Prominent psychiatrist and former vice principal of Government Medical College, Kozhikode, S. Santhakumar, 87, died here on Thursday. He had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital for age-related ailments.
Dr. Santhakumar was also the founder-director of the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Kozhikode, and adviser to the State government on psychiatry; member of Indian medical syndicate; medical faculty dean, and head of the medicine studies board. He had also worked in Canada and the United Kingdom. A prolific author, he had been a regular columnist for newspapers and magazines and took psychiatry to the common man He also wrote over hundred books on psychiatry.
He was the recipient of many awards including the B.C. Roy Award. He is survived by wife, M.G. Ushabai, retired professor, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, son Sanjay S. Kumar, and daughter Anjali Santhakumar.
Born at Uzhuva near Pattanakkad, Cherthala, in Alappuzha in 1931, Dr. Santhakumar graduated from Stanly Medical College, Chennai. He did higher studies in U.K., Australia, Ireland, and the US in neurology and psychiatry. He joined the Government Medical College, Kozhikode, in 1962, and retired in 1986 as vice-principal.
