On the Puthur junction leading on to Pattabhiraman Road in Tiruchi stands a gilded statue, impervious to the chaotic traffic below. The likeness is that of Dr. Ayyathurai Mathuram, one of the citys notable medical practitioners, and was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Madras, K.Kamaraj, in 1956.

Behind the statue stretches out a compound of residences and commercial buildings, broadly known by the name of the first structure there Guru Medical Hall. And with it, the story of the Mathuram family that is woven into the citys reputation as a regional healthcare hub, with generations of the clan practising both allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine here until today.

Walking us through the rich legacy is Dr. Bapu Isaac Mathuram, one of Dr. Ayyathurais grandsons, who stays in what is known as the Centenary Building, built in 1977 to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Dr. A.Mathuram.

A professor of biochemistry at the CSI College of Dental Sciences and Research, Madurai, Dr Bapu also finds himself to be a keeper of memories, particularly those related to his illustrious ancestors.

His residence is also unique for another reason its two upper floors serve as the manufacturing unit of the popular Ayurvedic preparations patented by Dr. A. Mathuram Guru Thailam (ointment) and Guru Pal Podi (toothpowder).

Family of physicians

As we sit listening to Dr. Bapu recounting the chronology of the Mathuram physicians down the ages in a room lined with a mix of antique and modern furniture and knick-knacks, the broad outlines of a different era begin to take shape.

My great-grandfather Dr. Samuel Mathuram is the one who decreed Mathuram (honey/nectar in Sanskrit) should be the family name, though we dont know exactly why. He was a Christian missionary doctor who served in many places throughout southern India for 46 years, says Dr. Bapu.

Dr. Samuel was also the recipient of the formulae of his grandfather Nallamuthu Visuvasams natural remedies. Visuvasam was a well-respected physician from Tirunelveli who had formulated his medicines based on his interactions with Hindu ascetics in the early 19th century.

Inspiration

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Medicine man