Ah, Dr. Sudeep Saran Kachlas – born on 3rd November 1960, student of RBS College Agra and my old batch mate from SN Medical College in Agra. I’m Dr. PK Gupta, and let me tell you, sharing those grueling years with him from 1979 to 1989 was like having a front-row seat to a one-man show of discipline, drama, and downright delight. Sudeep wasn’t just a student; he was the guy who turned our chaotic dorm life into something resembling order. Picture this: while the rest of us were drowning in a sea of scattered notes and half-eaten snacks, Sudeep’s room was a masterpiece. Racks lined up like soldiers, books alphabetized – I’d pop in and tease him, “Sudeep, yaar, is this a library or your bedroom?” He’d grin and reply, in that straightforward English of his – not the polished convent-school kind, mind you, with a grammatical slip here and there – “PK, organization is key for success. Without it, we all lost!”. His room partner was j – dash an equally organised person, more about him later.
We joined SN Medical College together in ’79, fresh-faced and full of dreams. Sudeep dove headfirst into his MBBS, and by the time we graduated in ’89, he’d earned his MD in Medicine with the kind of focus that made professors nod in approval. But college wasn’t all textbooks for him. Oh no, Sudeep had a flair for the stage that lit up our cultural shows. He’d organize events, direct plays, and even star in them. I remember one Bareilly IMA fest where he transformed into a peacock – full feathers, blue face paint, strutting around like he owned the auditorium. The crowd went wild! “How did I look, PK?” he’d ask afterward, wiping off the makeup. “Like a king of birds!” I’d laugh, and he’d chuckle that hearty laugh of his, the one that echoes and pulls you in.
Post-college, life took him to Clara Swain Hospital in Bareilly, where he honed his skills in medicine. But the real plot twist came when he married Bharti, a talented gynaecologist. That union wasn’t just personal; it was professional too. Soon after, he joined the Saran Institute, building a career that’s been as steady as his organized racks. Over the years, he’s delivered countless CME lectures – those continuing medical education sessions where he’d share insights on everything from internal medicine to patient care. Colleagues would say, “Dr. Kachlas, your talks are gold,” and he’d modestly reply, “I just share what I know, no big thing.”
Sudeep’s personality? A mix of warmth and whimsy, with a dash of abruptness. He’s traveled to more than 92 countries and counting – can you imagine? From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the serene beaches of Bali, he’s got stories that could fill a book. “PK, you must see Machu Picchu,” he’d insist during our catch-ups, his eyes lighting up. But don’t ask him for a donation to a Ramlila fundraiser out of the blue – he might cut you off with a firm, “No, not now!” Yet, he’s generous in his own way. Once, he drove all the way to Dehradun to meet me, hauling big boxes of sweets. “For old times, PK!” he said, handing them over with a sweaty grin from the journey. We spent hours reminiscing, him regaling me with tales from college, like how he’d charm the junior girls with his jokes. “Remember that one about the stethoscope and the heartbeat?” he’d say, and we’d both crack up.
These days, Sudeep’s put on a bit of weight – who hasn’t after all those years? – but it suits him, adding to that jolly presence. His dress sense is legendary: floral Hawaiian shirts paired with two-toned coats that scream “I’m here to heal and have fun.” And he still dips into cultural events with the IMA in Bareilly, keeping that peacock spirit alive. Through it all, he’s remained the organized soul who laughs easily, speaks from the heart (grammar be damned), and reminds us that medicine is as much about people as it is about prescriptions. Sudeep, if you’re reading this, here’s to more travels, more laughs, and maybe one more peacock performance.
Ah, Sudeep’s travels – where do I even start? That man has stamped his passport in over 92 plus countries, turning every trip into a tale worth retelling over chai. As his old batch mate Dr. PK Gupta, I’ve heard enough of these stories during our Dehradun meet-ups to fill a scrapbook. His chamber where he sees patients is filled with artefact from his various travels, the most conspicuous being a Baiya bird nest hanging on his head and a skull with red light coming out of eye socket. So queer. Let me share a few more that capture his adventurous spirit, complete with that signature laugh and quirky English.
Remember how organized Sudeep is? Well, that extends to his travels. On a solo trek to Peru back in 2015, he finally made it to Machu Picchu – the one he’d been nagging me about. “PK, you missing out big time!” he texted me from the top, attaching a photo of him in a floral Hawaiian shirt against those ancient ruins. But here’s the fun part: he’d packed his itinerary down to the minute, but a sudden llama photobomb turned into a chase when the critter nipped at his two-toned coat. “I run like in college sports day,” he later confessed over a call, chuckling. “Llama think my coat is food!” He came back with bruises, souvenirs, and a story he trots out at every CME lecture to break the ice.
Then there was his whirlwind through Europe in 2018 – hitting France, Italy, and Spain in one go. In Paris, he tried to blend in at the Eiffel Tower, but his abrupt side shone through. A street performer asked for a tip mid-juggle, and Sudeep, mistaking it for a Ramlila-style donation plea, snapped, “No, I here for view, not show!” The crowd laughed, and he ended up joining the act, juggling his own water bottle to make amends. “PK, French people love my jokes,” he boasted later, though his grammar had the performer in stitches more than anything. From there, he zipped to Italy, where he gorged on pasta in Rome and nearly got lost in the Colosseum – “Like maze from medical books!” – only to emerge with a new appreciation for history and carbs, adding a few more pounds to his frame.
Africa was another highlight, around 2022, when he ventured to Kenya for a safari. Sudeep, ever the planner, had his racks of gear ready: binoculars, hats, the works. But nothing prepared him for a close encounter with a herd of elephants. “They big like my laugh!” he described, eyes wide during our next meeting. One curious calf approached his jeep, and in a panic, he started reciting medical facts about elephant anatomy to calm himself. The guide was impressed: “Doctor, you teach me something new!” He returned with photos of sunsets over the savanna and a vow to hit country number 93 soon – maybe Antarctica next, he mused.
And let’s not forget Southeast Asia in 2020, right before the world shut down. In Thailand, he dove into Bangkok’s street food scene, but his unique dress sense – that blue face paint from an old peacock costume repurposed as sunblock? – had locals mistaking him for a performer. “They ask me dance,” he laughed, “I say, no, I doctor, but okay, one step!” He ended up leading an impromptu conga line at a market, regaling everyone with jokes like the ones he used on junior girls back in college. From there to Vietnam, where he cruised Ha Long Bay and haggled for silks, always with that good-natured abruptness if prices got too high.
Sudeep’s travels aren’t just vacations; they’re extensions of his curious mind, blending medicine with culture. He’s given impromptu health talks in hostels from Australia to Brazil, and every story ends with him saying, “PK, life too short – pack bag and go!” If only I had his energy.
Dr. Sudeep Saran Kachlas is more than a brilliant physician and researcher; he’s a whirlwind of wit, charm, and infectious energy that transforms any room into a stage for laughter and learning. Known for his razor-sharp intellect and equally sharp sense of humor, Sudeep ensures there’s never a dull moment when he’s around. Whether he’s dissecting the latest scientific literature with the precision of a surgeon or delivering a punchline that leaves everyone in stitches, his presence is a guaranteed mood-lifter. Colleagues and patients alike describe him as a rare blend of genius and jester, with a knack for making even the most serious moments feel lighthearted.
Sudeep’s jokes are the stuff of legend in the hospital corridors. Once, during a routine ward round, he unleashed a particularly cheeky quip that had his intern, Saranjeet, doubled over in laughter for a solid half hour. “Oh, come on, Saranjeet, it wasn’t that funny!” Sudeep teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief as the young doctor clutched her sides, gasping for air. Even the typically composed nurses struggled to maintain their professional demeanor, stifling giggles as they hurried past with charts. His humor is a universal solvent, dissolving tension and bringing people together, no matter the setting.
But Sudeep’s comedic genius doesn’t stop at the hospital. A memorable incident in Bareilly, during a formal event, perfectly captures his ability to turn any moment into a story worth retelling. Sudeep and me, both dressed in sharp black suits and roughly the same height, stood side by side in a bustling crowd. Sudeep, true to form, launched into one of his famously lewd jokes, each line more outrageous than the last. His colleague roared with laughter, barely keeping up, while Sudeep’s wife, Bharti, stood nearby, her patience visibly thinning. The joke stretched on, Sudeep’s delivery growing more animated, until—whack!—a sharp slap landed on my back back.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry! I thought you were Sudeep!” Bharti exclaimed, her face a mix of mortification and exasperation as she realized her mistake. The crowd froze, but Sudeep? He erupted into laughter, clutching his stomach as he pointed at his bewildered friend. “Pk pit gaya!” he howled, barely able to get the words out. “Roj toh hum pit te hain, aaj tera number laga!” (Translation: “Pk got thrashed! Usually, it’s me getting it, but today it’s your turn!”) The poor colleague stood there, rubbing his back, caught between shock and amusement, while Bharti apologized profusely. It was a classic Sudeep moment—chaos, comedy, and just enough heart to make it unforgettable.
Sudeep’s ability to balance his jovial nature with his professional rigor is what truly sets him apart. One minute, he’s cracking jokes that leave interns in tears of laughter; the next, he’s leading a spirited discussion on cutting-edge medical research, his insights as sharp as his humor. His wife, Bharti, often plays the straight man to his comedic antics, but even she can’t resist the occasional smile at his relentless charm. To know Dr. Sudeep Saran Kachlas is to know a man who lives life with a twinkle in his eye and a joke on his lips, proving that laughter and brilliance are the perfect prescription for any day.
deemagclinic
deemag and chest clinic 