The Healer of Bones and Joints

In the fields and towns of Punjab, Prithipal Singh Maini grew up with a quiet determination that would one day make him one of India’s most respected orthopaedic surgeons. He devoted his life to restoring movement, easing pain, and giving patients the simple dignity of walking freely again.

As Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram City Hospital in New Delhi and Consultant at Sama Hospital, he became known for his skill in joint surgery and osteotomy—the precise realignment of bones to correct deformity and relieve suffering. He taught at medical schools across the country, guided clinical trials, and served as Emeritus Professor at Maharshi Dayanand University. Through the Pathfinder Health India Group he worked to make quality care more affordable and accessible.

In 2001, when Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal suffered a serious femur fracture, it was Dr. Maini who performed the surgery that restored him to health. The same steady hands that treated the powerful also served ordinary patients with equal care and attention.

The Government of Punjab honoured him with the Order of Nishan-e-Khalsa in 2001. In 2007 the nation recognised a lifetime of service with the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award, for his contributions to medicine.

Dr. Prithipal Singh Maini was married to Dr. Balwant Kaur Maini. He continued to practise and teach until the end of his life. He passed away on 27 March 2023.

In operating theatres where damaged joints are rebuilt and crooked limbs are straightened, his legacy endures—measured not only in awards, but in the thousands of patients who once again stand tall, walk without pain, and live with renewed strength. The quiet surgeon from Punjab left behind a standard of skill, humility, and compassion that continues to guide the next generation of healers.