Leaders united by an ambulance service

Political leaders like M. Karunanidhi, Jayalalithaa, and former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao may be divided by party affiliations, but their deaths have been united through one person – P.R.M.M. Shantha Kumar. Mr. Kumar, founder of Flying Squad Ambulance Service, was at the wheels transporting all these departed political leaders, from the hospitals to their homes and ultimately laying them to rest.

Mr. Kumar, who started the ambulance and homage services in the city, has been the ambulance driver for several high profile personalities including ‘Sivaji’ Ganesan, ‘Cho’ Ramaswamy, G.K. Moopanar, Manorama and Anjali Devi.

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Talking to The Hindu in his home-cum-office at Kilpauk, Mr. Kumar, with much pride, said he had offered the ambulance and homage services to hundreds of famous political leaders and actors in the State. The 58-year-old, having earned a post-graduate degree in History, created the first ‘freezer box’ machine for preserving dead bodies, for which he also has a patent.

Mr. Kumar said that although the freezer box machine was widely used for keeping dead bodies, his innovative machine had not received acceptance until it was used for actor ‘Sivaji’ Ganesan.

Mr. Kumar, showing the two freezer boxes used for AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa and DMK president Karunanidhi, said the machines were so technically advanced that the dead bodies could be kept for more than 10 days.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi passed away on the evening of August 7, 2018, after a brief hospitalisation. He was 94. (File photo)

Congress president Rahul Gandhi visited DMK chief M.K. Karunanidhi, who is unHe was admitted to the Kauvery Hospital in Alwarpet, Chennai on July 28, 2018 for dropping blood pressure. He was recovering, but suffered a decline in health on August 6, 2018. The hospital sent a press bulletin on Aug 8, saying that he had failed to respond to treatment. Here, Congress president Rahul Gandhi is seen visiting Mr. Karunanidhi at the hospital. dergoing treatment at Kauvery Hospital, and enquired about his health on Tuesday.

From the hospital, Mr. Karunanidhi's mortal remains were taken to his Gopalapuram house late at night on August 7, 2018.

After being kept at his Gopalapuram residence for about 3 hours, Mr. Karunanidhi's body was being moved to his CIT Colony residence.

With a copy of his brain child “Murasoli” carrying the news of his demise, M. Karunanidhi’s mortal remains were moved to a dais at Rajaji Hall in Chennai early on August 8, 2018.

Wrapped in the tricolour a mark of respect, Mr. Karunanidhi's mortal remains laid in state at Rajaji Hall, with political leadres, members of the film fraternity, family and friends paid their respect to the late leader.

The gun carriage carrying Karunanidhi's mortal remains moves into Sivananda Salai. Sea of humanity surrounds the carriage. Supporters wave party flags and chant slogans praising their leader.

The hearse turns towards Anna Salai and approaches Periyar Statues. Supporters, including women, wait to pay floral tributes to Karunanidhi.

Crowds throng Kamarajar Salai as the gun carriage bearing Karunanidhi's body reaches Anna Memorial. 

Mr. Kumar said that he considered himself to be lucky to have provided ambulance and homage services to two of the biggest political leaders in the State, Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi.

He said: “The family members of Mr. Karunanidhi, by selecting our services, showed that they wanted to provide the best hospitality to their departed leader and not be blinded for having been part of the funeral service to his bete noire Jayalalithaa.”

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Mr. Kumar was all praise for the family members of Karunanidhi, particularly Ms. Kanimozhi, in giving a free hand throughout the funeral function. He said unlike the traditional method of lowering the casket using ropes, for the first time in the State, an automated casket lowering device was used for Mr. Karunanidhi.

The Flying Squad Ambulance Service has 26 state-of-the-art well equipped ambulances, each costing not less than ₹35 lakh and has branches in 16 places including Hyderabad.