Town in mourning: Kannur bids farewell to its ‘two-rupee doctor'
For over five decades, Gopal had stood as a beacon of compassion, charging just Rs 2 as consultation fee and offering free medicines to those who couldn't afford them. In an era of rising healthcare costs, he remained a lifeline for thousands of poor patients.
The son of Dr A G Nambiar and A K Lakshmikutty Amma, Gopal began his practice at his home near the LIC office in Talap, where he treated patients for around three decades.
Later, he continued his service at his residence 'Lakshmi' near Manikkavu. On average, he saw around 250 patients a day, with people often queuing up from dawn, including many from neighbouring districts. People from all walks of life sought his treatment.
Gopal imbibed his zeal for selfless service from his father, who advised him: "If your aim is to make money, you can do any other job. But if you choose to become a doctor, do it to serve."
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Those words led him to keep his consultation fee nominal.
Gopal is believed to have treated over 1.8 million patients in his over 50-year career. Thana resident M Shafeek, who knew him for years, recalled, "He was our beloved doctor - one of a kind. In the early years, he would start seeing patients as early as 5 am, to accommodate labourers, students, and others who had to leave early for work. His diagnosis was remarkably accurate, and he only recommended tests when absolutely necessary.
The medicines he prescribed were also affordable."
Even when Gopal revised his consultation fee after decades, it was raised only to Rs 10, but he never insisted on even that, ensuring his services remained accessible to all. He announced his retirement last year by pasting a handwritten message on his gate that his health was not allowing him to continue the practice. His wife P O Sakuntala, also a doctor, used to help him in his practice in the early years.
He has two children, son Dr Balagopal and daughter Vidya.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was among those who condoled Gopal's death, saying his willingness to serve by charging only Rs 2 as consultation fee for over half a century had brought great relief to poor patients. The funeral was held at Payyambalam in the afternoon.
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