The Bridge Between Continents in Orthopaedics Born in Bihar to Mohan Tibrewal, Sheo Bhagwan Tibrewal graduated in medicine from Ranchi University in 1973. He then crossed the seas to the United Kingdom, where he trained at some of the finest centres of orthopaedic excellence—the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, and the Royal […]

The Pioneer of Robotic Urology On 5 September 1960, in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, Ashok Kumar Hemal was born. He studied at Gajra Raja Medical College in Gwalior and went on to specialise in urology, eventually becoming one of the foremost names in minimally invasive and robotic surgery for cancers of the kidney, prostate and bladder. […]

The Guardian of Children’s Smiles Born on 15 March in Amritsar, Punjab, to Sukhdev Singh and Iqbal Kaur Chawla, Harpinder Singh Chawla grew up in the shadow of the Golden Temple. He graduated in dentistry from the Government Dental College and Hospital, Amritsar, in 1967 and completed his postgraduate specialisation in pedodontics and preventive dentistry […]

The Master of the Urinary Tract Narmada Prasad Gupta graduated MBBS from Government Medical College, Jabalpur, in 1970, followed by an MS in General Surgery from the same institution in 1974. He then moved to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, where he completed his MCh in Urology in 1977 and […]

The Builder of Digestive Care in Tamil Nadu Born on 15 March 1949 in the village of Kallipatti in Erode district, Tamil Nadu, into an agricultural family, Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy grew up far from the great medical centres. He graduated MBBS from Mysore University in 1972, earned his MD in General Medicine in 1977, and […]

The Saviour of Limbs Born on 24 December 1954 in Chennai, Mayil Vahanan Natarajan grew up in the shadow of a distinguished orthopaedic tradition. His father, Dr. Mahalinga Moorthy Natarajan, had served for nineteen years as Professor of Orthopaedics at Madras Medical College. Following that path, the young doctor completed his MBBS, D.Ortho and MS […]

The Founder of Neurology at PGIMER Born on 15 June 1935 in Lahore (then British India), Jagjit Singh Chopra completed his early education in Fazilka and graduated in medicine from Government Medical College, Patiala, in 1959. After a house job in India he trained in the United Kingdom at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick […]

The Steward of India’s Medical Research Born in 1941, Nirmal Kumar Ganguly graduated MBBS from R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata and earned his MD in Microbiology from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. He later served as Acting Director of that same institute and went on to hold leadership roles […]

The Pioneer of Gentle Gynaecology Born in New Delhi, Malvika Sabharwal graduated MBBS from Lady Hardinge Medical College and completed her postgraduate diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the same institution and further training at Government Medical College, Patiala. She then specialised in advanced endoscopic techniques—learning laparoscopy under Dr. Adam Magos at the Royal Free […]

The Cancer Warrior of Bihar Born in 1952 in the village of Majhauni in Banka district, Bihar, to a freedom-fighter father, Jitendra Kumar Singh grew up with a quiet determination to serve. He completed his schooling at SMP School, Jethour, and graduated in medicine from Patna Medical College (then Prince of Wales Medical College) in […]

The Guardian of Young Lives Born in the mid-1950s, Deepak Sehgal graduated MBBS from Agra University in 1975 and completed his MD in Paediatrics from the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, in 1980. He dedicated his career to the care of children, rising to become Director and CEO of Phoenix Hospital in Greater […]

The Father of Nephrology in Bihar Born on 1 January 1938 in Supaur Jamua village of Munger district, Bihar, Indu Bhushan Sinha grew up in a modest government-servant household. He graduated from Patna Medical College in 1960 and later completed postgraduate training in general medicine and dermatology from Patna University. Selected by the Bihar government […]

The Father of Phacoemulsification in India Born in 1941 into a Parsi family in Maharashtra, Keiki R. Mehta graduated MBBS from Christian Medical College and earned his MS in Ophthalmology from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. He further trained at Moorfields Eye Hospital and the Institute of Ophthalmology in London under […]

The Beacon of Healing in the Doon Valley Born into a modest family in Dehradun, where his father Champat Rai Jain ran a small business from Jain Colony, Rakesh Kumar Jain grew up with a restless curiosity and a booming voice that could fill a courtyard. At Sadhu Ram School and Inter College he excelled […]

The Pioneer of Medical Acupuncture in India Born in Ajmer, Rajasthan, Raman Kapur completed his MBBS from University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, in the late 1970s and began his medical career with a residency at Safdarjang Hospital. In 1982 he opened his own clinic in the capital, drawn early to the ancient healing […]

The Master of the Digestive Tract Randhir Sud graduated MBBS from Government Medical College, Amritsar, in 1977, standing first in his professional examinations. He moved to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, where he completed his MD in General Medicine in 1981 and DM in Gastroenterology in 1983, remaining on the […]

The Gift of Sight from Angamaly Born in Kerala, S. Tony Fernandez completed his basic medical education at Manipal and pursued specialised training in ophthalmology in England, earning a Diploma from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, London, followed by an MS from Madurai Medical College and FRCS from Glasgow. Additional training at Moorfields […]

The Surgeon Who Restored a Hundred Thousand Sights Born on 12 February 1957 in the village of Makegaon in Latur district, Maharashtra, to farmer parents Pundlikrao and Anjanabai, Tatyarao Pundlikrao Lahane grew up in hardship as one of seven children. At a young age both his kidneys failed; his mother donated one of hers so […]

The Pioneer of Male Fertility in India Born on 17 November 1935 in Nellikuppam, South Arcot district of Tamil Nadu, Arjunan Rajasekaran began his medical journey at Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai. After early service as a village doctor at the Primary Health Centre in Vadalur, he specialised in urology, completing his MCh and rising […]

The Pioneer of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in India Dinesh K. Bhargava trained as a gastroenterologist and rose to become Professor of Gastroenterology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He further refined his skills through advanced training at Cornell Medical Centre and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. One of the […]

The Teacher-Physician of Bihar Born in Bihar, Shyam Narayan Arya graduated with honours and a gold medal in MBBS from Patna Medical College and Hospital, later completing his MD in Medicine from the same institution. He went on to earn prestigious international qualifications—MRCP from Edinburgh and Glasgow, and FRCP from London, Edinburgh and Glasgow—along with […]

The Master of Bone and Limb Born in the village of Mirpur near Rewari in Haryana, Surender Singh Yadav received his early education locally before graduating MBBS from SMS Medical College, Jaipur, in 1960. He completed his MS in Orthopaedics from Delhi University in 1966 and entered the Central Health Services, dedicating more than three […]

The Radiation Warrior Against Cancer Born on 11 October 1956 in the small village of Kunkoli near Ranikhet in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand, Mohan Chandra Pant grew up in a family of modest means. After early schooling in the village and college in Ranikhet, he graduated B.Sc. from Kumaon University and then earned his […]

The Father of Interventional Cardiology in India Born in 1954 in Moga, Punjab, to a bicycle mechanic’s family of modest means, Purshotam Lal overcame early hardships through sheer determination and a scholarship to study medicine at Government Medical College, Amritsar, where he topped his class. After graduating, he trained extensively in the United Kingdom, Germany […]

The Diabetologist Who Shaped a Nation’s Health Born on 26 September 1936 in Lahore to Sardar Makhan Singh Bajaj, a noted homeopath, Jasbir Singh Bajaj moved with his family to Delhi after Partition. He excelled academically, graduating from Amritsar Medical College in 1958 and completing his MD in Medicine from Punjab University in 1962. As […]

The Steward of Critical Care Born on 23 March 1954 in the village of Majra Gurdas in Rewari district, Haryana, Brijendra Kumar Rao graduated MBBS and completed his MD in Anaesthesiology from Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi. He married his classmate, Dr. Manju Mehra. In 1983 he joined Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, as […]

The Lord from Lucknow Born on 1 July 1941 in Lucknow, India, Khalid Hameed graduated in medicine from Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College, Kanpur (University of Lucknow). He later moved to the United Kingdom, where he worked in leading London teaching hospitals before establishing a successful private practice in Central London. He rose to […]

The Keeper of the Ancient Pulse Born into a distinguished lineage of traditional Ayurvedic physicians, Devendra Triguna learned the sacred art of healing at the feet of his father, the legendary Padma Vibhushan Vaidya Brihaspati Dev Triguna, a master of Nadi Vigyan—the ancient science of pulse diagnosis. He began his practice at the family’s modest […]

The Visionary for the Sightless Alampur Saibaba Goud, known as Dr. A. Saibaba Goud, is a pioneering ophthalmologist and social entrepreneur from Hyderabad. He earned his MS in Ophthalmology from Osmania University and, in 1988, became the first person in India to receive a Ph.D. in Community Ophthalmology from the same university. He served as […]

Brigadier (Hon.) Dr. Arvind Lal, Padma ShriPathologist, Pioneer of Modern Diagnostics in India The telephone rang late on the night of 4 December 1977 in a quiet room on the green campus of the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune. “Arvind… it’s about your father.” Twenty-eight-year-old Dr. Arvind Lal, lecturer in Pathology and assistant hostel […]

Dr. Ashok Kumar Grover (A.K. Grover), Padma ShriOphthalmologist, Pioneer of Oculoplastic Surgery in India The operating theatre lights were bright, but the young surgeon’s hands were steady. “Doctor, will my child be able to open his eyes properly again?” the anxious mother whispered outside the door. Dr. Ashok Kumar Grover looked up from the scrub […]

Dr. Ashok Kumar Gupta (A.K. Gupta / AKG), Padma ShriReconstructive Plastic & Microsurgeon The small operating theatre at Grant Medical College and Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals in Mumbai was silent except for the steady beep of monitors. On the table lay a two-year-old child whose face had been terribly damaged. “Doctor, is it even […]

Dr. Ashok Kumar Vaid (Ashok K. Vaid), Padma ShriMedical Oncologist & Pioneer of Bone Marrow Transplantation The young patient’s eyes searched his face. “Doctor… will this new treatment really give me a second chance?” Dr. Ashok Kumar Vaid sat down beside the bed, his voice steady and kind. “Bone marrow transplant is not magic,” he […]

Dr. Bal Swaroop Chaubey (Balswarup / Bal Swarup Chaubey), Padma ShriNephrologist, Teacher & Former Dean, Government Medical College & Hospital, Nagpur The young resident stood nervously outside the professor’s room, case notes in hand. “Sir, the diagnosis is still unclear. The patient is deteriorating.” Dr. Bal Swaroop Chaubey looked up from his desk, his eyes […]

Dr. Devender Singh Rana (D.S. Rana / Devinder Singh Rana), Padma ShriNephrologist, Pioneer of Renal Care & Chairman, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi The elderly farmer from a remote Himachal village sat nervously in the consulting room. “Doctor sahib, my kidneys are failing. The big city hospitals are too far and too costly. Is […]

Dr. G. Vijayaraghavan (Govindan Vijayaraghavan), Padma ShriCardiologist, Pioneer of 2D Echocardiography in India The young doctor stood before a grainy black-and-white image on the screen. “This is the future,” he told his colleagues at the Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram in the late 1970s. “If we can see the heart beating in real time, we […]

Dr. Kalyan Banerjee, Padma ShriHomeopath & Pioneer of Accessible Advanced Homeopathic Care The woman sat across from him, her voice trembling. “Doctor, the specialists have said there is nothing more they can do. My condition has been called incurable. Is there still any hope?” Dr. Kalyan Banerjee listened carefully, then replied with quiet conviction, “In […]

Dr. R. Sivaraman, Padma ShriSurgeon & Pioneer of Geriatric Surgery in Tamil Nadu The elderly patient looked anxious as he was wheeled into the ward. “Doctor, at my age… is surgery really safe? Will I survive it?” Dr. R. Sivaraman sat beside the bed and spoke with quiet reassurance. “Age is only a number. What […]

Dr. Shaik Khader Noordeen (S.K. Noordeen), Padma ShriLeprologist & Architect of the Global Leprosy Elimination Programme In a quiet corner of a leprosy hospital in Tamil Nadu, a young doctor looked at the patients who had been cast aside by society. “These are not just cases,” he told a colleague. “They are people who have […]

Dr. Yash Gulati, Padma ShriOrthopaedic Surgeon – Joint Replacement & Spine Specialist The patient, a middle-aged man with severe knee pain, looked worried. “Doctor, will I be able to walk without pain again? I have tried everything.” Dr. Yash Gulati smiled reassuringly. “Modern joint replacement, done with precision and care, can give you back your […]

Dr. Thanikachalam Sadagopan (S. Thanikachalam), Padma ShriCardiologist, Teacher & Pioneer of Preventive Cardiology The middle-aged executive sat across the table, looking anxious after a routine check-up. “Doctor, my reports show high blood pressure and cholesterol. Am I heading for a heart attack?” Dr. Thanikachalam Sadagopan leaned forward with a calm smile. “Not if we act […]

Dr. P. R. Krishna Kumar (P.R. Krishnakumar), Padma ShriAyurveda Visionary, Educator & Institution Builder A young student once asked him, “Sir, why do you spend so much energy on research and education instead of simply practising Ayurveda?” Dr. P. R. Krishna Kumar replied with quiet conviction, “Ayurveda is not only for those who already believe […]

Ashtavaidyan E. T. Narayanan Mooss, Padma BhushanTraditional Ayurvedic Physician & Institution Builder of the Vaidyaratnam Legacy A patient who had travelled a long distance sat before him, weary and uncertain. “Vaidyar, many systems have failed me. Can Ayurveda still help?” Ashtavaidyan E. T. Narayanan Mooss examined him carefully and replied with quiet confidence, “Ayurveda is […]

Dr. Noshir Minoo Shroff (Noshir M. Shroff), Padma BhushanOphthalmologist – Pioneer of Intraocular Lens Implantation & Modern Cataract Surgery An elderly patient sat nervously in the consultation room, cataract clouding both eyes. “Doctor, will I really be able to see clearly again after the operation?” Dr. Noshir M. Shroff smiled reassuringly. “Yes. With the new […]

Dr. P. K. Warrier (Panniyampally Krishnankutty Warrier), Padma BhushanAyurveda Physician, Institution Builder & Doyen of Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala A patient who had come from far away looked at him with a mixture of hope and hesitation. “Vaidyar, I have tried many treatments. Can Ayurveda still help me?” Dr. P. K. Warrier examined him carefully […]

Dr. Ramakanta Panda (R. M. Panda), Padma BhushanCardiac Surgeon – Pioneer of Safe Bypass Surgery & Founder of Asian Heart Institute A high-risk patient, already told elsewhere that surgery was too dangerous, looked at him anxiously. “Doctor, is there really a chance?” Dr. Ramakanta Panda replied calmly, “Every heart deserves a careful chance. We will […]

Dr. Satya Paul Agarwal, Padma BhushanNeurosurgeon, Public Health Administrator & Humanitarian Leader In the aftermath of a major disaster, a young relief worker asked him, “Sir, how do we keep going when the needs seem endless?” Dr. Satya Paul Agarwal replied steadily, “We serve one person at a time, with whatever skill and compassion we […]

Dr. B. M. Hegde (Belle Monappa Hegde), Padma VibhushanCardiologist, Teacher, Author & Advocate of Holistic Medicine A medical student once asked him after a long lecture, “Sir, is modern medicine enough, or do we need something more?” Dr. B. M. Hegde smiled and replied, “Medicine is not only about drugs and machines. It is about […]

Dr. A. K. Bhalla (Anil Kumar Bhalla), Padma ShriNephrologist & Pioneer of Peritoneal Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation A patient with advanced kidney failure sat across from him, looking worried. “Doctor, dialysis every few days in hospital is becoming impossible for my family. Is there another way?” Dr. A. K. Bhalla replied gently, “Yes. With peritoneal […]

Dr. A. S. Soin (Arvinder Singh Soin), Padma ShriLiver Transplant Surgeon – Pioneer of Liver Transplantation in India A desperate family stood before him after being told elsewhere that a transplant was impossible. “Doctor, is there any hope left for our patient?” Dr. A. S. Soin looked at them calmly and said, “In liver transplantation, […]