Dr. Shyama Prasad Mandal (Shyam Prasad Mandal), Padma Shri

Dr. Shyama Prasad Mandal (Shyam Prasad Mandal), Padma Shri
Orthopaedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine Specialist

A young sportsman recovering from injury once asked him, “Doctor, when can I return to the field at full strength?”

Dr. Shyama Prasad Mandal replied with a reassuring smile, “Healing takes time and discipline. We will repair the injury carefully, strengthen the surrounding structures, and guide your rehabilitation step by step. The goal is not just to return, but to return stronger and safer.”

That careful, patient-centred approach has defined his long career in orthopaedics and sports medicine.

Shyama Prasad Mandal was born on 13 June 1940. He completed his MBBS (1966) and MS in Orthopaedics (1971) from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He then went to the United Kingdom and obtained the MCh in Orthopaedics from the University of Liverpool in 1974.

He has been associated for many years with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, where he has served as a senior orthopaedic surgeon and later as co-chairperson. With a career spanning nearly six decades, he has specialised in joint replacement, arthroscopy, sports injuries, and complex orthopaedic procedures. He gained public attention in 1999 when he examined cricketer Sachin Tendulkar for a recurring back injury.

Dr. Mandal has held important leadership positions in professional bodies. He is a former President of the Indian Orthopaedic Association and has served as President of its Building Committee. He has also been actively involved with the Indian Federation of Sports Medicine, the Indian Arthroscopy Society and the Indian Association of Sports Medicine. He has helped organise national workshops and symposia on knee surgery, arthroscopy and lower-limb problems.

Beyond clinical work, he is President of the Board of Trustees of the Amarjyoti Charitable Trust, a non-profit organisation engaged in education and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities.

The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2011 for his contributions to medical science, particularly orthopaedics and sports medicine.

Even after decades of practice, Dr. Mandal continues to emphasise precise diagnosis, skilled surgery and structured rehabilitation.

“Orthopaedics is not only about fixing bones and joints,” he has often said. “It is about restoring function, confidence and the ability to lead an active life.”

From AIIMS and advanced training in Liverpool to senior leadership at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and national professional associations, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mandal has made lasting contributions to orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine in India.