Dr. Bhaba Nanda Das: The Heartbeat of Hope

In the humid, vibrant streets of Guwahati in the 1950s, a young Bhaba Nanda Das was already showing signs of the tenacity that would make him one of India’s most celebrated cardiothoracic surgeons. Born into a family that valued education and service, Bhaba’s early years were filled with curiosity and a quiet determination. “He was always fixing things,” his childhood friend, Anil, recalled with a chuckle. “Whether it was a broken bicycle or a neighbor’s radio, Bhaba had to figure out how it worked. I guess that’s why he ended up fixing hearts.”

Early Sparks: A Calling to Heal

Bhaba’s path to medicine began at home, where his parents instilled a deep sense of duty. His father, a schoolteacher, would often say, “Knowledge is power, but using it to help others—that’s greatness.” Those words stuck with Bhaba as he excelled in school, eventually earning a coveted spot at the University of Gauhati, where he completed his MBBS in 1977. But it was a chance encounter during his internship that set his course. Watching a cardiac surgeon save a patient in the operating theater, Bhaba was hooked. “That heart was beating in the surgeon’s hands,” he later told a colleague, his eyes wide with awe. “I knew right then I wanted to do that—hold life itself and give it back.”

Driven by this passion, Bhaba pursued advanced training, earning an MS in General Surgery from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, in 1980, and an MCh in Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, in 1983. His time at AIIMS was transformative. “Those years were brutal,” he admitted in a rare interview. “But every sleepless night, every case, taught me precision and patience. You don’t just cut—you care.”

A Global Quest for Mastery

Bhaba’s hunger for knowledge took him beyond India’s borders. In 1993, he secured a WHO Fellowship, and in 1994, a Commonwealth Fellowship, training at prestigious institutions like Lancaster General Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, Mayo Clinic, and Texas Heart Institute. There, he learned from giants in the field. “You’re not just a surgeon, Das,” his mentor at Mayo Clinic told him. “You’re an innovator. Bring that back to India.” And he did. Returning home, Bhaba joined AIIMS as a Senior Consultant in Cardio-Thoracic Vascular Surgery from 1984 to 1996, where he began to make his mark.

A Pioneer at Apollo

In 1994, Bhaba joined Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi as Chief of Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, a role he still holds with distinction. Over his 37-year career, he’s performed over 20,000 heart surgeries, from beating-heart coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to complex aortic aneurysm repairs and valve replacements. He pioneered India’s first heart transplant, beating-heart CABG, and aneurysm surgery in North India, earning him a reputation as a trailblazer. “Every heart is a puzzle,” he’d tell his team, “and we’re here to solve it without breaking the rhythm.”

His patients adore him as much for his skill as for his empathy. “Dr. Das didn’t just operate on my father,” shared Meena, a patient’s daughter, her voice thick with gratitude. “He sat with us, explained everything, and gave us hope when we had none. He’s like family now.” Bhaba’s ability to connect is legendary. After a grueling 10-hour surgery, he’d still find time to reassure families. “Your loved one’s heart is in good hands,” he’d say softly, his calm demeanor easing their fears.

Breaking New Ground

Bhaba’s innovations didn’t stop at the operating table. He introduced all-arterial grafts for coronary revascularization and used the coronary sinus in Fontan’s circulation, setting new standards in India. He also founded the cardiac surgery center at Satya Sai Institute in Andhra Pradesh and Hayat Hospital in Guwahati, and established the Beating Heart Surgery division at Zainul Haque Sikder Women’s Medical College in Bangladesh. “Why wait for the world to bring solutions to us?” he’d challenge his colleagues. “Let’s build them here.”

His contributions earned him the Vishisth Chikitsa Ratan Award in 2012 from the Delhi Medical Association and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Morland News in 2017. With over 40 publications in national and international journals and memberships in the Cardiological Society of India and Indian Medical Association, Bhaba’s influence is global.

A Heart Beyond the OR

Despite his accolades, Bhaba remains grounded. Colleagues describe him as a mentor with a mischievous sense of humor. “He’d sneak into the lounge with a cup of chai and say, ‘Alright, who’s ready to learn something new today?’” recalled Dr. Sanjay, a former resident. Bhaba’s also known for his love of Assamese music and gardening, often tending to plants at his Guwahati home. “A garden’s like a heart,” he once mused. “Nurture it, and it thrives.”

At 70, Dr. Bhaba Nanda Das continues to perform around 800 surgeries a year, each one a testament to his skill and heart. “I’m not here to be a hero,” he told a journalist in 2024. “I’m here to give people a chance to live their lives.” For the thousands whose hearts he’s mended—like the 20-day-old infant he saved in 1994 or the 76-year-old he gave a new lease on life—Bhaba is more than a surgeon. He’s a lifeline, a pioneer, and a man who turned his childhood curiosity into a legacy of hope.