Bengaluru: Dr Raja Marthanda Varma (93), eminent Neurosurgeon and founder-director of National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), passed away here on Tuesday.
A recipient of Padma Shri in 1970, he had served the field of mental health for over six decades. If NIMHAS has made a big name as one of the topmost in Asia in the field, Dr Varma’s contribution has been significant.
Varma was a member of the Mavelikkara royal family in Kerala. After completing higher education in Neuro-science, he set up the Neuro-surgery unit in 1958, which later became NIMHANS. He was also among the first five neurosurgeons in the country.
He had also served as the director-general of health services. In 1969, he was honoured with the Karnataka Rajyotsava award. He had received a number of awards at the national and international level. He was also honorary physician to former president R Venkataraman.
He is survived by wife Malati Varma and sons Ravi Gopal Varma and Shashi Gopal Varma.