Diwan Bahadur A Ramaswami Mudaliar (1887-1976) and A Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar (1887-1974) were identical twins who achieved several national and international honours, some of them identical too, in British as well as independent India. As the names suggest, Ramaswami was the elder of the two—by 47 minutes! Lakshmanaswami or AL Mudaliar was the vice chancellor of Madras University for 27 years, a record that almost obliterated the memory of an earlier distinction—that of his being the first gynaecologist of pre-independence Madras.
As16-year-olds, they joined the Madras Christian College, after their headmaster at the Municipal High School, Kurnool, KR Raghunatha Char, had predicted a great future for them. Both brothers graduated in arts with distinction at MCC, before going on to professional studies, Ramaswami to pursue law and Lakshmanaswami, medicine.
The elder twin gave up the law to enter politics. Joining the fledgling Justice Party in 1917, he became editor of its journal, Justice.
The twins were excellent writers and speakers, known for their oratory in impeccable English. They were both elected to the Madras Legislative Council, and both knighted.Oxford University conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Laws on them. Both became vice-chancellors of universities, Ramaswami Mudaliar of Trivandrum University, where he held office for eight years.
If Ramaswami Mudaliar served India at the United Nations and the Food and Agricultural Organisation, Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar represented it at the World Health Organisation and UNESCO. Both twins were awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
Ramaswami Mudaliar was a part of the Justice Party since its inception in 1917 and served as its General Secretary. In July 1918, he went to England as a member of a Justice Party delegation to argue in favour of communal representation and give evidence before the Reforms Committee.
Shortly before the Second World War broke out in 1939, Ramaswami Mudaliar was appointed member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council. In July 1942, he was appointed to Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s War Cabinet, one of two Indians nominated to the post.
He became Diwan of Mysore in 1946. Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar was a towering figure in obstetrics and gynaecology and education. He completed his MD long after he was an established name in the medical world. In 1939, he became the first Indian principal of the Madras Medical College. He received 15 honorary doctorates and Ramaswami Mudaliar six.
Described as ‘the safest midwife’ by many, Dr AL Mudaliar was one of the greatest obstetricians and gynaecologists of his time. His magnum opus, Clinical Obstetrics, was first published and enjoyed several reprints.
Dr AL Mudaliar instituted many awards to the University of Madras and the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University to be given away to outstanding students.
Illustration by R Sivakumar