When the Government of India announced the Padma Shri for Dr. Tapan Kumar Lahiri,
the protocol required him to travel to Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi to receive the honor from the President.

​However, Dr. Lahiri was hesitant to go. His reasoning was simple: “If I go to Delhi, who will look after my patients in the OPD?” For him, a day away from the hospital wasn’t a holiday; it was a day his patients—many of whom traveled from Bihar and rural UP—would go untreated.

Finally he did go given the prestige associated with the event.

Who is Dr Tapan Lahiri?

Dr. Tapan Kumar Lahiri is a legendary Indian cardiothoracic surgeon and professor commonly referred to as the “Saint of BHU”. Dr. Lahiri has done FRCS and MCh and working in BHU.

​Dr. Lahiri’s commitment to the poor is extraordinary.

In 1994, when his salary (including allowances) exceeded ₹1 lakh, he stopped taking it entirely, directing the university to use the funds for the treatment of underprivileged patients.

After retiring in 2003, he continued this practice with his pension. He keeps only enough to cover two simple meals a day and donates the remainder to the BHU patient fund.

Even in his 80s, he has been known to walk to the hospital at 6:00 AM daily, carrying a simple bag and a black umbrella, to check on his patients.

As he says
“With the grace of Lord Vishwanath and Maa Annapurna, I will keep serving patients till my last breath.”