Kolappa Sundararajan

Dr Sundararajan was born in 1928 in South India and died on 8 December 2004. Dr Sundararajan trained in medicine at Madras University. After graduation, in 1954, he worked for about 12 years in India in various branches of medicine, including the prison medical service and private practice as a principal, before coming to the UK in November 1965 to further his experience and knowledge. He worked for 1 year (1966) at the Department of Geriatrics, Burnley District General Hospital, before taking up psychiatry as his chosen branch of medicine in January 1967. After working as a registrar (psychiatry), from January 1967 to February 1970, at Bolton District General Hospital, Lancashire, and Netherne Hospital, Coulsdon, Surrey, he was appointed Senior Registrar, Department of Psychiatry at Oldham District General Hospital, Lancashire, a post which he held until February 1974. He obtained the DPM in 1969 and was elected FRCPsych in 2001. He was appointed consultant by Calderdale Health Authority in 1974 and was their first overseas consultant. During his time in Calderdale, he was Chairman of the Division of Psychiatry and was a member of the Specialists Advisory Committee for Yorkshire. He lectured, was engaged in numerous medical research projects, two of which were carried out for Astra and Beecham, and published numerous papers.

After retiring in 1995, he moved to Surrey. However, he found it very difficult withdrawing from professional life and continued to be very active in locum work until 2003. During his retirement, he greatly enjoyed reading and taking long walks, and was able to concentrate more on supporting his charities; this included a 10-km walk in London, in June 2004 for Crusaid, for which he raised £1200.

Dr Sundararajan was an intelligent, charitable, caring and warm man who was devoted to his profession. He had a wonderful sense of humour, a philosophical and spiritual outlook on life and could reach out to people of all ages and backgrounds. He gave the National Health Service over 38 years of dedicated service. He was extremely well respected by all who worked with him, knew him and were cared for by him; he will never be forgotten.

He leaves a wife Ranjini, three daughters and two grandchildren.