and college education were extremely impressive, with merit & distinction awards and medals throughout. He passed S.S.L.C in 1930 with distinction in English, obtained 1st rank in Intermediate for the entire Mysore state, and completed his M.B.B.S with merit awards in all the 5 years from the Mysore Medical College. He was awarded the Arumugam Gold Medal and a silk purse for excellence in medicine and Bailey Venkoba Rao Gold Medal for the Best Out-Going Student. Thatha presented these two gold medals to my cousins Suma in New York, and Sanjay in Canada, who have followed in his footsteps in the field of medicine. Incidentally, the medicine bug has bitten the next generation too, with his great grand-daugher Anisha being awarded an MD just last month, something that Thatha was extremely proud of.

In 1950, he founded “Bangalore Nursing Home” at Gandhinagar, Bangalore. This institution offered what seems to us very routine but was pathbreaking for its time, with facilities for in-patient, out-patient, beds, X-ray, orthopaedics, surgery, pathological testing lab and a dispensary. Incidentally, I was born in the Bangalore Nursing Home, something I used to feel very proud of when we visited his nursing home on our annual visits to Bangalore. I, a little girl, used to be treated with so much respect and love there, just by virtue of being his grand-daughter. That was the extent to which he was loved and respected by his team.He also had a dispensary near 3rd Cross, on Sampige Road in Malleswaram.

His inherent interest in psychiatry took him to Mc Gill University in Canada, where he obtained a Diploma in Psychiatry and studied further in Cincinnati, U.S.A. He also studied medicine at Edinburgh in Scotland, U.K. He also obtained a Diploma in Psychiatry from A.I.I.M.H (NIMHANS), where he later taught as an Asst. Professor. His passion and dedication towards psychiatry led to his becoming the first eminent psychiatrist of Karnataka; President of the Indian Psychiatric Society for a decade; National President of IPS in 1972; Visiting Professor at Lindberg, Virginia, U.S.A; President of Medico-pastoral Association & Halfway Home; Convener of Su***de Prevention Squad, where in his counselling has saved many lives; and National President of Asha Niketan; apart from being the Founder member of the Royal College of Psychiatry, London and Life Fellow of Indian Psychiatry Society.

However, I also wanted to share with you my more personal memories of Thatha. One of my earliest memories of Thatha is racing with Smitha, Mitu and Arun to open the gate as he came home in his big white ambassador car from Bangalore Nursing Home, in time to have his lunch. In the evening, he used to see patients at his clinic in his house, and I remember feeling very important as I opened the door to large numbers of patients and saw them sitting and waiting for him. His clinic was a mysterious room with a closed door, where we sometimes used to play Doctor-Doctor and toy around with his stethoscope.

Thatha had tremendous joie de vivre and took a great interest and pleasure in life. This is a man who consulted patients into his eighties, and played a weekly round of golf into his nineties. He was extremely proud of his great grandson Rahul who played and won competitive golf as a young boy.
He was very fond of sports, and avidly followed the Indian cricket team’s fortunes by sitting glued to the television, his face almost touching the screen to compensate for his poor eyesight and hearing. Even the IPL bug did not spare him and he eagerly enjoyed the spectacle of the IPL for the first few seasons.

He was an avid bridge player as well, and I remember very clearly Saturday evenings in my childhood, when all of the aunts and cousins would get together in his house in the evenings, the adults playing bridge downstairs, while we children played 28 upstairs (actually, Smitha, Mitu and I watched the older cousins play 28). My husband, Kuldeep and I, as adults, were privileged to be introduced to the hallowed bridge-playing club, and we were lucky to join in sometimes on what became nightly bridge-playing, as Thatha made it a point to have us play if we were there in time for the game, where he taught us many of the basics. The whole family would perk up when Thatha uttered the words “aateen aadona?”

If sports and bridge were his first two loves, I would say food was his third love. Even as his appetite diminished and he started eating very small quantities, his taste for food did not diminish; just like his taste for life. In fact, even on the day he passed away and he was in a lot of discomfort, in the middle of it all, he took great pleasure in the aroma of mangoes from my mother’s hand, that she had cut earlier that day. He was very adventurous, and wanted a taste of everything – be it traditional Iyengar delicacies, or exotic food like pizza, pasta, and chaats. In that sense he was very lucky to have my Pati, the world’s most accomplished cook, and five daughters, all of who have inherited her talent for cooking. He had a sweet tooth, and every meal had to be ended with a sweet or peppermint. If there was no sweet available, he would eat a spoon full of sugar!

Thatha had the special knack of making every person feel as if they were the most special to him; be it his daughters, his grand-children, or his great grandchildren. Each of us felt as if we were Thatha’s favourites! He knew just the right thing to say to each person, be it discussing politics animatedly with his sons-in-law, counseling his immediate and extended family whenever they needed advice, sharing with us his SSJs (Silly Stupid Jokes as we had called his PJs!) or talking to little Agastya, his youngest great-grandchild.

He had tremendous grace, immense patience, and a very tactful approach in a house full of extremely dynamic daughters that he brought up thoroughly modernly. I am often struck with how uncomplainingly and with such grace he has handled what a lesser mortal might have complained about – the loss of a child, a grandchild, a spouse, poor hearing, poor eyesight. He would almost never grouse about his physical weaknesses; instead he would turn the focus on you, ask how your day was, and be the news-bearer of all that had happened in our spread-out family.

I have been incredibly blessed to have spent these last ten years in close proximity with him, as have been my husband and my children. If I learn even a quarter of his patience, his wisdom, his joy and his tact, I will have achieved a lot in life.

Thank you.

More condolences from colleagues

Dear family,

Look at the number of condolences for Ayya that have been received. I think he stopped practising when he was around 85 years right? And still almost 13 years later he is remembered with such fondness
Look at the impact he has made in his professional field!

Let's all take this opportunity to do well in each of our profession and reach a pinnacle like Dr SSJ

Lots of love
Kala

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ajit Bhide
Date: Wed, Jun 25, 2014 at 11:06 PM
Subject: More Homage to Dr SSJ


VIDYADHAR WATVE
Jun 24 at 10:52 PM
It is sad news for all of us. Dr. Jayram was a founding member of IPS. We will miss him.

My heartfelt condolences to bereaved family.



Vidyadhar Watve

VP IPS, Pune

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Drparmod
Jun 17
A great loss to society and in person as a friend

DR PARMOD

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satish malik
Jun 17
Had the privilege of knowing him during my b'lore days.truly lived his life with high values..his interest in golf is another aspect that distinguished him apart from being a very good social being&learned psychiatrist...prof.scmalik, New Delhi

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Dr. Anil Shah
Jun 17
it is a great loss .Very senior Psychiatrist who made great efforts to establish Psychiatry as a speciality .As a Past President ,his contribution in uplifting our speciality is unique,

May his soul rest in peace and god give enough strength to his family members to bear this loss
Regards,
Dr. Anil Shah,
Ahmedabad
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Rajeev
Jun 17
sad demise of Dr Jayram is great loss to society. A "vat briksha" of society has fallen.
He was a father figure in society. His contribution to Psychiatry in India will be remebered for long time.
We are with family in hour of grief. May his soul rest in peace.

Rajeev Jain, Raipur
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Jun 17
Indeed it is a sad day to note the demise of Dr.Jayaram, a doyen.
Dr.N.N.Raju, Secretary, IPS, Vizag

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Jun 18
My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members

T.V.Asokan,
PRESIDENT IPS
Chennai
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Dr Shiv Gautam
Jun 18
Obituary dr s s jayaram.

I had the priviledge of having associtiation with him when l was karnatka's rep to south zone in late1970s he apart from being an outstanding psychiatrist had many human qualities. A humble encouraging supportig and guiding father figure dr jayaram shall be missed by all who came in contact with him even once. May his soul rest in peace . - Shiv gautam, Jaipur

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My Heart felt condolences to the bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace

Dr. Venkat Iyer
Baroda

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Jun 18
Dr G Prasad Rao
Jun 18
A Great Loss

A doyen. And founding members of Indian psychiatric society
His contribution is immense for south zone especially

We miss him

-Dr G Prasad Rao
Consultant Psychiatrist

Director, Asha Psychiatric Hospital, Hyderabad.

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bhavesh lakdawala
Jun 19 at 10:19 PM
May his soul Rest In Peace
My heartfelt condolence to bereaved family
Dr. Bhavesh Lakdawala
Ahmedabad
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kshirod mishra
Jun 21 at 12:14 AM
my heart felt condolence to beraved family .he was a great man
SURG CDR (DR) KK MISHRA (Retd)

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Roy Kallivayalil
Jun 22 at 12:47 PM
Dear Colleagues,

Heartfelt condolences at the sad demise of one of the doyens of our profession Dr SS Jayaram. While at Madurai, we have known him closely through Prof A Venkoba Rao, who was his close friend.

May his soul rest in peace.

Roy Kallivayalil

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abha bang
Jun 21 at 9:00 AM
Please convey our heartfelt condolences to the grieving family. May his soul rest in peace.

Dr. Durga Bang
Dr. Abha Bang Soni


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Best Regards,

Kala Charlu
MITU Foundation www.mitufoundation.org

MITU - Home Welcome to the virtual home of MITUMITU (Multiple Initiatives Towards Upliftment) is focused on driving, participating and supporting various activities for the less fortunate sections of society.This is a platform to share ideas and channel funds for the

A TITAN GOES
[From Mandyam Sabha 26-Jun]

In Dr. S.S.Jayaram's death,the Mandayam Sri vaishnavas,the medical fraternity,his relatives as also family members have lost a "TITAN" of a class that seems to be becoming extinct He gave us 98 but a 100 would have been excellent.An era has come to an end.. His chequered medical career as also his social commitments were a testimony to his vitality.For some one who treated literally thousands of patients and made them smile during his long illustrious career no tribute can be enough.Always a man of sunshine character,,fine manners,well spoken,respectful towards seniors,friendly towards youngsters,humble about his exceptional achievements,unflinchingly dedicated and disciplined in work,he was a rolemodel for young and old alike.
He was a rank student and a Gold medalist.He established The Bangalore Nursing Home in Gandinagar in late forties with Dr. Dayalu as his partner. In addition he had a dispensary also at Malleswaram 3rd cross Road. There were only three M.B.B.S. Doctors in Malleswaram during 1940s.He was apioneering psychiatrist of Karnataka,Prestdent of Indian Psychiatric Society,visiting professor at lindberg,virginia,U.S.A.,Founder member of the Royal college of Psychiatry,London. He was also a very good sports person and had played volley ball,foot ball,hockey during his college days and was the captain of the Basket ball team.He was also an active Golf player for more than five decades.His contribution to Y.M.M.A. and Mandayam srivaishnava sabha as President was immense.
He was being called "Srisaila mama"(S.S. in S.S.Jayaram)in our house,because of our close relationship.Though i was one of his several nephews he had a special affinity for me from my childhood.Although i was 15 years younger to him,he was treating me like a friend.whenever I visited Bangalore on leave from Delhi/Ahmedabad ,I was being invited for special lunch with him,during which time he used to narrate his interesting experiences, like the visit of C. R chari (then C.M. of Madras)to his Nursing Home,the visit of Sir C.V. Raman to his house(as a patient),his learning of swimming in Malleswaram Swimming Pool,( not existing now),how his marriage with 'Tiru' mami took place in May 1940 at Kalki Ramaswamy Iyengar's house in East Park Road,Malleswaram.He was blessed with five Gems of daughters who took care of him with utmost devotion. I distinctly remember his enthusiasm in joining the dance (He was 85 years)at the time of wedding of his gr.daughter Mridula (D/O Kala) at Ahmedabad during Dec.2001.I was fortunate enough to get his blessings just 20 days before his death. Though he was in sleeping pose with eyes closed,he held both my hands in his hands and talked to me for 10 mts and blessed me.
He shall be sorely missed by all of us.But,somewhere in the night sky,he shall always be there for us as a friend,guide and inspirer
(M.T.RANGARAJAN)

From Mridula 17-Jun
On the way to Srirangapatna

From Mamtha 15-Jun
Heartfelt thanks to Ravi for doing the necessary last rites. Lovely pics M ridu. Thanks. Smitha I called you and spoke to Aprameya. He is so smart

From Aprameya 15-Jun
It's amazing how a member of our family was the first psychiatrist and founded the first nursing home. He really meant a lot to us and our family. I really miss him.😞
-Sent from Aprameya

From Sanjay 15-Jun
Thanks Indu Aunty! I'm missing Thatha's hearty pats on the back already

And his laugh along with it!

From Indu 15-Jun
Thanks a lot kids. Just knowing that all of you are there praying for thatha gives us a great satisfaction. We miss you all too.