Kaluparambil Veedu, situated at Perumthanni, is an ancient family that boasts several distinguished names of erstwhile Travancore. The fame of this family largely rests on its status as the traditional ‘Visha Vaidyans’ and ‘Kottaram Vaidyans’ to the royals of erstwhile Travancore.
G. Parameswaran Nair, the present patriarch of the family says: “The tradition of visha-vaidyam (toxicology) started in the family with my father’s ammavan (maternal uncle), Parameswara Kaimal.”
Parameswara Kaimal was a member of Nayanadathu Veedu in Changanaserry. About 120 years back, when Kaimal settled in Thiruvananthapuram, he started his practice at his wife’s house, the old Kaluparambil tharavad.
The vaidya tradition of the family was carried forward by his nephew Gopala Kaimal (b.1890-d.c.1950). “My father had set up a medicinal garden at Kaluparambil Veedu and various medicinal plants from our herbarium were often taken for exhibitions,” recalls Parameswaran Nair.
Right from a young age, he was drawn to the family tradition. “By that time, the Kaluparambil physicians had built-up a reputation and trust amongst local residents. The old school physicians were more devoted, with an inclination towards spirituality,” Nair feels.
Gopala Kaimal, a ‘Grant Vaidyan’, was often invited to Ayurveda College as juror for the practical examinations. The students from the College and several other apprentices, along with the vaidyan’s son, and family members helped him in collecting herbs and in the process of preparing medicines.
For his services, the royal family gave him a life-long pension (adithoon). Kaimal was also bestowed upon the title ‘Kottaram Vaidyan’. Later, Gopala Kaimal was made an ‘Honorary Physician’ at the Government Ayurveda College.
“I started my practice under my father,” says the old doctor. He adds: “Later, I enrolled at Government Ayurveda College and studied General Medicine.”
In 1963, G. Parameswaran Nair established the ‘Kaimal’s Pharmacy’ at Perumthanni (the Golden Jubilee celebration was conducted in December 2013).
“My ancestors were specialised in visha-vaidyam, however, it was during my time that General Medicine was also introduced to the family tradition.”
Nair continues: “My father had three sons and two daughters. However, I was the only one who followed the family tradition. Yet, I am not sure about the future of this tradition, for none of my children is interested in carrying it further.”
(The author is a conservation architect and history buff)
