Colonel Mahankali Seetharama Rao FRCP (1906-1977) was an Indian physician best remembered for his services as chief physician to Indian Prime Minister

Jawaharlal Nehru Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (; ; ; 14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist, social democrat— * * * * and author who was a central figure in India during the middle of the 20t ...

and honorary physician to Indian President

Rajendra Prasad Rajendra Prasad (3 December 1884 – 28 February 1963) was an Indian politician, lawyer, Indian independence activist, journalist & scholar who served as the first president of Republic of India from 1950 to 1962. He joined the Indian Nationa ...

. Born to a poor family, Rao completed his secondary schooling at Muthialpet Boys School in Chennai whereupon he matriculated to Madras Medical College. He qualified for his MBBS in 1929 and was admitted as a Member of the

Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1 ...

a few years later. Rao received his first commission to the Indian Army in 1936, and served during World War II as a medical specialist in India’s Persia-Iraq force. In 1954, Rao left the military to serve as Head of Medicine at New Delhi’s Safdarjang Hospital while also acting as a faculty of Medicine at the University of Delhi. From 1952-1964 he was personal physician to Prime Minister Nehru and Honorary Physician to the President of India from 1962. In 1962, Col. Rao was awarded India's

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...

award for distinguished service in the field of medicine. In 1964, he relocated to London after being appointed medical adviser to Britain’s High Commissioner for India. The following year he was awarded Fellowship in the Royal College of Physicians. He later returned to New Delhi upon retirement, where he provided free medical services to the needy until his death.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Mahankali Seetharama 20th-century Indian medical doctors Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in medicine 1906 births 1977 deaths