A legendary doctor, Dr. M. S. Lakshmi Kumari passed away on August 30 and the tributes to her from her friends and well-wishers are plenty, wholesome and warm.
Known as a great obstetrician and gynaecologist who kept a low-profile, she was a resident of CIT Colony.
Dr. Kumari is known to legions of families because she oversaw deliveries for decades. She was known to be highly knowledgeable and professional, strict and a disciplinarian and one who encouraged her team to maintain records and her clients to be disciplined.
The doctor was also known for her deep knowledge of Sanskrit and authored books translating the works of Sri Vedanta Desikar.
Here are excerpts from tributes people paid on social media –
“She was active till a few days ago….she was an inspiration to all women,” said Akilandeswari Sivaramakrishnan.
“She was an inspiring person,” said Divya Samvit R.
“I was her patient in 1976 and my sister was so in 1973. She was strict with her patients asking them to bring their files,” said Uma Natarajan.
“She was an expert as well as a simple lady and very religious. She was a staunch devotee of Sri Srinivasa Perumal,” said Uma Maheswari.
“She was a perfectionist and she loved dogs too,” said Maya Vasu.
“She made my first experience of labour so easy with her smile,” said Aruna Balachandra.
“My twin brother and I were born at Kalyani Nursing home in 1965….just when the delivery was due, Dr Kalyani left for Ooty on a planned trip and she left my mother in the care of Dr Kumari who stayed with mother through the night and helped her have a safe delivery,” said Asha Balaji.
“She was our family gynaecologist and a strict disciplinarian….she always insisted that patients maintain their files, with all the reports and prescriptions so make it easy for her or any other doctor to access the records. She was also very kind…I recall a time when I was four and was with my mother in the hospital…she noticed I was hungry and served me pooris..and asked me if I knew the ‘Aditya Hridayam’ and when I shook my head she asked me to learn it. Months later, when my brother as born she asked me if I now knew the ‘Aditya Hridayam’ and said she would allow me to see my baby brother if I recited a stanza, ” recalled Aishwarya Bhargav.
“She asked my wife to sing ‘ Kural ondrum illai’ during her delivery . . .she was a legend,” said Mahesh Vasudevanallur.
Dr MS Lakshmi Kumari was one of the most selfless woman I know. She helped me deliver my twins in 1998. I was new to the country and the whole system. She was very strict but in a way very caring. I was always scared of her but the care she took of my premature delivery and how she had the neonatal team waiting and moved both my children quickly to a different hospital shows the depth of passion and commitment she has in her job. In an age where c section is so common she gave me belief that a normal delivery was possible and she safely delivered both babies. The twins had been given the right care as soon as they were born and survived. I thank God and then her for her quick thinking! May her soul RIEP
My son was delivered by her in February 1987. My husband was posted at Rajahmundry (ONGC) and my doctor didn’t give any proper records – a file which she insisted. We had gone to her in the 8th month of pregnancy and she was hesitant to take me under her. When my Mama ( whose son was delivered by her) requested stating my personal difficulties of having lost my father, she agreed and my son was delivered by her. Wish I could get a photograph of her. Please help
Hello,
Dr.Lakshmi kumari was my Gynaecologist when I delivered my son in 1980 December & my daughter in 1982 September..
She was a very knowledgeable & very intelligent Gynaecologist..She was well known in Chennai..
Dr M.S.Lakshmi kumari has been our family doctor for 3 generations !!!! she was family to us more than a doctor !!!!! she has been more like a mother to me !!!! i’ve so many nostalgic memories about her !!!! for the last 40 years, i’ve never ever taken any medication without asking her !!!! she had so much concern for my mother who was bed ridden for so many years ; when my mother went into coma in the night , i didn’t know what to do ; i called up Dr Lakshmi kumari madam in the night & told her that i didn’t know what to do because no doctor was available in the night ; she immediately gave a doctor’s phone number & told me to contact him ; the moment i mentioned her name , that doctor agreed to come home to see my mother ; he was kind enough to help us get her admitted immediately at Isabelle’s hospital ; our entire family is grateful to her for being the best doctor to our family & a great human being as well !!!!! this is a personal loss to our family & i just can’t express my feeling ; all i can say is that that i’ve lost my mother again !!!!!
Dr Lakshmi kumari has been our family doctor for 3 generations !!!!she was family to us more than a doctor !!!! i’ve so many nostalgic memories about her !!!!! for the last 40years, i’ve never ever taken any medication without asking her !!!! Dr had so much concern about my mother who was bedridden for several years ; when my mother suddenly went into coma in the night , we ( my brother,my sister & myself ) didn’t know what to do ; we called up Dr Lakshmi kumari madam & told her that we didn’t know what to do as no doctor was available in the night ; she immediately gave a doctor’s phone number & told us to contact him ; the moment we mentioned her name that doctor agreed to come home & see my mother ; He was so kind to help us get her admitted immediately at Isabelle’s hospital ;
our entire family is grateful to her for being the best doctor & the greatest human being as well !!!!! this’s a personal loss to our family ; i just can’t express my feeling ; all i can say is that i’ve lost my mother again !!!!
I request request u to post her pic if u have. I was born in Isabel she was the person who saw delivery for my mother, hence I want to see her pic if available
Thanks
Regards
Kamatchi
We will try to get a photo and post it
Uma and I have had the unique, distinct and rare honour, pleasure and privilege of having personally known well Dr. M. S. Lakshmi Kumari for the past 6 decades as a great obstetrician and gynaecologist .
Through her we came also to know her very intellectual family and who like her are equally great scholars of Sanskrit and Vaishnavism. She sought no fanfare and recognition but they still came to her. She was brilliant, unselfish, frank and
straightforward to the core. Her several thousands of grateful patients including many members of my own family, my mother included, were always the recipients of great competence and care.
I was most fortunate to have had her as my teacher in the mid 1950s in the Madras Medical College and the Maternity hospital in Egmore. She followed as a truly worthy successor to
the late great obstetrician and gynecologist of yester years and her mentor, Dr. Madhavi Amma.
Ever since we heard the news last week of her passing away we have been in great sorrow. We pray that her soul may rest in Peace and that her family will find the necessary strength and Peace to bear the loss.
Dr. Sundaram Raju