Setting up of Govt. T.D Medical College - TDMC, Alappuzha by Late. Sri. N. V. Prabhu depicts the story of efforts and hardships undergone, backed by unflinching determination and willingness to go by listening to ones own heart.

Here goes the story entitled

'A Newsman turned Newsmaker'

Sri. N. V. Prabhu was a well known journalist, true to his profession, very eminent and enthusiastic. He had strong social and political connections and was a friend of almost all public figures in sixties and seventies in Kerala. He was a acquaintance of Late. Dr. T. M. A. Pai, founder of Manipal Institutions. In early sixties, there were only two medical colleges in Kerala and therefore only very few could secure medical seats on merit basis. So the most preferred choice of medical aspirants who couldn't procure seats in Kerala was Manipal. These were mainly secured by paying capitation fee followed by a long wait in line for obtaining admissions. He used to accompany many a few aspiring students to Manipal and was a frequent visitor to Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, during those days.

On such a visit, Late. Sri. N. V.Prabhu encountered an interesting wordy duel with Dr. T. M. A. Pai which surprisingly served as the brain wave for laying foundation to a great idea i.e; setting up of a medical college in Kerala. Dr. Pai who had promised to admit a student for MBBS refused to give a seat although the latter paid capitation fee. So the boy's parents sought the help of Sri N. V. Prabhu, who was a friend of Dr. T. M. A. Pai. So they all left together for Manipal. They met Dr.T. M. A. Pai. But to their surprise, rather rude shock and astonishment, Dr. Pai did not even appear to show any previous acquaintance despite their intimacy. He had just viewed the poor boy's long awaited admission as only one among so many such cases. Ultimately due to N. V. Prabhu's timely intervention, the boy secured an admission.

But the literal 'oral war,' with Dr. Pai really shook Sri. N. V. Prabhu and an unquenchable urge started taking life within him to set up a Medical College here in Kerala, in Alleppey, if possible.

Sri. N. V. Prabhu's dream of setting up a private medical college in Kerala, the first of its kind synchronized with a favourable political situation that prevailed in Kerala in 1960s. A coalition Government had assumed office under the chief minister-ship of late Sri. Pattom Thanu Pillai, a sagacious leader known as 'Bhishmacharya of Kerala Politics'. He was a close acquaintance of Sri. N. V. Prabhu. To understand the public support behind such a move, the Kerala Union of journalists at Alleppey adopted a unanimous resolution requesting the Government of Kerala to sanction a medical college in Alleppey. This resolution got unabated support from various trade associations, trade unions, political parties and even committees of library and sports bodies. such was the need of a medical college by the people of Alleppey due to the prevalence of many a kind of diseases along the coastal belt. The Government of Kerala especially then Minister for Health Sri. V. K. Velappan and Home minister, Sri. P.T. Chacko backed Sri. N. V. Prabhu and expressed their views that the college would run on a capitation basis and Alleppey district hospital would be made available for clinical training. The Nair community, Christian catholic community etc were willing to support Sri. N. V. Prabhu but N.V.P wanted the G.S.B. community to come forward for such a grand venture. Sri. N. V. Prabhu then approached, A.A.T.T.D for undertaking the sponsorship of the project and asked them to back him and shoulder the responsibilities. He literally had to convince the elderly people of the council regarding taking up of such an immense responsibility and it was an onerous task. Thus finally, the T.D.Medical College administrative council was formed with the then President of Devaswom as the chairman (his paternal uncle) of the council and with five or more of the members from Devaswom committee out of 9 minimum members. But all the brain behind this dream, was indisputably Sri. N. V. Prabhu. Thus setting up of the first private medical college in state of Kerala became a venture of G.S.B. community under the efficient leadership of Sri. N.V. Prabhu.

A lot of efforts went into fixing a suitable location for setting up the college and 110 acres of land was purchased at Vandanam, around 9 kms away from Alleppey town. The construction was started in April, 1963 just after the laying of foundation stone by Sri. R. Sankar, Chief Minister. The first admissions for M.B.B.S. were taken in September, 1963, with the first classes for 25 students, the pre-medical college at S.D. College, Alappuzha.

Some of the most unique events in the process was a telegram on Thursday March 28th, from Union Health Minister, Smt. Sushila Nayyar, congratulating Sri. N. V. Prabhu for his success and and awarding a grant of Rs 5 lakhs, which was to be collected at the earliest. Sri. N.V.P's trip to collect the same was arranged by Sri. R. Sankar, Sri. A. M. Thomas, Union Deputy minister and Smt. Soundaram Ramachandran, Union education minister were also instrumental in aiding Sri. N.V.Prabhu in collecting the grants.

Sri. N.V.P, a man with not only intellect but also a large heart, even accommodated students at his home, Thoppil House in Alleppey until they were admitted to hostels.

In fact all the odds turning up against the college started around 1966-67 with an anti-medical college syndicate group was formed in University of Kerala which strongly influenced the Government to stop advance reservations of admissions to private medical colleges. This affected the capital revenues and financial crisis broke in. This was supported by formation of disgruntled elements in G.S.B. community with acute jealousy and vested interests who were unfortunately elected to T.D. Managing committee in 1967. So the management was handed over to Government temporarily for a period of 5 years under a mutual agreement. But the so mentioned delegates in T.D. Managing committee wanted to auction the seats and sell them to students hailing from G.S.B community which was not supported by the founder Sri. N. V. Prabhu who was also the Secretary of T.D.M.C trust, a man of principles. But the delegations for seat auctions and thereby giving admissions to G.S.B students were made in Prabhu's absence and Government did not support this and came out with a unilateral decision of expropriating the institution. Thus a great man's efforts were made futile by a few gluttonous people from his own community, otherwise still the institute would have belonged to a minor, but a well established community in Kerala. The Government, respecting the community and the efforts of Sri. N. V. Prabhu, chose to retain the name chosen by him, T. D. Medical College, Alleppey.