Kottayam: Founder Medical Director of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Medical Mission (MOSC), Kolenchery, and eminent paediatrician Kanjikuzhy Mount Wardha Thayyil Kandathil Dr K C Mammen (Bapukutty) passed away on Sunday. He was 93. Dr Mammen was also the former Medical Director of Malayala Manorama and a professor with the paediatrics department of Vellore Medical College. His funeral will be held at Kottayam Puthanpalli at 4 pm following prayers at his house at 2 pm.

Dr Mammen's visionary actions guided the hospital to become one of the best medical colleges in south India. He was instrumental in turning a 100-bed hospital into a 1,100-bed multi-specialty hospital. He was known for his deep faith in God, love for humanity and as a hardworking perfectionist. He also excelled as a doctor, teacher and administrator.

K C Mammen was born on March 4, 1930, to former Malayala Manorama Chief Editor K M Cherian, who was at the forefront of reviving the organisation in 1947 after the Travancore Diwan proscribed the daily following its active involvement in the agitation for responsible governance, and Kallooppara Marettu Saramma. K M Cherian called his son 'Bapukutty' because of the love and respect the former had for Mahatma Gandhi. 

K C Mammen completed his primary schooling at Madras Christian College School and MD Seminary School. After passing Intermediate from Madras Christian College in 1948, he joined Vellore Medical College to pursue MBBS. He also worked there from 1954 to 1958. Later, he acquired a DCH diploma from London and an MRCP degree from Edinburgh. After working in England for two years, Dr Mammen returned and served as a professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the Vellore Medical College from 1962 to 1970. It was after resigning from his job in Vellore that he joined the Medical Mission Hospital in Kolenchery.

Dr Mammen worked at the hospital in Kolenchery for free. He served as the hospital's director from 1970 to 1988. His father K M Cherian breathed his last on March 15, 1973, at Dr Mammen's house in Kolenchery. He has also served as the president of the Kandathil Kudumbayogam. He was the school manager of Balikamatom in Thiruvalla. He served for many years as a board member of Fellowship House and Chacko Homes in Aluva.

Dr Annamma Mammen (Kureekattu) is his wife. Children: Dr Sara (USA), Anu (Thiruvananthapuram) and Mary (Bengaluru). Sons-in-law: Dr Christy Thomas Parathundayil (USA), Thomas Kurien Uppoottil and T K Kurien Thekkethalaykkal (Bengaluru). Siblings: Sarasu Jacob, the late Sara (Mammi). Malankara Association Secretary Dr Biju Oommen condoled the death of Dr K C Mammen.