Some Great Unsung Achievers in Medical Field Dr. Manuel Alexander, F.R.C.S, :    :

Dr. Manuel Alexander ,B.Sc, M.B.B.S, F.R.C S. [1928--2001]  :         There are really some lovely blossomed  buds and flowers in some corners  of  some remote distant places near the brooks or at the top of some hills , their fragrances and enchanting spectacles are still beyond the reach of  human knowledge, similarly there are so many unsung heroes in  all the fields, not  known to the general public , that is  true in the case of medical field also.  In this Post I would like to bring out some unsung Achievers in Kanyakumari District, India,  in the medical  field   , to the attention and notice of the global  public.  The late Dr. Manuel Alexander ,M.B.B.S,  F.R.C.S, of Chakapathu village, near Manavalakurichi  in Kanyakumari District , was one such  unsung  achiever ,in the  field of Medical Service.

Dr . Manuel Alexander's date of  birth, place of birth and parents:  Dr. Manuel Alexander , B.Sc, M.B.B.S, F.R.C.S[U.K,]  was born on November 28, 1928, at a lovely , idyllic , rural and remote village called Chakapathu, near Manavalakkurichi, in  Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India, as the son of late Dr.  V. Manuel and Rajammal Manuel.   Dr.M. Alexander's parents had nine children and  Dr.  Alexander was the eldest   male child  of his parents.   Dr. V. Manuel was a Registered Medical Practitioner in Kerala [Travancore] . Dr.V. Manuel  the father of Dr Manuel Alexander, was a shrewd and efficient Medical Practitioner of his times  and during his time  the great  Medical  Missionary Dr. William Alexander Noble, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.I.C.S.,   from United States was working in a famous Mission Hospital  at Nagercoil in Kanyakumari District, India  and Dr.V . Manuel was  well liked by Dr. W.A. Noble and they were great friends.  Dr. V. Manuel's Father Mr. Varampattan, was a famous  Agriculturalist  with some landed property in his locality and also was an expert in Indian  "Defensive Art".

Dr.M.Alexander's Education :    As , his father Dr . V. Manuel was working as a Registered Medical Practitioner ,  in Kerala State [Travancore State] ,  Dr. Manuel Alexander did his School Education in Kerala State[Travancore State].  From the very beginning he was an ardent , industrious and and intelligent student and he wanted to achieve something great in life so  he continued  his Collegiate Education in  the then Madras  State[Tamil Nadu]. He did his B.Sc. Course in a famous College at Karaikkudi in TamilNadu. In tune with the  burning  ambition of his Father Dr.V.Manuel and his own natural flair for Medical Service , he did his M. B. B.S Course  in the famous   Stanley  Medical College , Madras and  received his M.B.B.S degree with flying colors. , in 1958.   During his Medical College student days he was very popular both among his teaching staff  and fellow students.

Dr. Manuel  Alexander's marriage  ;  The handsome and smart  Dr. Manuel Alexander  met  a Syrian Christian lady doctor , belonging to Kayamkulam , Kerala ,  by name Susan  Mathew who was a Gynecologist and they were mutually impressed and got  married and the then Chief Minister of Madras State [Tamil Nadu] Shri. Bakthavatchalam was the Chief Guest of their marriage.

Higher studies in Great Britain[UK]  :    During Dr.M. Alexander's  time , it had been a burning passion on the part of all Medical Doctors from Kanyakumari District , like others ,  to earn an F.R.C.S  degree   from Great Britain  .  So  immediately after their marriage,  in tune with his burning ambition for educational achievement,  Dr. Manuel Alexander along with his wife Mrs. Dr. Susan Alexander went to Great Britain  for higher studies  and  there he successfully completed  his  prestigious F.R.C.S, degree and added feathers to his  intellectual cap and hope.

His Medical Practice in Great Britain :  After having successfully completed his  F.R.C.S  , Dr. Manuel Alexander,  practiced as an  Orthopedist    in England  from 1968 to 1977 and gained great ,valuable experience and expertise  in his medical field.

Dr M. Alexander moved to U.SA to enhance and enlarge  his medical career :  As a great visionary Dr. Manuel Alexander moved to the United States of America  and   among the cities , towns and counties the beautiful Athens located on  a hill above Cedar Shoals and on the banks of Oconee  River in Georgia State ,attracted his attention and so , Dr. Manuel Alexander  with his family settled at Athens in Georgia State.  USA .  Athens was considered as the Manchester of the Southern States of U.S, for  pioneering the cause of cotton  and textile technological revolution and textile business .  Athens was a cosmopolitan city consisting of a  good  percentage of educated  Afro American population . He worked as an Orthopedic Surgeon at Banks-Jackson-Commerce Hospital in Jackson County ,Georgia,. He  proved himself  by his hard work and  innovative surgery techniques ,  as one of the most famous and efficient Orthopedic Surgeons in United States ,specially in Georgia State.

Dr. Manuel Alexander   maintained Courtesy Privileges at  Emory Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia State and also at the prestigious Athens Regional Medical Center.  As an expert and innovative surgeon  and a friendly human being  Dr Manuel Alexander  earned the love and respect of all the people in  and around Athens , Atlanta and Georgia.

Dr. M. Alexander's  prestigious  Associations and Memberships :

1. Dr. M. Alexander was Member of the Association of Kerala Medical graduates .
2. Dr. M. Alexander was a Member in the Georgia Association of Physicians from India.
3. He was a Board  Member of the Board of Directors of R.S.D  Society. 
4. Board Member of American Medical Association .
5. An Active  Member in the Commerce Lions Club , Athens;   and so on .
.

Dr. Manuel Alexander's  wife and children : His wife Susan Mathew Alexander , M.D, is a gynecologist This couple Dr. Manuel Alexander and Dr. Mrs. Susan Mathew  Alexander were  blessed with two sons namely  Sunil Manuel  Alexander and Suresh M. Alexander .  His Son Dr. Sunil  Manuel   Alexander , MD, is an accredited and certified Doctor by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Manuel Alexander  , F.R.C.S,  passed away:  It is really unfortunate that death without any second thought embraces everybody without any discrimination, that was true in the case of Dr. Manuel Alexander   also . After having served the community and the medical world for about  33 years , he breathed  his last breath  at the age of 72, on  20th [Sunday] May  , 2001, in Athens , Georgia  State,USA.. The whole city of Athens and the people living in and around Athens city  also mourned for him.  He was a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Athens   and Marthoma Church of Atlanta, Georgia  State.

Dr. Manuel Alexander's funeral service was held 2 pm on May 24, 2001 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church and the Funeral Service was jointly officiated by by Right. Rev Dr. Zacharias ,Mar Theophilus , Revds. Peter Courtney and Mandy Brandy . It was said by one of his relative at Nagercoil  that  hundreds  of people belonging to various colors and grades  took part in his Funeral Procession including the  Mayor of Athens City, Georgia. Many Physicians and staff of at " Banks Jackson Commerce Hospital ", served as honorary ball bearers  on this occasion . Dr. Manuel Alexander's  mortal remains were interred in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery, Athens with great  agony,honor and respect .

Conclusion : Dr. Manuel Alexander was really legendary personality , He is physically no more with us but

but he lives and cherishes in our minds because of his extraordinary accomplishments; he lives in the annals of medical History of Georgia State, US.    Dr.Manuel  Alexander hailed from a unknown middle class christian family from a little known tiny village Ckakapathu, Kanyakumari District , Tamil Nadu , India,. One of his family members from his village told me that he was thriving in medical profession like anything and became very rich  and he owned and lived  in a Palatial , spacious and splendid house like  a  Baron . He made his parents, family ,  village , district  and  country  proud of him . No doubt  Dr.  Manuel  Alexander, B.Sc, M.B.B.S, F.R.C.S[U.K] ,  was a proud and enviable and shimmering  Milestone in the medical history of Kanyakumari District, and India and also Athens ,[ Geogia , USA.]

   
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