Honoring Dr. Varudeyam Ponnusamy “VP” Veluswamy

Dr. Varudeyam Ponnusamy Veluswamy
August 28, 1939 – May 8, 2025

Dr. Varudeyam Ponnusamy Veluswamy, affectionately known as V P, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2025 at the age of 85.  His life was a remarkable journey from rural southern India to the leadership of psychiatric care in Michigan – guided always by intellect, humility, and a devotion to service – and a testament to the power of education.

Born in the small village of Varudeyam Palayam just outside Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, India to father Ponnuswamy Gounder and mother Muthammal Ramaswamy, Dr. Veluswamy was the eldest of four children.  His name, V P Veluswamy, had a method behind it based on long-standing cultural tradition.  The V stands for his village, Varudeyam Palayam.  The P is his father’s given name, Ponnuswamy.  And his last name Veluswamy was given by his parents, derived from the Hindu Lord Murugan.  Raised on a coconut farm with his parents, two brothers, and a sister, he grew up during a time of hardship, without electricity or running water, during the final years of British colonial rule.  His parents, who had only an 8^th grade education, made sure that children were well educated and supported in spite of the hardships they encountered.  And from a young age, V P dreamed of more – first of owning a bicycle, and then of pursuing excellence through higher education to fundamentally change his future and eventually become the very first college graduate from his village.

At the age of ten, he made a pact with his childhood friend, Dr. Muthuswamy Ramaswamy: one of them would always be the top-ranked student on every exam and in every class. Amazingly, they kept that promise all the way through high school and medical school.  Their “agreement” started with both passing the entrance test to join the high school operated by the Ramakrishna Mission in Coimbatore and culminated in 1964 with both graduating from the University of Madras Medical School with honors.  And over the next 60+ years, their bond would transcend mere friendship.  They became the best of friends and kindred spirits in every sense.  

Dr. Veluswamy immigrated to the United States in 1964 along with his lifelong friend Dr. Ramaswamy, arriving in New York City with a suitcase, $8 in his pocket, and a brand-new Minolta camera.  For a young man from southern India, this was like a journey to another world full of new experiences – first flight, first time leaving India, first time seeing an escalator (and not knowing what to do with it), and so much more.  He began a psychiatry residency at Saint Peter’s Hospital, Albany, New York – drawn to the field in part because of a small financial incentive – and quickly proved himself to be a brilliant and compassionate physician.  

While in medical school, Dr. Veluswamy met his future wife, Dr. Angammal Nanjappasari Veluswamy.  Like him, she was an exceptional student – sharp, talented, and outspoken at a time when few women were admitted to medical school in India.  Their bond grew in secret, as their families would have disapproved of their relationship due to caste differences.  He came from a family of farmers; she was from a family of blacksmiths.  But their love prevailed.  After saving money in the U.S., V P sent for her.  She too joined a residency in psychiatry, and they married in a quiet civil ceremony in Albany, New York on April 23, 1965 – with only each other present.

Soon after, the couple moved to Pontiac, Michigan where they both began full-time work as staff psychiatrists at Clinton Valley Center, a state-run mental health facility.  Their early years in America were marked by long hours and deep commitment to their patients.  Dr. Veluswamy transitioned into public health administration, accepting a position with Oakland County where he would go on to serve as Director of Mental Health Services for over 20 years. During his tenure, he led transformative efforts to expand access, modernize systems, and improve the quality of care across the region.  He quickly became a brilliant administrator, gifted clinician, and deeply compassionate leader who always kept the well-being of patients and staff at the center of his work.  In those early years, he was known to his co-workers as a quiet professional, highly intelligent, a hard worker, exceptional speaker, and surprisingly a “cool cat.”

In 1972, Dr. Veluswamy and his wife settled in West Bloomfield, Michigan where they would spend the next five decades raising their family and contributing to their community.  Together, they raised two children – son Murali, born in 1966, and daughter Asha, born in 1972.  As a father, V P was steady, thoughtful, and wise.  He led by quiet example, instilling in his children the same values that had guided him since his boyhood in rural India: honesty, education, integrity, and perseverance.  It was at home where V P’s teachings were perhaps most enduring. With intention and love, he developed an unofficial curriculum for raising children which he called Life Skills Development – his personal curriculum for raising capable, grounded, and self-reliant adults.  He passed on a practical education on everything from money management to organization skills, car repair to home maintenance, and leadership to critical thinking.  More than just skills, he taught values: integrity, excellence, good behavior, and the importance of hard work. His children carry those lessons forward every day.

Beyond his professional achievements, one of Dr. Veluswamy’s most enduring legacies was his role as a mentor and collaborator for others.  As one of the first in a wave of Indian physicians to immigrate to the U.S. in the 1960s, he used his position and resources to help sponsor and support dozens of fellow Indians as they made their own journeys to America.  This included assisting both of his younger brothers, V P Shunmugham and V P Swaminathan, in immigrating during the 1970s.  His generosity and sense of responsibility rippled outward in life-changing ways, enabling many others to pursue education, establish careers, build families, and thrive in a new land.  Though he was known for his brilliance as a psychiatrist and administrator, those closest to V P remember him most as a teacher – in every sense of the word.  He mentored countless colleagues and staff during his tenure, always taking the time to develop others with care and generosity.  He served as an adjunct professor at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine where he taught clinical psychiatry and inspired a generation of medical students.  

Many of Dr. Veluswamy’s classmates followed his lead and settled in the U.S. during the 1970s, with several landing in the Detroit area.  V P and his wife became founding members of the local Michigan Tamil Sangam group, a cultural focal point for gathering and maintaining their ties to Mother India while building their new lives.  All of V P’s classmates in the area were integral members.  In fact, the Madras Medical graduating class of 1964 became more than classmates (or “batchmates” as they call themselves).  They formed a bond that transcended mere friendship.  Regardless of being in the U.S., back home in India, or scattered all over the globe, they became a true family with extraordinary closeness and supportive relationships that still exist to this day.  It’s a powerful example of the value V P placed on lifelong relationships.

Dr. Veluswamy and his wife retired from full-time work in 2000 but continued to serve the mental health community by providing short-term contracted psychiatric services for another 12 years.  In 2021, they settled in Sarasota, Florida in a condo they bought in 1974 to enjoy a quiet, peaceful life on the beach.

Dr. Veluswamy is survived by his son Murali (wife Julie), daughter Asha (husband Rick), his grandsons Arasan Veluswamy (22), Shane Downs (20), Graeme Downs (19), his brothers V P Shunmugham (wife Menaka) of Chicago and V P Swaminathan (wife Leslie) of San Antonio, and his sister Maragatham (husband late Palaniswamy)  of Coimbatore, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and relatives across the globe. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dr. Angammal Veluswamy, who passed away in October 2024. Their nearly 60-year marriage was one of enduring love, shared ideals, and extraordinary service.

Dr. Veluswamy’s greatest legacy is education. It was the force that transformed his own life – from the coconut farms of Tamil Nadu to the leadership of mental health services in Michigan – and the force he used to uplift others. Through mentorship, example, and dedicated support, he changed not only the trajectory of his own family, but also the lives of those around him and the community that raised him.  One of the most significant gifts he leaves behind is the TSA Government Higher Secondary School in Kattampatti, Coimbatore, which he and his family supported.  Located among the villages where V P was raised, this extraordinary school affords hundreds of rural children the opportunity to pursue their dreams through education just like he and Dr. Ramaswamy did decades earlier.  V P’s enduring impact on childhood education, the field of psychiatry, on immigrant professionals, and on generations of learners is immeasurable and will continue to inspire for years to come.  

Dr. Veluswamy lived his life as a humble force for good – a man whose intelligence was matched only by his heart.  He changed the trajectory of countless lives through education, compassion, and action. His legacy lives on in every person he helped, taught, mentored, and loved.  He will be remembered as a brilliant physician, a devoted husband and father, a generous mentor, and a man of quiet strength whose life changed the course of history – for his family, friends, batchmates, and for many more.  He nurtured close friendships across boundaries of class, background, and geography – treating all people with attention, kindness, and respect.  His curiosity was insatiable, his memory precise, and his hands always engaged in something useful.  According to his own theory which he termed “Cosmic Delight”, his consciousness is now released from its earthly bounds and free to roam the cosmos, rejoining his beloved wife and connecting with friends and loved ones from days gone by.  

Fly high V P…until we see you again.

A Tribute to Dr. V P Veluswamy
From Julie Veluswamy, V P’s daughter-in-law

He was retired by the time I met him, but I learned through stories and conversations that he came from humble beginnings on a coconut farm in south India. As a young student, he earned placements in schools and universities, alongside his childhood friend, Ramaswamy. The two of them became the first from their area to climb educational ranks from boarding elementary schools all the way to university and medical school. Together, they traveled to 1960’s America, each armed with a medical degree, a few dollars, and a new Minolta camera.

Once in America, V.P. sent for the love of his life in spite of cultural expectations and norms. Together, they built a life as psychiatrists established in the Detroit area. V.P. became a leader, recognized both in America and abroad. He supported the education of family and friends across the globe. He also served as a professor at Michigan State University. He made ongoing contributions to youth education in his home village. As he retired, he delved deeply into health prevention. He spent much of his later years working short term contracts for the VA and planning and conducting professional conferences and presentations.

He was a master at whatever he chose to focus on, be it science or construction engineering. I learned that he was fascinated with every phase of their house construction- illustrated by the extensive cache of photos of pipes and studs that I had the pleasure of packing into boxes as they prepared to locate permanently in Florida. 🙂

He maintained life-long relationships with people from all walks of life- I witnessed this as we visited them over the years. White collar, blue collar, international and home grown… he loved people with the same enthusiasm he applied to his career. He and his wife and children traveled extensively. He believed in teaching his family how the world works… the easy parts, the challenging parts… the amazing scenes and inventions…and the part where you live out your convictions with a delicate combination of humility and confidence.

That’s what I will miss about him. His ability to be so curious, so wise, and yet he never threw his wisdom at others. He just exemplified it… softly…surely…and astutely.

The impact of his advocacy and support extended to others is immeasurable, but it was exemplified through major things like monetary donations and hosting people coming over from India- but also through small things like noticing people… listening to them… offering his full attention… serving through creative kindness and pragmatic simplicity. He was present in the world in a way that makes for magic and inspiration.

He left us yesterday to join the love of his life in Heaven. I feel so blessed to have known him and even more blessed to be among those who call him family. He will be dearly missed.

Fly high, V.P., you deserve to have a little fun now…

Tribute to Velu (VPV)
From Dr. M Ramaswamy, lifelong friend

It was springtime. It was the first week of May 2025. It was in a condominium located in a corner on the 6th floor on Longboat Key, an enchanting island that lies nestled between the vast expanse of the Gulf of Mexico in the south and the waters of Sarasota Bay in the north.

My friend of 75 years standing, whom I would fondly call VELU passed away quietly and peacefully in the evening hours in the presence of his caretaker and his son at his condominium. 

His wife, an inseparable companion from his medical school days, had predeceased him by six months and nine days. She was an extraordinarily talented cook and an astute lady who in many ways had complemented Velu’s professional and business acumen.

His life was a success story of an Indian immigrant doctor.

Almost 60 years ago to this day (1964), as a young Medical Graduate from the Madras Medical College, he fell in love with his batchmate Angammal (Angie to those in the USA) and had decided to move to the USA lock, stock and barrel.

It was a time when America was liberal in extending its hands to foreign medical Graduates. Many of my batchmates followed suit. 

It was a matter of time before they had formed a socioculturally cohesive group among themselves that would last for the remainder of their life.

To all his compatriots, he was V. P., V referring to his birthplace in India (Varudeyam Palayam) and P indicating his father’s name (Ponnuswamy).

Velu and I were hardly 10 years old when we passed the entrance test in the year 1950 to join the high school run by the Ramakrishna Mission in Coimbatore, a town known for its textile mills in the state of Tamil Nadu. 

He was taller than me and had a wheatish complexion. We became friends quickly and the friendship matured like a good wine during the ensuing years. Our wavelengths were similar in many areas as we came from a similar rural background with peasant parents. 

I was to marry his uncle’s daughter years later (1970), soon after I returned to India after my training in Pediatrics in New York City. 

It was sheer coincidence and an act of serendipity that Velu and I continued our studies together in the same Institutions – the PSG Arts College Coimbatore, the St Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli and the Madras Medical College until the completion of our Internship at the Saint Peter’s Hospital, Albany, New York. 

We parted company only in 1965 – having been together since 1950 – when I moved to New York City, and he moved to Detroit, Michigan with his wife.

The question I ask myself is what made him successful in a foreign land with a different culture and different language, several thousands of miles away from his native land?  The second question I ask myself is what has been his contribution out of his successful life? 

He was an astute person and possessed abundant common sense.  Furthermore, he was a practical person that arose out of his native wisdom.  These traits of astuteness and common sense helped him to solve a myriad of problems every young immigrant faces in a foreign land culturally, socially, economically, and professionally.

He was particularly keen to pay attention to details of any task that came his way. He would not take anything for granted.  He was a disciplined man and felt proud of his roots and background in India.

All these qualities of head and heart helped him to move up in the profession to become the Director of Mental Health Services for Oakland County, Michigan, to earn a name for himself as a respectable citizen in the local community, to build a beautiful palatial house in West Bloomfield  which he was proud of, to educate his children to become productive citizens, to go around the world to appreciate different cultures, to collect curios and souvenirs to build a small museum in his home, and above all to extend help to those in need, be  they his family members, relatives, acquaintances,  friends or the schools he attended. He helped both his brothers during their engineering studies in India and helped them to come to the USA for higher studies. 

He gave generously to worthy causes yet maintained strict fiscal discipline.  Looking at his disciplined generosity, I used to wonder and often got reminded of a saying in Freemasonry, i.e,.  “Practice charity without detriment to oneself and one’s connections.”

He was never in the habit of asking for any favour from anyone during his several trips to his homeland with his son and daughter and later on during his travels to different continents with his wife.  He was an excellent correspondent. He had always kept his friends informed well in advance of his arrivals and departures whenever he travelled, be they inland trips by car from Pontiac to Sarasota or overseas journey by flights. 

On one occasion, his wife nearly drowned in the lake close to his house, as the car she was driving skidded on a slippery ice laden road.  He had kept himself cool and corresponded with his friends and relatives giving a minute-to-minute narrative of the event. 

The way he organized his son Murali Selvam Veluswamy’s wedding, with a little over 300 invitees all graciously received and comfortably accommodated, spoke volumes of his organizing skill. 

His daughter’s wedding was a civil one. Unlike his son’s wedding, his daughter Asha Jayanthi Veluswamy preferred a simpler one.  He was quite comfortable with it and graciously accepted her suggestion.  

I do feel sad that my friend is no longer there to receive me or to chat with me.  My wife misses her cousin brother, and my children their American Uncle.  

But in a way, I feel happy that the proud peasant boy from the rural hinterland of Tamil Nadu, India became a success story in North America, and his life made a difference not only to the members of his immediate family, but more importantly to a large number of folks in the USA, his adopted country.  

Finally did his life make a difference in the lives of others?  My unqualified answer is YES.

Like the earth and sky, like the day and night and like the sun and the moon, birth and death are a continuum. 

Let us celebrate the life my friend lived, a life useful, purposeful and beneficial, from whichever angle one views.