Sudha Seshayyan

The year 1969 was momentous. In London, the Fab Four, namely John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, were busy recording what would be the Beatles’ final album, Abbey Road.

In NASA, scientists waited with bated breath watching Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the Moon. Michael Collins flew the spaceflight, Apollo 11, while the duo ‘walked.’

In India, it was Mahatma Gandhi’s centenary birth anniversary. Contests were held across the country. In one of them, a 8-year old girl charmed the jury with her oration and won the first prize. Over the years, she metamorphosed into an eloquent speaker, famous for her Hindu religious discourses. In time, the young lady would also study medicine at the Madras Medical College and become an anatomist of repute. Meet the charismatic Dr. Sudha Seshayyan, now Vice-Chancellor of The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University.

Sudha’s parents, viz., mother Sharada and father Seshayyan, were government doctors. Mom studied at Kilpauk Medical while Dad graduated from Stanley and taught at the famed Madras Medical College.

Born into a family of doctors, it was but natural for Sudha to follow in their footsteps. As American actor Bob Keeshan, who played Captain Kangaroo in a popular TV show said, “Parents are the ultimate role models for children. Every word, movement, and action has an effect. No other person or outside force has a greater influence on a child than the parent.”

Sudha went to the Government High School, Chromepet, studying in the English medium. “There were two convents nearby, but my parents chose this co-educational institution because it was walkable from home.” I ask her if she holds a grudge, and the good doctor says with alacrity, “No, of course not.”

Her paternal grandparents lived in Vellore, once known as the Second Madras, and Sudha would visit them during the holidays. At times, Seshayyan took both his wife and his daughter on a two-wheeler trudging along the National Highway! For the record, he used Fantabulous, a geared scooter manufactured by Royal Enfield. It had a 175cc powered two-stroke engine and an electric starter! Often, Baby Sudha would sleep off in the vehicle sandwiched between her parents, with the breeze providing soothing comfort. On several occasions, the family would take the train, and while on return, the ‘scent and smell’ of Basin Bridge gave Sudha enormous happiness, as it meant she was back in the city she so dearly loved. Mom, Dr. Sharada, worked at the Cancer Institute. As a kid returning from school, Sudha would call up the hospital’s landline, and the famed oncologist Dr. Shanta would pick.

“I want to speak to Amma.”

“This is Amma here.”

“No, it’s not Amma. I know Amma’s voice!”

And the later-day Padma Vibhushan awardee would have a hearty laugh.