Leprosy crusader Dr A.R.K. Pillai passes away at 97, leaves indelible legacy in social work

Dr Ananthan Ramakrishna Pillai who led Indiarsquos fight against leprosy has passed away at the age of 97 He breathed his last on September 29 an official statement saidDr Pillai was moved by the plight of underprivileged and disabled individualsHe dedicated his life to fighting the social evils born from centuries of injustice against the downtrodden and the poorBorn on July 3 1928 Dr Pillai witnessed many hardships that forced him to put aside his early passion for social serviceRealising that he needed resources to help others he moved from his hometown in Kerala to Mumbai in 1947He faced linguistic and cultural barriers and survived by doing odd jobs before securing a job as a railway clerk With hard work and perseverance he pursued higher education completing his MA and LLB degreesHis creative instincts led him into the field of advertising where he gained qualifications in public relations and journalism But he soon realised that the media could be a powerful tool to raise awareness about social issues He quit his job to fully commit to the cause of leprosy eradicationEarly Influences and International CollaborationDr Pillairsquos speeches and writings gradually began to attract attention He connected with several key figures in the field including Dr Sharad Chandra Gokhale and Paul Karipurath from the Indian Red Cross whose encouragement boosted his confidence He also worked closely with William Gershon of the German Leprosy Relief Association GLRA and Leprosy Relief Work Emmaus Swiss ALESLater he met Hermann Kober a senior official at GLRA who offered him the role of Honorary Public Relations Advisor for projects in India and Sri Lanka Dr Pillai accepted and spent years travelling to Germany and Switzerland raising crucial funds for leprosy patientsHe was also associated with leading experts in leprosy care like Dr R Ganapati Mr R S Mani Dr VP Macaden and Mr Jayaraj Devadas and addressed various national conferences He was invited to join the Bombay Leprosy Project as a trustee alongside distinguished personalitiesHis work also brought him in touch with religious leaders like Cardinal Gracias and Archbishop Simon Pimenta and he was later invited by the Government of India to serve on the first Commission on Leprosy Eradication led by Dr MS Swaminathan then Deputy Chairman of the Planning CommissionFounding of Indian Leprosy Foundation ILEFIn 1984 with guidance from leaders in the field Dr Pillai founded the Indian Leprosy Foundation ILEF registered in Mumbai and aimed at nationwide impact Its first office was the narrow verandah of his home which served as the organisationrsquos address Dr Pillai was elected President and held the role until his last daysRunning an NGO with limited resources was a major challenge In its first year ILEF could not even raise a fourfigure amount Yet with persistence and community support he gradually built a successful model of fundraising and public participation that sustained the organisation for decadesILEF supported hundreds of health and education institutions across India and earned recognition for its unique service model Dr Pillairsquos leadership inspired countless individuals to volunteer not for monetary rewards but for the joy of serving othersContributions to Leprosy workDuring the late 1960s and early 1970s when leprosy was a major public health concern in India Dr Pillai took bold steps to make a difference Inspired by Prime Minister Indira Gandhis call to action he joined the movement to eliminate leprosy as part of the governmentrsquos 20Point ProgrammeWith the advent of MultiDrug Therapy MDT in 1982ndash83 and with free treatment available nationwide both the government and NGOs took the fight seriously Dr Pillai recognised the need for a strong communication and awareness strategy especially in hyperendemic districtsWith the support of medical and nonmedical professionals and encouragement from the Prime Minister he launched several initiatives to reach communities across India In the absence of social media his public campaigns and outreach helped raise awareness and counter ageold myths about leprosyUnder his leadership ILEF supported nearly 100 leprosy and TB projects across the country His efforts were instrumental in India achieving leprosy elimination status in 2006 with a prevalence rate of 1 per 10000 populationTransformation into IDF and wider impactIn 2005 ILEF was renamed Indian Development Foundation IDF expanding its focus to health education and development Dr Pillai worked to sensitise the public motivate volunteers and mobilise support across sectorsHe saw children as powerful agents of change In the 1980s when India had around four million leprosy cases he designed awareness programs for schoolchildren aged 6ndash19 These students not only absorbed scientific information about leprosy but also passed it on to their families breaking down stigma and misinformation in communitiesStudents became ambassadors of the IDF generating funds and spreading awareness Their efforts were recognised with certificates awards and encouragement creating a ripple effect of pride ownership and civic engagement One of Dr Pillairsquos most memorable initiatives involved management students organising street plays on leprosy turning education into activismA Legacy of serviceOver the years 250 million people were reached through the IDFrsquos campaigns and more than 100 projects were executed under Dr Pillairsquos leadership significantly contributing to Indiarsquos leprosy eradication journeyHe was supported in this mission by his wife Shyama Pillai and son Girish who cofounded the ILEF The death of his wife in 2003 was a personal loss but his son Girish and daughterinlaw Indu Girish continued to support the cause Dr Pillai is survived by Girish Indu and granddaughter Sreelekshmi