In the bustling city of Agra, where the shadow of the Taj Mahal looms over everyday miracles, Dr. Lakhan Singh Galav emerged as a beacon of healing. Born in Rajasthan, Lakhan’s path to medicine began in the dusty halls of RNT Medical College in Udaipur. It was the early 1990s, and young Lakhan, fresh from his MBBS, dove headfirst into the grueling world of surgery. “This isn’t just about cutting and stitching,” he’d often tell his classmates during late-night study sessions. “It’s about giving people a second chance at life.” In 1994, he earned his MS in Surgery, a milestone that ignited his passion for laparoscopic techniques—minimally invasive procedures that would later define his career.

After graduation, Lakhan returned to his roots in northern India, settling in Agra to build a life dedicated to service. He started at Asopa Hospital, where his steady hands and innovative approaches quickly earned him a reputation as a go-to laparoscopic surgeon. “Why make a big incision when a keyhole can do the job?” he’d quip to his patients, easing their fears with a warm smile and a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Specializing in general surgery, hernias, piles, and advanced laparoscopy, Lakhan wasn’t just a doctor—he was a problem-solver. He later became a senior consultant at Puspanjali Hospital, treating thousands with precision and empathy. His accolades grew: a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and a distinguished life member of the World Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons. By his mid-50s, with over two decades of experience, he ran his own clinic near Delhi Gate in Civil Lines, a modest space where the walls echoed with stories of gratitude.

But Lakhan’s life wasn’t all scrubs and scalpels. He was a family man at heart, living near Ashoka Hospital on Galana Road with his loved ones. 1 “Papa, you’re always saving others—when do you save time for us?” his daughter once teased him over dinner, prompting a hearty laugh from Lakhan. “Every life I touch is a gift to our family too,” he’d reply, his eyes twinkling with pride. He balanced the demands of surgery with quiet joys: mentoring young doctors, sharing surgical insights in videos, and even exploring the “art of surgery” in online talks that inspired a new generation.

Tragedy struck on a crisp November morning in 2023, exactly two years ago today. Lakhan had accompanied his daughter to Raja Ki Mandi Railway Station to see her off on a train. As the locomotive began to pull away, he attempted to step down—but fate intervened. His foot slipped and got wedged in the tracks. “Hold on, I’m coming!” he might have called out in those frantic seconds, but the moving train overran him before help could arrive. He succumbed instantly, leaving Agra’s medical community in shock. CCTV footage captured the heartbreaking moment, a stark reminder of how fragile life can be—even for those who mended it daily.

Dr. Lakhan Singh Galav’s story isn’t just one of professional triumph; it’s a human tale of dedication, warmth, and untimely loss. In Agra’s hospitals, his name still whispers through corridors, inspiring colleagues to carry on. “If Lakhan could turn pain into hope,” one might say, “so can we.” Though gone, his legacy endures—a surgeon who healed with both skill and soul.