Kannurs two-rupee physician A.Ok. Rairu Gopal passes away at 80; leaves behind legacy of compassion and repair

Dr. A.Ok. Rairu Gopal, fondly often known as Kannur’s “two-rupee physician” for his selfless service to the poor and dealing class, handed away on Saturday (August 2, 2025) on account of age-related sickness. His funeral will probably be held on Sunday (August 3, 2025) afternoon at Payyambalam.

For over 50 years, Dr. Gopal stood as a beacon of hope for the widespread folks, charging simply ₹2 for a session and infrequently offering free drugs to these in monetary misery. From 4 a.m. to 4 p.m., later adjusted to six a.m to 4 p.m, he examined sufferers tirelessly, pushed by an unwavering sense of responsibility. At the height of his observe, he attended to over 300 sufferers a day.

Initially working from a home close to the LIC workplace in Talap for 35 years, he later shifted his clinic to his household residence, ‘Lakshmi’ close to Manikkavu. People of all ages — youngsters to the aged — flocked to him for therapy. His compassionate method and humble life-style earned him unmatched reverence in the neighborhood.

Son of famend doctor and philanthropist Dr. A.G. Nambiar and A.Ok. Laksmikuttyamma, Dr. Rairu Gopal upheld his father’s ideas. Dr. Nambiar had as soon as informed his sons — Rairu Gopal, Venugopal, Krishnagopla and Rajagopal- that if he wished to generate income, they need to decide up a pickaxe and break right into a financial institution, not misuse the noble career of drugs.

Dr. Gopal’s family mirrored this ethos. His day started at 2.15 a.m. with chores within the cowshed, adopted by bathing, prayer and studying the newspaper at 5.30 a.m. There have been some folks, who obtained frequently milk from his cowshed.

By 6.30 a.m. sufferers started arriving greeted by a health care provider who valued their time and dignity.

He intentionally prevented ties with pharmaceutical firms, prescribing solely inexpensive medicines. Uninterested in items, commissions or luxurious journey, Dr. Gopal remained untouched by the commercialisation of recent drugs. Knowing his stance, firm consultant by no means approached his door.

“People got here to him not only for drugs, however for love,” stated B. Vivek (58), native resident, who was near him and household.

“He was the one whom I consulted for any illness for the previous 50 years. Just assembly him was sufficient to treatment the illness,” he recalled. He would by no means give drugs unnecessarily. After eradicating the medication from the quilt, he would maintain them within the field. This was to make sure that the sufferers doesn’t self medicine, which may have finished extra hurt than good, Mr. Vivek stated and added that he’s nice loss to folks and the society.

At a time when consultations value lots of and medicines much more, Dr. Rairu remained an outlier. His sufferers got here from far and broad, bypassing company hospitals and specialists, as a result of solely he may provide the consolation they sought — not simply medical however emotional and ethical.

Even after seeing over 18 lakh sufferers, he remained grounded.

For many years he examined sufferers even when his personal well being started to fail. His spouse Dr. P.O Shankuntala and son, Dr. Balagopal, stood beside him throughout his early years of observe. Daughter Vidya, daughter-in-law Dr. Thushara Balagopal and members of the family Bharat Mohan, Dr. Venugal and Dr. Rajagopal survive him.

In his condolence message, Chief Minister #Pinarayi Vijayan described Dr. Rairu Gopal “because the folks’s physician,” noting that his readiness to serve for such a nominal price was a supply of immense aid for poor sufferers.

“For half a century, he charged solely two rupees for consultations, making healthcare accessible to all. His willingness to serve was an important consolation to numerous sufferers,” the Chief Minister stated.