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{{Short description|20th-century Indian doctor and philanthropist}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox scientist
| honorific_prefix =
| name = A. N. Chandrasekaran
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| native_name =
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| image = Dr.A.N.Chandasekaran-2020.jpg
| image_size = 220px
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| caption = Dr Chandasekaran, in 2020
| birth_name = Arungundram Nagarajan Chandrasekaran
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|10|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Rammayapet, [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
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| occupation = {{hlist|[[Rheumatologist]]|[[philanthropist]]}}
| fields = {{hlist|[[Rheumatology]]|[[immunology]]|[[social medicine]]}}
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| alma_mater = [[Madras Medical College]]
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| module = {{Infobox military person
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| allegiance = {{IND}}
| branch = [[Indian Army]]
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| service_years = 1963{{endash}}{{circa|1965}}
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| rank = [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]]
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| unit = [[Army Medical Corps (India)|Army Medical Corps]]
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| battles = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Indo-Pakistani War]]
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| awards = {{ubl|[[Raksha Medal]]|[[Samar Seva Star]]|[[Sainya Seva Medal]]}}
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'''A. N. Chandrasekaran''' (born '''Arungundram Nagarajan Chandrasekaran''' in 1938, in Rammayapet, [[Andhra Pradesh]]) is an [[Indian people|Indian]] doctor and [[philanthropist]] from [[Chennai]], India.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Madras Medical College Alumni |url=https://www.alumnimmc.com/halloffame/prof-dr-anchandrasekaran/29 |date= |access-date= |website=alumnimmc.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Bansal |first1=Purna |last2=Mamadapur |first2=Mahabaleshwar |date=April–June 2025 |title=Healing Hands, Inspiring Hearts: The Legacy of Dr. AN Chandrasekaran |journal=Current Medical Issues |language=en |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=138–141 |doi=10.4103/cmi.cmi_137_24 |doi-access=free |issn=0973-4651}}</ref>

== Early years and military career ==
Chandrasekaran was born on 15 October 1938 as Arungundram Nagarajan Chandrasekaran in Rammayapet, [[Andhra Pradesh]]. He joined the [[Madras Medical College]] and completed his [[Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery|MBBS]] in 1962. In 1963, he joined the [[Army Medical Corps (India)|Army Medical Corps]] and served in the aftermath of the [[Indo-Chinese War]] of 1962<ref name=":4" /> and through the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Indo-Pakistani War]] in 1965 in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] and [[Ladakh]] as a part of the [[8th Gorkha Rifles]]<ref name=":5" /> regiment. Attaining the rank of [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]], for his service Chandrasekaran was awarded the [[Raksha Medal]], [[Samar Seva Star]], and the [[Sainya Seva Medal]].<ref name=":0" />

== Medical career ==
In 1972, Chandrasekaran pioneered the first dedicated Department of Rheumatology in India at [[Madras Medical College]]<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Directorate of Medical Education |work=[[Government of Tamil Nadu]] |url=http://www.mmc.ac.in/mmc/content_page.jsp?sq1=rh&sqf=465 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910163634/http://www.mmc.ac.in/mmc/content_page.jsp?sq1=rh&sqf=465 |archive-date=2022-09-10 |access-date=2026-01-29 |via=mmc.ac.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Association of Rheumatologists of Tamilnadu |url=https://www.tnrheumatology.org/ |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=www.tnrheumatology.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DIN |date=2022-11-12 |script-title=ta:‘ஸ்டெம் செல்’ தானம்: அமைச்சா் மா.சுப்பிரமணியன் வேண்டுகோள் |trans-title=‘Stem cell’ donation: Minister M. Subramanian’s request |url=https://www.dinamani.com/tamilnadu/2022/Nov/12/%E0%AE%B8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%85%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%A3%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D-3948368.html |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Dinamani |lang=ta}}</ref> and subsequently developed into an advanced training institute that has produced more than fifty [[Doctor of Medicine]] graduates and six [[PhD]] scholars<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=History of IRA & Rheumatology in India |work=Indian Rheumatology Association |url=https://indianrheumatology.org/history-of-ira-rheumatology-in-india/ |date= |access-date=2026-01-29 |language=en-US}}</ref> who subsequently created rheumatology departments and studies across India.<ref name=":1" /> He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles on rheumatology<ref>{{Cite web |title=A N Chandrasekaran's research works |work=[[Madras Medical College]], Chennai (MMC) and other places |url=https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/A-N-Chandrasekaran-39316988 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911084444/https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/A-N-Chandrasekaran-39316988 |archive-date=2022-09-11 |access-date=2026-01-29 |via=ResearchGate |lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref> and, in 1994, launched the ''[[Indian Rheumatology Association|Journal of Indian Rheumatism Association]]'' (JIRA), the first scientific journal dedicated to rheumatology in India.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Department of Rheumatology – Reminiscence – IRA eNewsLetter |work=Madras Medical College |url=https://www.iraenl.com/department-of-rheumatology-madras-medical-college-reminiscence/ |date= |access-date=2026-01-29 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1997 he was elected Fellow of the Indian [[National Academy of Medical Sciences]] (FNAMS).<ref>{{Cite web |year=2016 |title=List of Fellows NAMS |page=25 |url=https://nams-india.in/downloads/fellowsmembers/ZZ.pdf |website=[[National Academy of Medical Sciences]], India |access-date= }}</ref>

In 1993, Chandrasekaran conducted some of the earliest medical studies done under the direction of the [[World Health Organization]] showing the efficacy of traditional Indian [[Ayurveda|Ayurvedic]] medicine for the treatment of [[rheumatoid arthritis]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chandrasekaran |first=A.N |last2=Porkodi |first2=R |last3=Radhamadhavan |last4=Parthiban |first4=M |last5=Bhatt |first5=Narendra |date=1994 |title=Study of Ayurvedic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis comparing with Auranofin |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292309083_Study_of_Ayurvedic_drugs_in_rheumatoid_arthritis_comparing_with_Auranofin |journal=Indian Practitioner |volume=47 |issue=6 |pages=489-502 |via=ResearchGate}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

He successfully sued the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] for discrimination and was, in 2012, awarded by the [[Madras High Court]] the position of the Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, the highest medical posting in state of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=தினமணி |date=2009-05-22 |script-title=ta:ஓய்வுபெற்ற பேராசிரியருக்கு மருத்துவ சேவை இயக்குநருக்கு நிகரான பென்ஷன்: உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவு |trans-title=Retired professor to receive pension equivalent to that of Medical Services Director: High Court orders |url=https://www.dinamani.com/tamilnadu/2009/May/22/%E0%AE%93%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1-%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5-%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%88-%E0%AE%87%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A9-%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B7%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%89%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%80%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%89%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%81-15732.html |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Dinamani |lang=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author= |date=2012-05-15 |title=Health Secy ticked off over promotion tangle |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2009/May/23/health-secy-ticked-off-over-promotion-tangle-51493.html |access-date=2026-02-08 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hall of Fame |work=Madras Medical College Alumni |url=https://www.alumnimmc.com/hall-of-fames |access-date=2026-02-08 |date= }}</ref>

== Philanthropy ==
Apart from his contributions to medicine, Chandrasekaran was involved in the philanthropic development of rural India. In 2011 he established a [[maternity hospital]] in [[Arungundram]]<ref name=":0" /> along with his earlier establishments of a primary school,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hariharan Kundram Public Charitable Trust - School |url=https://www.arungundram.com/school |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=www.arungundram.com |language=en-US}}</ref> a public library, and community center.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Hariharan Kundram Public Charitable Trust - Dr ANC Biography |url=https://www.arungundram.com/dr-anc-biography |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=arungundram.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-10-14 |title=Living Legend in Medicine - Captain Prof. Dr. A. N. Chandrasekaran |url=https://cmeindia.in/history-today-in-medicine-captain-prof-dr-a-n-chandrasekaran/ |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=CME INDIA |language=en-US}}</ref> He was also credited with discovering and restoring a 1200-year-old [[Jain temple|ancient temple]] from {{circa|850|900}} [[Common Era|CE]] or earlier<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visit Temples: Best Website for Visiting Temples in India |url=https://www.visittemples.com/hindu/singaravelmurugantemplearunkundramneararcottamilnadu |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=visittemples.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-03-03 |title=Heritage trip to Arunkundram, Thirupanmalai and Thirumalai |url=https://ramanchennai.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/heritage-trip-to-arunkundram-thirupanmalai-and-thirumalai/ |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=Raman's kirukkalgal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hariharan Kundram Public Charitable Trust - Temple |url=https://www.arungundram.com/temple |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=arungundram.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ta:ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முந்தைய சிவன் கோவில் கண்டுபிடிப்பு! |trans-title=Discovery of a thousand-year-old Shiva temple! |url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/news_detail.php?id=20159 |access-date=2026-02-06 |script-website=ta:தினமலர் |trans-website=Dinamalar |lang=ta}}</ref> for which he was awarded the R.E.A.C.H. Foundation Award by Academy of Archaeology and Sciences of Ancient India (AASAI).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=REACH Heritage Awards 2011 |date=2015-09-04 |url=https://reachfoundation.ngo/index.php/2015/09/04/reach-heritage-awards-2011/ |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=REACH Foundation }}</ref><ref name=":0" />

== Awards ==
In addition to his military awards, among the awards conferred on Chandrasekaran include:
* [[Dr. B. C. Roy Award|Dr. B.C. Roy Award]], Highest award for medical excellence in India (1992)<ref name=":1" />
* Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[Indian Rheumatology Association|Indian Rheumatism Association]] (2005)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Awards & Oration Recipients |work=[[Indian Rheumatology Association]] |url=https://indianrheumatology.org/awards-oration-recipients/ |access-date=2026-01-29 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Handa |first=Rohini |date=2024-12-01 |title=Dr. M. N. Passey—The Man, the Award and the Awardees |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/09733698241264442 |journal=Indian Journal of Rheumatology |language=EN |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=326–328 |doi=10.1177/09733698241264442 |issn=0973-3698|doi-access=free }}</ref>
* Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[Madras Medical College]] (2010)<ref name=":0" />
* R.E.A.C.H Foundation Heritage award (2011)<ref name=":3" />
* Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University|Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University]] (2011)<ref>{{Cite web |last=தினமணி |date=2012-09-20 |script-title=ta:டாக்டர் ஏ.என். சந்திரசேகரனுக்கு வாழ்நாள் சாதனையாளர் விருது |trans-title=Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. A.N. Chandrasekaran |url=https://www.dinamani.com/tamilnadu/2011/Jan/09/%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%8F%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81-294961.html |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Dinamani |lang=ta}}</ref>
* Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[King George's Medical University]], Lucknow (2013)
* Honorary Doctorate from [[Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University|MGR Medical University]] (2013)<ref>{{Cite web |script-work=ta:தினமணி |date=2013-08-21 |script-title=ta:மருத்துவக் கல்வியில் வணிகமயமாக்கலை ஒழிக்க வேண்டும் |trans-title=Commercialization in medical education must be eliminated |url=https://www.dinamani.com/education/2013/Aug/20/%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A3%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE-731419.html |access-date=2026-02-06 |trans-website=Dinamani |lang=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-08-21 |title=Time to cure medical education of ills: CM |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/time-to-cure-medical-education-of-ills-cm/article5042567.ece |access-date=2026-02-14 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
* [[Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology]] Master Award (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr Chandrasekaran to get APLAR Master Award |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/Oct/23/dr-chandrasekaran-to-get-aplar-master-award-2213902.html |website=The New Indian Express |date=2020-10-23 |access-date=2026-01-29 |lang=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Master Award |work=Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) |url=https://aplar.org/grants-and-awards/award/master-award/ |date= |access-date=2026-01-29 |lang=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ta:டாக்டர் சந்திரசேகரன் APLAR மாஸ்டர் விருது |trans-title=Dr. Chandrasekaran APLAR Master Award |url=https://www.unmaiseithigal.page/2020/10/APLAR-GBIfzP.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228061617/https://www.unmaiseithigal.page/2020/10/APLAR-GBIfzP.html |archive-date=2021-02-28 |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=www.unmaiseithigal.page}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandrasekaran, A. N.}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian medical doctors]]
[[Category:Dr. B. C. Roy Award winners]]
[[Category:Fellows of the National Academy of Medical Sciences]]
[[Category:Indian medical researchers]]
[[Category:Indian philanthropists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Madras Medical College alumni]]
[[Category:Medical doctors from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Rheumatologists]]

A. N. Chandrasekaran - Revision history

UgsPoXanB at 00:59, 29 April 2026