Dr. Mani Kumar Chettri(Padma Shri, 1974 – Medicine) High in the tea gardens of Teesta Valley near Darjeeling, a Gorkha boy named Mani Kumar Chettri was born on 23 May 1920. From the quiet hills he carried a lifelong sense of discipline and quiet determination to the busy medical wards of Kolkata. After schooling in […]

Dr. Mysore Shrikanta Pandit Nilkantha Rao(Padma Shri, 1974 – Medicine) In the quiet determination of post-Independence India, few doctors dedicated themselves so completely to one of the most stigmatised diseases of the time—leprosy. Dr. Mysore Shrikanta Pandit Nilkantha Rao (often known as M.S. Nilakanta Rao) was one of them. Born on 5 April 1927 in […]

Dr. Nagarur Gopinath(Padma Shri, 1974 – Medicine) In 1962, in the operating theatre of Christian Medical College, Vellore, a team of surgeons held their breath as a heart-lung machine took over the work of a young patient’s heart and lungs. When the atrial and ventricular septal defects were successfully closed and the boy recovered, India […]

Dr. Venkatarama Narayanaswami(Padma Shri, 1974 – Medicine) In the Republic Day honours of 1974, the name Dr. Venkatarama Narayanaswami of Tamil Nadu appears among the recipients of the Padma Shri for distinguished service in medicine. Like many dedicated physicians of his generation, he belonged to a time when medical practice in the state was expanding […]

Dr. Darab Jehangir Jussawala(Padma Bhushan, 1975 – Medicine) In the post-Independence years, when cancer was still spoken of in hushed tones and specialised care was scarce, one surgeon set out to change the landscape of oncology in India. Dr. Darab Jehangir Jussawala, born on 13 April 1915 in Bombay into a Parsi family, became one […]

Dr. Mary Poonen Lukose(Padma Shri, 1975 – Medicine) In the princely state of Travancore at the turn of the twentieth century, a young woman from Aymanam quietly rewrote what was possible for her gender and her profession. Born on 2 August 1886 as the only child of Dr. T.E. Poonen—the first medical graduate of Travancore—Mary […]

Dr. Ali Mohammad Jan(Padma Shri, 1975 – Medicine) In the valleys and villages of Kashmir, patients would travel long distances and sometimes stop cars on the road, refusing to let a certain doctor pass until he agreed to examine them. That doctor was Ali Mohammad Jan Fazili, known simply and affectionately as Dr. Ali Jan—or, […]

Dr. Dhanpat Rai Nagpaul(Padma Shri, 1975 – Medicine) In the long battle against tuberculosis in India, one name stands out among the architects of organised national control: Dr. Dhanpat Rai Nagpaul. Born in 1920, he dedicated his career to turning scattered efforts into a systematic, district-based programme that reached deep into rural India. As Director […]

Dr. Stanley John(Padma Shri, 1975 – Medicine) In the early 1960s, when open-heart surgery was still a rare and high-risk adventure in India, a young surgeon at Christian Medical College, Vellore, helped turn it into a regular, reliable service. Dr. Stanley John, born in August 1932 in Munnar, Tamil Nadu, became one of the true […]

Dr. Krishnaswami Srinivas Sanjivi(Padma Shri 1971, Padma Bhushan 1976 – Medicine) In post-Independence Madras, when quality healthcare remained out of reach for most ordinary families, one physician chose to step away from a distinguished government career and build something new. Dr. Krishnaswami Srinivas Sanjivi—known simply as K.S. Sanjivi—became the architect of a model that many […]

Durga Deulkar(Padma Shri, 1976) In the decades after Independence, when the education of women and the practical skills of home and family life were being reshaped across India, Durga Deulkar stood at the forefront of that quiet transformation. An educationist, writer and institution-builder, she served as Director of the prestigious Lady Irwin College in Delhi […]

Dr. Bhikhubhai Khushalbhai Naik(Padma Shri, 1976 – Medicine) In the developing field of cardiology in independent India, one physician from the west of the country helped establish specialised heart care in the south. Dr. Bhikhubhai Khushalbhai Naik—known professionally as B.K. Naik—was born on 13 October 1921 and went on to become a pioneering cardiologist whose […]

Dr. Krishna Pai Narayana Pai(Padma Shri, 1976 – Medicine) In the 1976 Republic Day honours list, the name of Dr. Krishna Pai Narayana Pai of Kerala appears among the recipients of the Padma Shri for distinguished service in medicine. Like many dedicated physicians of his generation in the state, he belonged to a period when […]

Dr. Muni Inder Dev Sharma(Padma Shri, 1976 – Medicine) In the 1976 Republic Day honours, the name of Dr. Muni Inder Dev Sharma of Delhi appears among the recipients of the Padma Shri for distinguished service in medicine. He belonged to a generation of physicians who practised and taught during the decades when specialised medical […]

Dr. Ravindra Santuram Dharkar(Padma Shri, 1976 – Medicine) In the 1976 Republic Day honours list, the name of Dr. Ravindra Santuram Dharkar of Madhya Pradesh appears among the recipients of the Padma Shri for distinguished service in medicine. He belonged to a generation of physicians who served the people of central India during the decades […]

Dr. Amy Dhunjibhoy Engineer(Padma Shri, 1976 – Medicine) In an era when few women rose to the highest ranks of academic medicine in India, Dr. Amy Dhunjibhoy Engineer carved a distinguished path in obstetrics and gynaecology. Born in Bombay on 10 October 1915, she became one of the pioneering women specialists of her generation and […]

Hakim Saifuddin Ahmad(Padma Shri, 1976 – Medicine) In the rich tradition of Unani medicine in India, Hakim Saifuddin Ahmad of Uttar Pradesh stood as a respected practitioner whose lifelong service earned national recognition. In 1976 the Government of India conferred upon him the Padma Shri for distinguished contributions to the field of medicine, specifically the […]

Dr. Perugu Siva Reddy(Padma Shri 1971, Padma Bhushan 1977 – Medicine) In the dusty villages and crowded hospitals of Andhra Pradesh, one name became synonymous with the gift of sight: Dr. Perugu Siva Reddy. Born on 12 September 1920 in the village of Dinnedevarapadu in Kurnool district, he rose to become one of India’s most […]

Prof. Balasubramaniam Ramamurthi(Padma Bhushan, 1977 – Medicine) In the early years after Independence, when neurosurgery was virtually unknown in India, one young surgeon from Tamil Nadu laid the foundations of the specialty and earned the title “Father of Indian Neurosurgery.” Prof. Balasubramaniam Ramamurthi—affectionately known as Prof. B.R.M. or simply “Chief”—was born on 30 January 1922 […]

Dr. Lucy Oommen(Padma Shri, 1977 – Medicine) In the bustling wards of St. Stephen’s Hospital in Delhi, one woman quietly transformed a modest maternity home into a major centre of care for mothers and children. Dr. Lucy Oommen, born in Kerala to P.K. Oommen and Kochannamma, became the first medical director of Indian origin at […]

Dr. Ram Narain Bagley(Padma Shri, 1977 – Medicine) In the busy lanes of Saharanpur in western Uttar Pradesh, one physician became known not only for his medical skill but for the quiet generosity with which he treated the people of his town. Dr. Ram Narain Bagley—often called Dr. R.N. Bagley—received the Padma Shri in 1977 […]

Dr. Viswanathan Shanta (11 March 1927 – 19 January 2021) was an Indian oncologist who spent nearly seven decades making cancer care accessible, affordable, and compassionate. She helped transform a 12-bed cottage hospital into the world-class Adyar Cancer Institute (WIA) in Chennai and became known as a “Mother of Oncology in India.” Born in Mylapore, […]

Dr. Santosh Kumar Kacker is a distinguished Indian otorhinolaryngologist (ENT specialist) and former Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He is known for his long service in clinical practice, teaching, research, and contributions to care for the communication-handicapped. He graduated with an MBBS from King George’s Medical College (now […]

Dr. Farokh Erach Udwadia (born 7 April 1931) is one of India’s most respected physicians, a pioneer of critical care and intensive respiratory medicine, and a legendary diagnostician often called the “Sherlock Holmes of Indian medicine.” A Padma Bhushan awardee, he has spent more than six decades practising the art of medicine with exceptional skill, […]

Dr. Daljit Singh (11 October 1934 – 27 December 2017) was a pioneering Indian ophthalmologist who restored sight to thousands and transformed cataract surgery in the country. Known as the father of intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in India, he combined surgical innovation with deep compassion and a lifelong commitment to serving the poor. Born in […]

Dr. Harbans Singh Wasir (13 August 1937 – 23 August 2004) was a pioneering Indian cardiologist, teacher, researcher and writer who helped shape modern cardiology in the country. As Professor and Head of the Department of Cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, he was especially known for his work […]

Dr. Prabhu Dayal Nigam (c. 1933 – 2021) was a pioneering Indian interventional cardiologist and medical academic who founded the Department of Cardiology at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (formerly Willingdon Hospital) in New Delhi. He played a key role in developing modern cardiac care and interventional techniques in India. He earned his MBBS from […]

Dr. Prem K. Kakar is an Indian ENT (otorhinolaryngology) specialist based in New Delhi, known for his long clinical practice in ear, nose and throat surgery. He obtained his MS in ENT from Patna Medical College in 1959 and later earned the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) from London in 1984. With […]

Dr. Saroj Gupta (5 December 1929 – 21 May 2010) was a pioneering Indian radiation oncologist who founded one of eastern India’s most important centres for affordable cancer care. He is remembered for turning a small welfare home into a full-fledged modern cancer hospital that prioritised treatment for the underprivileged. Born in a middle-class Bengali […]

Dr. Pratury Tirumala Rao (also spelled Pratury Trirumala Rao; died 1997) was an eminent Indian pediatrician, medical educator and writer. He is remembered for his contributions to child health, especially in the context of developing countries, and for his scholarly and literary work. Born in Andhra Pradesh, he rose to become Professor of Pediatrics at […]

Dr. Vitthalbhai Chotabhai Patel (1932 – January 2014), commonly known as Dr. Vitthalbhai Patel, was a distinguished Indian surgeon, medical educationist and public figure from Gujarat. He received the Padma Shri in 1989 and the Dr. B.C. Roy National Award for his contributions to socio-medical relief and medical education. Born in 1932 into a business […]

Dr. Banoo Jehangir Coyaji (7 September 1917 – 15 July 2004) was a pioneering Indian physician, obstetrician-gynaecologist and public-health activist. She transformed a small maternity hospital in Pune into a major teaching and research institution and pioneered community-based family planning and rural health programmes that later influenced models across the developing world. Born Banoo Pestonji […]

Prof. Prakash Narain Tandon (born 13 August 1928) is one of India’s most distinguished neurosurgeons and neuroscientists. He founded the Department of Neurosurgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, trained generations of neurosurgeons, and played a pivotal role in establishing dedicated brain research in the country. Hailing from Himachal Pradesh, […]

Dr. Bal Krishna Goyal (also known as B.K. Goyal or Bal Krishan Goyal; 19 November 1935 – 20 February 2018) was one of India’s most distinguished cardiologists and medical educationists. He was the only cardiologist outside the United States to serve as Honorary Consultant Cardiologist to the world-famous Texas Heart Institute in Houston, and he […]

Dr. R. Marthanda Varma (Ravivarma Marthanda Varma; died 10 March 2015) was a pioneering Indian neurosurgeon, one of the first five neurosurgeons in the country, and the founder-director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru. He developed a surgical procedure for Parkinson’s disease that came to be known as “Varma’s […]

Dr. M. Khalilullah (Mohammad / Mohd. Khalilullah) is a pioneering Indian cardiologist who developed the country’s first indigenous pacemaker and played a foundational role in establishing modern cardiology, electrophysiology and interventional techniques in India. He is a former Honorary Physician to the President of India and a recipient of the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and […]

Dr. Ashok C. Shroff (often referred to as A.K. Shroff or Dr. Ashok Shroff) is a distinguished Indian ophthalmologist and a leading figure in modern eye care in the country. He received the Padma Shri in 1990 for his contributions to ophthalmology. He completed his MS in Ophthalmology and further qualifications including D.O.M.S. and D.O. […]

Dr. Madhav Gajanan Deo (born 6 April 1932), popularly known as M.G. Deo, is an eminent Indian oncologist, pathologist and medical educationist. He is recognised for his pioneering work in molecular medicine, cancer research and the promotion of scientific collaboration in India. The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 1990. Born in […]

Dr. Shrinivas S. Vaishya (born 7 January 1947) is an Indian physician known for his long service in public health administration, particularly in the Union Territory of Daman and Diu. The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2012. Born in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, he graduated in medicine (MBBS) from Goa Medical College […]

Dr. Noshir Hormasji Antia (8 February 1922 – 26 June 2007), often known as N.H. Antia or Noshir H. Antia, was a pioneering Indian plastic surgeon and social worker. He is remembered for founding one of India’s earliest dedicated plastic surgery units, for his groundbreaking work in reconstructive surgery for leprosy patients, and for his […]

Dr. Pylore Krishnaier Rajagopalan (also known as P.K. Rajagopalan; 27 October 1930 – 29 April 2024) was a pioneering Indian vector-control scientist, biologist and acarologist. He made major contributions to the control of vector-borne diseases in India and served as the founding director of the Vector Control Research Centre (VCRC) in Pondicherry (now Puducherry). The […]

Prof. Shanmugam Kameswaran (1923 – 26 June 2021) was a pioneering Indian otorhinolaryngologist (ENT surgeon), teacher and institution-builder. He served as the longest-serving Director of the Institute of Otorhinolaryngology at Madras Medical College and was awarded the Padma Shri in 1990 as well as the Dr. B.C. Roy National Award. Born in 1923, he completed […]

Dr. M. Krishna Bhargava (Mallappa Krishna Bhargava; 17 July 1927 – 20 June 2009) was a distinguished Indian pathologist, cancer administrator and institution-builder. He is best remembered for transforming the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bangalore from a small 50-bed hospital into a major regional cancer centre. The Government of India awarded him the […]

Dr. Muthu Krishna Mani (commonly known as M.K. Mani) is a pioneering Indian nephrologist widely regarded as one of the founders of modern nephrology in the country. He served for many years as Chief of the Department of Nephrology at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, and is best known for his expertise in the management of renal […]

Dr. Prathap Chandra Reddy (born 5 February 1933), popularly known as Prathap C. Reddy, is an Indian cardiologist and entrepreneur who founded Apollo Hospitals, India’s first major corporate hospital chain. He is widely credited with transforming private healthcare in the country and making advanced medical care more accessible. The Government of India awarded him the […]

The Man Who Looked into the Eyes of Presidents Vipin Buckshey was only twenty-two when he walked out of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1977 with an optometry degree in his hand and a quiet fire in his heart. Born in Gwalior on 3 June 1955, he had studied at Frank Anthony […]