Dr Manmohan Goomer/ Dr Seema Juneja

Dr. Manmohan Singh Goomer was a towering figure, not just in stature but in the warmth and kindness he brought to Dehradun’s medical community. A large, genial Sikh with a perpetual smile, he was the kind of person who made you feel at ease the moment you met him. Back in 1989, when i approached him to inaugurate my clinic, his cordial nature shone through. I recall him clapping a hand on your shoulder, his turban bobbing slightly as he chuckled, “Of course, I’ll come! It’s a big day for you, and we’re all family in this profession.” His presence at the event likely drew a crowd, not just for his reputation as an ENT specialist but for the genuine goodwill he carried.

Dr. Goomer and his wife, Dr. Seema Juneja Goomer, were a beloved duo in Dehradun. Together, they ran Seema Nursing Home on Faltu Line, Municipal Road, a modest yet vital hub for healthcare in the city. He was the ENT expert, meticulous in his diagnoses, always ready with a reassuring word for anxious patients. Seema, a skilled gynaecologist, was equally cherished, known for her compassionate care and ability to connect with her patients on a personal level. Their nursing home wasn’t just a medical facility; it was a place where people felt seen and cared for. You could imagine patients leaving their consultations with Dr. Goomer saying, “He listened to me like I was his only patient,” or mothers-to-be praising Dr. Seema for her gentle guidance through their pregnancies.

Their partnership was the heartbeat of the nursing home, a reflection of their deep bond as a couple. They were, in many ways, a team that embodied the spirit of service. There’s a story that might have circulated among their colleagues: a late-night emergency where Dr. Goomer stayed up past midnight to treat a patient with a severe ear infection, only to find Dr. Seema already in the labour ward, coaching a nervous young mother through delivery. “We don’t just treat ailments,” Dr. Goomer might have said to a junior doctor, “we treat people’s fears, their hopes. That’s the real work.”

The connection to Dr. Manmohan Singh of Agra, a distant relative, added a layer of pride to their legacy. It wasn’t just a familial tie; it was a shared commitment to medicine, a thread that linked their small nursing home in Dehradun to the broader tapestry of India’s healthcare community. When Dr. Seema fell ill with a mysterious ailment, it was natural for her to reach out to Dr. Singh in Agra, whose son, a DM neurologist, brought his expertise to bear. I remember her visiting my clinic for an EEG along with Dr Manmohan, which came back normal, a fleeting moment of hope in what must have been a trying time. She was having fleeting attacks of panic. She said ‘Something happens to me suddenly, I don’t know what’. She was sitting in my clinic, her usual poise tempered by worry, saying softly, “I just want to know what’s happening to me. I’ve helped so many others; now I need answers.” Her Ct scan brain was normal. Her MRI brain showed some demyelination. Dr Manmohan Singh wanted me to talk to Dr M M Singh’s son, which I did. He was thinking about some demyelinating disease. Despite the efforts of her family and the best medical minds, her condition proved insurmountable, and her passing left a void in Dehradun’s medical circles.

Dr. Goomer’s grief was palpable. Losing Seema, his partner in life and work, seemed to dim the light that had always defined him. The nursing home, once bustling with their shared energy, grew quieter. He stopped practicing, the weight of loss too heavy to carry on as before. The closure of Seema Nursing Home marked the end of an era for those who had relied on their care. Patients likely whispered to each other, “It’s not the same without Dr. Seema’s smile or Dr. Goomer’s hearty laugh.”

This morning, at 5 a.m., on 5 Th of June 2025, Dr. Manmohan Singh Goomer suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away, joining his beloved Seema. The news would have rippled through Dehradun, stirring memories of a man who was more than a doctor—he was a pillar of the community. Those who knew him might recall his booming voice, his unwavering kindness, or the way he’d slip a sweet to a child after a check-up, saying, “Bravery deserves a reward!” His death closes a chapter on a life dedicated to healing, marked by a quiet dignity and a legacy that will linger in the hearts of those he touched.

The Goomers’ story is one of love, service, and resilience, etched into the fabric of Dehradun. Their nursing home may be closed, but the memories of their care, their laughter, and their compassion endure. If you were to visit Faltu Line today, you might still hear echoes of their work in the stories shared by former patients, a testament to a couple who lived to make others’ lives better.

DR Rakesh Kalra writes .. ॐ शांति 🙏🏻
An old timer, very gentle personality and a very familiar face in all our IMA meetings and events
May his soul achieve moksha

Dr Manisha writes.. Naman to a great doctor who helped the society even after physical cessation. God grant him Moksha 🙏