New Delhi, June 30 (IANS). National Doctor’s Day is celebrated every year on 1 July in India. This day is dedicated to the memory of the country’s great doctor, educationist, freedom fighter and politician Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. The purpose of celebrating this day is to honor the invaluable contribution of doctors and spread awareness about their importance in the society.
Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy was born on 1 July 1882 in Patna. He received his early education at Patna College and completed his further medical education from Calcutta Medical College. He went to London for higher medical studies, where he had to face many difficulties to get admission in St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. Ultimately he obtained prestigious degrees like MRCP and FRCS.
The most important thing is that he was the first doctor who did both MRCP and FRCS simultaneously in London. He also played an important role in the establishment of the Indian Medical Association.
After returning to India, he played an active role in the social and political fields along with medical services. He was a close associate and personal physician of Mahatma Gandhi. In 1931 he became the mayor of Calcutta and also actively participated in the independence movement.
After independence, in 1948, he became the second Chief Minister of West Bengal and while serving on this post, he contributed significantly to the development of the state. Under his leadership, significant progress was made in the fields of health, education and infrastructure. He dedicated his entire life to public service and remained unmarried and gave priority to social service.
Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 1961. He also died on 1 July 1962, which is a wonderful coincidence as his birth date was also on this date. For this reason the special importance of this day increases further.
The Government of India declared National Doctor’s Day in his honor in 1991. This day not only remembers the contribution of Dr. Roy but also salutes the selfless service, dedication and duty of all the doctors of the country towards humanity.
The extent to which Dr. Bidhan Chandra Rai had a hold on his profession can be gauged from the fact that whenever a patient came to him, he used to tell his disease and treatment just by looking at his face and pulse. Dr. Rai was a doctor from Mahatma Gandhi to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
–IANS
SAK/PM
