L. A. Ravi Varma

Dr. L. A. Ravi Varma (Lakshmipuram Avitomthirunal Ravi Varma), (26 October 1884 – 16 February 1958) was a historian, ophthalmologist and philosopher of the 20th century in Kerala, India. He was a critical figure who enriched the Ayurvedic literature contributing to its renaissance. In January 1940, he was appointed as Director of the joint Oriental Manuscripts Libraries of the Government of Kerala and the Kerala University. He was conferred the Honorary Title of Vaidyashastra Nipunan and Gaveshana Thillakan by Chithira Thirunal Maharaja, the King of Travancore, Kerala, India. Varma was also the one of founding ophthalmologists and later the superintendent of the first Ophthalmic hospital in Thiruvanthanthapuram, Kerala that is known today as the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology. He was one of the early reformers of medicine in modern Kerala and was one of the first scholars to create a semantic bridge between Western and Indian medical systems. L. A. Ravi Varma was born on 26 October 1884 at the Lakshmipuram Palace, Changanassery, Kerala to Aryaamba Thampuratti and Neelakandan Namboothiri, of Thamaraserry Illam in Perunna, Changanaserry. He was the great grand-nephew of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal of Travancore.