R. Marthanda Varma: Difference between revisions

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{{about|an Indian neurosurgeon|other uses|Marthanda Varma (disambiguation)}}
{{about|an Indian neurosurgeon|other uses|Marthanda Varma (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name                    = R. Marthanda Varma
| name                    = R. Marthanda Varma
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| awards                  = [[Padma Shri]]<br />[[Rajyotsava Prashasti]]<br />IASSMD Distinguished Achievement Award<br />Citizen Extraordinary of [[Bangalore]] Award<br />[[Visvesvaraya|Sir Visvesvaraya]] Award
| awards                  = [[Padma Shri]]<br />[[Rajyotsava Prashasti]]<br />IASSMD Distinguished Achievement Award<br />Citizen Extraordinary of [[Bangalore]] Award<br />[[Visvesvaraya|Sir Visvesvaraya]] Award
}}
}}
'''Ravivarma Marthanda Varma''' was an Indian neurosurgeon, one of the pioneers of Indian neurosurgery and the founder director of the [[National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences]] (NIMHANS).<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma">{{cite web | url=http://nimhans.ac.in/nimhans/past-directors | title=Dr. R Martanda Varma | publisher=NIMHANS | date=2015 | access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref> He was the originator of a new surgical procedure for treating [[Parkinson's disease]]<ref name="Textbook of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Volume 1">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cnF-2KCeR1sC&q=%22varma%27s+technique%22+parkinson%27s&pg=PA168 | title=Textbook of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Volume 1 | publisher=Springer | date=2015 | access-date=3 June 2015 |author1=Andres M. Lozano |author2=Philip L. Gildenberg |author3=Ronald R. Taske | isbn=9783540699590 }}</ref> which later came to be known as ''Varma's Technique''.<ref name="Man over mind">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/27/stories/2003032701110200.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030507060535/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/27/stories/2003032701110200.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 May 2003 | title=Man over mind | date=27 March 2003 | work=[[The Hindu]] | access-date=3 June 2022}}</ref> He was a former Deputy Director General of Health Services, [[Government of India]] and an honorary surgeon to [[R. Venkataraman]], former president of India.<ref name="R Marthanda Varma, Founder Director of NIMHANS, Dies at 93">{{cite web | url=http://www.mangalorean.com/bengaluru-dr-r-marthanda-varma-founder-director-of-nimhans-dies-at-93/ | title=R Marthanda Varma, Founder Director of NIMHANS, Dies at 93 | publisher=Mangalorean | date=12 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref> He was honoured by the [[Government of India]] in 1972 with [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest Indian civilian award.<ref name="Padma Shri">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Shri | publisher=Padma Shri | date=2015 | access-date=11 November 2022}}</ref>
'''Ravivarma Marthanda Varma''' was an Indian neurosurgeon, one of the pioneers of Indian neurosurgery and the founder director of the [[National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences]] (NIMHANS).<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma">{{cite web | url=http://nimhans.ac.in/nimhans/past-directors | title=Dr. R Martanda Varma | publisher=NIMHANS | date=2015 | access-date=2 June 2015}}</ref> He was the originator of a new surgical procedure for treating [[Parkinson's disease]]<ref name="Textbook of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Volume 1">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cnF-2KCeR1sC&q=%22varma%27s+technique%22+parkinson%27s&pg=PA168 | title=Textbook of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Volume 1 | publisher=Springer | date=2015 | access-date=3 June 2015 |author1=Andres M. Lozano |author2=Philip L. Gildenberg |author3=Ronald R. Taske | isbn=9783540699590 }}</ref> which later came to be known as ''Varma's Technique''.<ref name="Man over mind">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/27/stories/2003032701110200.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030507060535/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/27/stories/2003032701110200.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 May 2003 | title=Man over mind | date=27 March 2003 | work=[[The Hindu]] | access-date=3 June 2015}}</ref> He was a former Deputy Director General of Health Services, [[Government of India]] and an honorary surgeon to [[R. Venkataraman]], former president of India.<ref name="R Marthanda Varma, Founder Director of NIMHANS, Dies at 93">{{cite web | url=http://www.mangalorean.com/bengaluru-dr-r-marthanda-varma-founder-director-of-nimhans-dies-at-93/ | title=R Marthanda Varma, Founder Director of NIMHANS, Dies at 93 | publisher=Mangalorean | date=12 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2015}}</ref> He was honoured by the [[Government of India]] in 1972 with [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest Indian civilian award.<ref name="Padma Shri">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Shri | publisher=Padma Shri | date=2015 | access-date=11 November 2014}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
Marthanda Varma was born in the Royal family of [[Mavelikkara]]<ref name="Padmashree Dr Raja Marthanda Varma Passed Away">{{cite web | url=http://www.evartha.in/english/2015/03/10/padmashri-dr-raja-martanda-varma-passesd-away.html | title=Padmashree Dr Raja Marthanda Varma Passed Away | publisher=E Varta | date=10 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2015 | archive-date=12 September 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912060115/http://www.evartha.in/english/2015/03/10/padmashri-dr-raja-martanda-varma-passesd-away.html | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Renowned Neurosurgeon R Marthanda Varma Dies at 93 in Bengaluru">{{cite web | url=http://www.ndtv.com/bangalore-news/renowned-neurosurgeon-r-marthanda-varma-dies-at-93-in-bengaluru-745612 | title=Renowned Neurosurgeon R Marthanda Varma Dies at 93 in Bengaluru | publisher=ND TV | date=11 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref> which had close family connections with the [[Travancore royal family]], his mother, Aswathynaal Kutty Amma Thampuran, was the sister of the then [[Maharani]] of [[Travancore]].<ref name="The Third Princess">{{cite web | url=https://inorite.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/the-third-princess/ | title=The Third Princess | publisher=Inorite | date=2015 | access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref> After graduating in medicine, he did master's course at the [[University of Bristol]]<ref name="Dr R M Varma">{{cite web | url=http://talent-kerala.net/previous/2003/jul/2.htm | title=Dr R M Varma | publisher=Talent Kerala | date=28 June 2002 | access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref> and completed the Fellowship of the [[Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh]], becoming one of the first five neurosurgeons of India.<ref name="Padmashree Dr Raja Marthanda Varma Passed Away" /><ref name="Renowned neurosurgeon Varma dies">{{cite news | url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/renowned-neurosurgeon-varma-dies-115031001354_1.html | title=Renowned neurosurgeon Varma dies | newspaper=Business Standard India | publisher=Business Standard | date=10 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2015| agency=Press Trust of India }}</ref> He returned to India in 1958 and joined the All India Institute of Mental Health (AIIMH), a mental hospital based in Bangalore, Karnataka.<ref name="Padmashree Dr Raja Marthanda Varma Passed Away" /> as the professor of neurosurgery.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" /> He became the director of the institution in 1969 and held the post until 1974.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" />
Marthanda Varma was born in the Royal family of [[Mavelikkara]]<ref name="Padmashree Dr Raja Marthanda Varma Passed Away">{{cite web | url=http://www.evartha.in/english/2015/03/10/padmashri-dr-raja-martanda-varma-passesd-away.html | title=Padmashree Dr Raja Marthanda Varma Passed Away | publisher=E Varta | date=10 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2015 | archive-date=12 September 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912060115/http://www.evartha.in/english/2015/03/10/padmashri-dr-raja-martanda-varma-passesd-away.html | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Renowned Neurosurgeon R Marthanda Varma Dies at 93 in Bengaluru">{{cite web | url=http://www.ndtv.com/bangalore-news/renowned-neurosurgeon-r-marthanda-varma-dies-at-93-in-bengaluru-745612 | title=Renowned Neurosurgeon R Marthanda Varma Dies at 93 in Bengaluru | publisher=ND TV | date=11 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2015}}</ref> which had close family connections with the [[Travancore royal family]], his mother, Aswathynaal Kutty Amma Thampuran, was the sister of the then [[Maharani]] of [[Travancore]].<ref name="The Third Princess">{{cite web | url=https://inorite.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/the-third-princess/ | title=The Third Princess | publisher=Inorite | date=2015 | access-date=2 June 2015}}</ref> After graduating in medicine, he did master's course at the [[University of Bristol]]<ref name="Dr R M Varma">{{cite web | url=http://talent-kerala.net/previous/2003/jul/2.htm | title=Dr R M Varma | publisher=Talent Kerala | date=28 June 2002 | access-date=2 June 2015}}</ref> and completed the Fellowship of the [[Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh]], becoming one of the first five neurosurgeons of India.<ref name="Padmashree Dr Raja Marthanda Varma Passed Away" /><ref name="Renowned neurosurgeon Varma dies">{{cite news | url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/renowned-neurosurgeon-varma-dies-115031001354_1.html | title=Renowned neurosurgeon Varma dies | newspaper=Business Standard India | publisher=Business Standard | date=10 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2015| agency=Press Trust of India }}</ref> He returned to India in 1958 and joined the All India Institute of Mental Health (AIIMH), a mental hospital based in Bangalore, Karnataka.<ref name="Padmashree Dr Raja Marthanda Varma Passed Away" /> as the professor of neurosurgery.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" /> He became the director of the institution in 1969 and held the post until 1974.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" />


When the All India Institute of Mental Health was reconstituted as the [[National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences]] with the participation from the state and central governments in 1974, Varma was chosen as its founder director, a post he retained until 1977.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" /> In 1977, he was appointed as the deputy director of Health Services by the [[Government of India]] for a one-year term.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" /> He returned to NIMHANS in 1978 and served as the director until his superannuation in 1979.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" /> He also served as the dean of the faculty of mental health and neurosciences of [[Bangalore University]], as the advisor to the government of India on mental health and neurosurgery and as the honorary surgeon to [[R. Venkataraman]], former President of India.<ref name="R Marthanda Varma, Founder Director of NIMHANS, Dies at 93" />
When the All India Institute of Mental Health was reconstituted as the [[National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences]] with the participation from the state and central governments in 1974, Varma was chosen as its founder director, a post he retained until 1977.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" /> In 1977, he was appointed as the deputy director of Health Services by the [[Government of India]] for a one-year term.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" /> He returned to NIMHANS in 1978 and served as the director until his superannuation in 1979.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" /> He also served as the dean of the faculty of mental health and neurosciences of [[Bangalore University]], as the advisor to the government of India on mental health and neurosurgery and as the honorary surgeon to [[R. Venkataraman]], former President of India.<ref name="R Marthanda Varma, Founder Director of NIMHANS, Dies at 93" />
Line 33: Line 33:
Varma was credited with research on [[Parkinson's disease]] and was known to have developed a minimally invasive technique for the control of the disease, the procedure now known as ''Varma's Technique''.<ref name="Dr R M Varma" /> The procedure, first introduced in 1963 by Varma, involved accessing the subthaamic nucleaus in brain through foramen ovale using syringes<ref name="Movement Disorders in India">{{cite journal | url=http://www.acnr.co.uk/may_june_08/ACNRMJ08_movement.pdf | title=Movement Disorders in India | author=UdayMuthane | journal=Advances in Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation | date=May 2008 | volume=8 | issue=2 | pages=22–23 | access-date=3 June 2015 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112730/http://www.acnr.co.uk/may_june_08/ACNRMJ08_movement.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> with the whole procedure lasting less than 20 minutes.<ref name="NIMHANS Founder Director Varma No More" /> He presented a paper on the technique at the international conference of Neurosurgeons at [[Copenhagen]] in 1965.<ref name="Dr R M Varma" /> He presented more than 40 medical papers in medical conferences and was credited with the publication<ref name="Textbook of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Volume 1" /> of over 20 articles.<ref name="Man over mind" />
Varma was credited with research on [[Parkinson's disease]] and was known to have developed a minimally invasive technique for the control of the disease, the procedure now known as ''Varma's Technique''.<ref name="Dr R M Varma" /> The procedure, first introduced in 1963 by Varma, involved accessing the subthaamic nucleaus in brain through foramen ovale using syringes<ref name="Movement Disorders in India">{{cite journal | url=http://www.acnr.co.uk/may_june_08/ACNRMJ08_movement.pdf | title=Movement Disorders in India | author=UdayMuthane | journal=Advances in Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation | date=May 2008 | volume=8 | issue=2 | pages=22–23 | access-date=3 June 2015 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112730/http://www.acnr.co.uk/may_june_08/ACNRMJ08_movement.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> with the whole procedure lasting less than 20 minutes.<ref name="NIMHANS Founder Director Varma No More" /> He presented a paper on the technique at the international conference of Neurosurgeons at [[Copenhagen]] in 1965.<ref name="Dr R M Varma" /> He presented more than 40 medical papers in medical conferences and was credited with the publication<ref name="Textbook of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Volume 1" /> of over 20 articles.<ref name="Man over mind" />


Marthanda Varma was married to Malathi, a lecturer at APS college and the couple had two sons.<ref name="NIMHANS Founder Director Varma No More">{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/NIMHANS-Founder-Director-Varma-No-More/2015/03/11/article2707966.ece | title=NIMHANS Founder Director Varma No More | publisher=Indian Express | date=11 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref> The elder is Ravi Gopal Varma, also a neurosurgeon and the younger is Shashi Gopal Varma. He died on 10 March 2015 at [[M. S. Ramaiah]] Memorial Hospital, Bangalore, at the age of 93,<ref name="Dr R Marthanda Varma passes away">{{cite web | url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/latest-news/dr-r-marthanda-varma-passes-away-159193.html | title=Dr R Marthanda Varma passes away | publisher=Mathrubhumi | date=10 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2015 | archive-date=11 March 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311014901/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/latest-news/dr-r-marthanda-varma-passes-away-159193.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> succumbing to age related illnesses.<ref name="NIMHANS' founder Dr. R Marthanda Varma passes away">{{cite web | url=http://www.thegulfindian.net/nimhans-founder-dr-r-marthanda-varma-passes-away/ | title=NIMHANS' founder Dr. R Marthanda Varma passes away | publisher=The Gulf Indian | date=22 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="Dr R Marthanda Varma, Pioneer in Neuroscience, Passed Away">{{cite web | url=http://www.medindia.net/news/dr-r-marthanda-varma-pioneer-in-neuroscience-passed-away-147276-1.htm | title=Dr R Marthanda Varma, Pioneer in Neuroscience, Passed Away | publisher=Med India | date=11 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref>
Marthanda Varma was married to Malathi, a lecturer at APS college and the couple had two sons.<ref name="NIMHANS Founder Director Varma No More">{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/NIMHANS-Founder-Director-Varma-No-More/2015/03/11/article2707966.ece | title=NIMHANS Founder Director Varma No More | publisher=Indian Express | date=11 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2015}}</ref> The elder is Ravi Gopal Varma, also a neurosurgeon and the younger is Shashi Gopal Varma. He died on 10 March 2015 at [[M. S. Ramaiah]] Memorial Hospital, Bangalore, at the age of 93,<ref name="Dr R Marthanda Varma passes away">{{cite web | url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/latest-news/dr-r-marthanda-varma-passes-away-159193.html | title=Dr R Marthanda Varma passes away | publisher=Mathrubhumi | date=10 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2015 | archive-date=11 March 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311014901/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/latest-news/dr-r-marthanda-varma-passes-away-159193.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> succumbing to age related illnesses.<ref name="NIMHANS' founder Dr. R Marthanda Varma passes away">{{cite web | url=http://www.thegulfindian.net/nimhans-founder-dr-r-marthanda-varma-passes-away/ | title=NIMHANS' founder Dr. R Marthanda Varma passes away | publisher=The Gulf Indian | date=22 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2015}}</ref><ref name="Dr R Marthanda Varma, Pioneer in Neuroscience, Passed Away">{{cite web | url=http://www.medindia.net/news/dr-r-marthanda-varma-pioneer-in-neuroscience-passed-away-147276-1.htm | title=Dr R Marthanda Varma, Pioneer in Neuroscience, Passed Away | publisher=Med India | date=11 March 2015 | access-date=2 June 2015}}</ref>


Varma also mentored many private hospitals in Bangalore, such as [[Mallige Medical Centre]], [[Manipal Hospital]], and MS Ramaiah Hospital. He was also an independent director at [[Mallige Medical Centre]].<ref name="ROC">{{cite web | url=http://www.mca.gov.in/mcafoportal/showdirectorMasterData.do | title=View Director Master Data DIN:00886787 | publisher=Ministry of Corporate Affairs |  access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref>
Varma also mentored many private hospitals in Bangalore, such as [[Mallige Medical Centre]], [[Manipal Hospital]], and MS Ramaiah Hospital. He was also an independent director at [[Mallige Medical Centre]].<ref name="ROC">{{cite web | url=http://www.mca.gov.in/mcafoportal/showdirectorMasterData.do | title=View Director Master Data DIN:00886787 | publisher=Ministry of Corporate Affairs |  access-date=2 June 2017}}</ref>


Varma, an elected fellow of the [[National Academy of Medical Sciences]],<ref name="List of Fellows - NAMS">{{cite web | url=http://www.nams-india.in/downloads/fellowsmembers/ZZ.pdf | title=List of Fellows - NAMS | publisher=National Academy of Medical Sciences | date=2016 | access-date=19 March 2022}}</ref> received the [[Rajyotsava Prashasti]] from the government of [[Karnataka]] in 1969.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" /> The [[Government of India]] awarded him the civilian honour of [[Padma Shri]] in 1972<ref name="Padma Shri" /> and he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the World Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Mental Deficiency (IASSMD) in 1982.<ref name="Man over mind" /> He was also a recipient of the Citizen Extraordinary of Bangalore Award in 1967<ref name="Man over mind" /> and the [[Visvesvaraya|Sir Visvesvaraya]] Award in 1998.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" /> The Neurological Society of Bangalore has instituted an annual oration award in his honour.<ref name="Man over mind" /> He remained the Professor Emeritus of NIMHANS after his retirement until his death.<ref name="Man over mind" /> He is also a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of Madras Neuro Trust.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.madrasneurotrust.org/lifetime-achivement.html |title=Madras Neuro Trust |access-date=16 August 2020 |archive-date=7 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907203315/http://www.madrasneurotrust.org/lifetime-achivement.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Varma, an elected fellow of the [[National Academy of Medical Sciences]],<ref name="List of Fellows - NAMS">{{cite web | url=http://www.nams-india.in/downloads/fellowsmembers/ZZ.pdf | title=List of Fellows - NAMS | publisher=National Academy of Medical Sciences | date=2016 | access-date=19 March 2016}}</ref> received the [[Rajyotsava Prashasti]] from the government of [[Karnataka]] in 1969.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" /> The [[Government of India]] awarded him the civilian honour of [[Padma Shri]] in 1972<ref name="Padma Shri" /> and he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the World Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Mental Deficiency (IASSMD) in 1982.<ref name="Man over mind" /> He was also a recipient of the Citizen Extraordinary of Bangalore Award in 1967<ref name="Man over mind" /> and the [[Visvesvaraya|Sir Visvesvaraya]] Award in 1998.<ref name="Dr. R Martanda Varma" /> The Neurological Society of Bangalore has instituted an annual oration award in his honour.<ref name="Man over mind" /> He remained the Professor Emeritus of NIMHANS after his retirement until his death.<ref name="Man over mind" /> He is also a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of Madras Neuro Trust.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.madrasneurotrust.org/lifetime-achivement.html |title=Madras Neuro Trust |access-date=16 August 2020 |archive-date=7 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907203315/http://www.madrasneurotrust.org/lifetime-achivement.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>


{{portal|India|Medicine}}
{{portal|India|Medicine}}

Latest revision as of 15:01, 21 August 2022

This article is about an Indian neurosurgeon. For other uses, see Marthanda Varma (disambiguation).

R. Marthanda Varma
Born
Mavelikkara, Kerala, India
Died10 March 2015
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
OccupationNeurosurgeon
Known forVarma's Technique (Neurosurgical procedure)
Spouse(s)Malathi
ChildrenTwo sons
Parent(s)Aswathynnal Kutty Amma Thampuran
AwardsPadma Shri
Rajyotsava Prashasti
IASSMD Distinguished Achievement Award
Citizen Extraordinary of Bangalore Award
Sir Visvesvaraya Award

Ravivarma Marthanda Varma was an Indian neurosurgeon, one of the pioneers of Indian neurosurgery and the founder director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS).[1] He was the originator of a new surgical procedure for treating Parkinson's disease[2] which later came to be known as Varma's Technique.[3] He was a former Deputy Director General of Health Services, Government of India and an honorary surgeon to R. Venkataraman, former president of India.[4] He was honoured by the Government of India in 1972 with Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.[5]

Biography[edit]

Marthanda Varma was born in the Royal family of Mavelikkara[6][7] which had close family connections with the Travancore royal family, his mother, Aswathynaal Kutty Amma Thampuran, was the sister of the then Maharani of Travancore.[8] After graduating in medicine, he did master's course at the University of Bristol[9] and completed the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, becoming one of the first five neurosurgeons of India.[6][10] He returned to India in 1958 and joined the All India Institute of Mental Health (AIIMH), a mental hospital based in Bangalore, Karnataka.[6] as the professor of neurosurgery.[1] He became the director of the institution in 1969 and held the post until 1974.[1]

When the All India Institute of Mental Health was reconstituted as the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences with the participation from the state and central governments in 1974, Varma was chosen as its founder director, a post he retained until 1977.[1] In 1977, he was appointed as the deputy director of Health Services by the Government of India for a one-year term.[1] He returned to NIMHANS in 1978 and served as the director until his superannuation in 1979.[1] He also served as the dean of the faculty of mental health and neurosciences of Bangalore University, as the advisor to the government of India on mental health and neurosurgery and as the honorary surgeon to R. Venkataraman, former President of India.[4]

Varma was credited with research on Parkinson's disease and was known to have developed a minimally invasive technique for the control of the disease, the procedure now known as Varma's Technique.[9] The procedure, first introduced in 1963 by Varma, involved accessing the subthaamic nucleaus in brain through foramen ovale using syringes[11] with the whole procedure lasting less than 20 minutes.[12] He presented a paper on the technique at the international conference of Neurosurgeons at Copenhagen in 1965.[9] He presented more than 40 medical papers in medical conferences and was credited with the publication[2] of over 20 articles.[3]

Marthanda Varma was married to Malathi, a lecturer at APS college and the couple had two sons.[12] The elder is Ravi Gopal Varma, also a neurosurgeon and the younger is Shashi Gopal Varma. He died on 10 March 2015 at M. S. Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, Bangalore, at the age of 93,[13] succumbing to age related illnesses.[14][15]

Varma also mentored many private hospitals in Bangalore, such as Mallige Medical Centre, Manipal Hospital, and MS Ramaiah Hospital. He was also an independent director at Mallige Medical Centre.[16]

Varma, an elected fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences,[17] received the Rajyotsava Prashasti from the government of Karnataka in 1969.[1] The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1972[5] and he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the World Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Mental Deficiency (IASSMD) in 1982.[3] He was also a recipient of the Citizen Extraordinary of Bangalore Award in 1967[3] and the Sir Visvesvaraya Award in 1998.[1] The Neurological Society of Bangalore has instituted an annual oration award in his honour.[3] He remained the Professor Emeritus of NIMHANS after his retirement until his death.[3] He is also a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of Madras Neuro Trust.[18]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Dr. R Martanda Varma". NIMHANS. 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Andres M. Lozano; Philip L. Gildenberg; Ronald R. Taske (2015). Textbook of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Volume 1. Springer. ISBN 9783540699590. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Man over mind". The Hindu. 27 March 2003. Archived from the original on 7 May 2003. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "R Marthanda Varma, Founder Director of NIMHANS, Dies at 93". Mangalorean. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Padma Shri" (PDF). Padma Shri. 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Padmashree Dr Raja Marthanda Varma Passed Away". E Varta. 10 March 2015. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "Renowned Neurosurgeon R Marthanda Varma Dies at 93 in Bengaluru". ND TV. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "The Third Princess". Inorite. 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Dr R M Varma". Talent Kerala. 28 June 2002. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "Renowned neurosurgeon Varma dies". Business Standard India. Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  11. ↑ UdayMuthane (May 2008). "Movement Disorders in India" (PDF). Advances in Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation. 8 (2): 22–23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "NIMHANS Founder Director Varma No More". Indian Express. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "Dr R Marthanda Varma passes away". Mathrubhumi. 10 March 2015. Archived from the original on 11 March 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  14. ↑ "NIMHANS' founder Dr. R Marthanda Varma passes away". The Gulf Indian. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  15. ↑ "Dr R Marthanda Varma, Pioneer in Neuroscience, Passed Away". Med India. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  16. ↑ "View Director Master Data DIN:00886787". Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  17. ↑ "List of Fellows - NAMS" (PDF). National Academy of Medical Sciences. 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  18. ↑ "Madras Neuro Trust". Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.

Further reading[edit]

  • Ron Levy; Anthony E. Lang; Jonathan O. Dostrovsky; Peter Pahapill; John Romas; Jean Saint-Cyr; William D. Hutchison; Andres M. Lozano (2001). "Lidocaine and muscimol microinjections in subthalamic nucleus reverse parkinsonian symptoms". Brain. 124 (10): 2105–2118. doi:10.1093/brain/124.10.2105. PMID 11571226.
  • UdayMuthane (May 2008). "Movement Disorders in India". Advances in Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation. 8 (2): 22–23.
  • Andres M. Lozano; Philip L. Gildenberg; Ronald R. Taske (2015). "Textbook of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Volume 1". Springer. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  • Muthane UB, Varma RB, Sundararaj P (1998). "Percutaneous trans-foramen ovale approach to subthalamic nucleaus (Varma's technique)". Mov Disord. 13 (71).
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