Doctor’s day a tribute to Dr Roy. All over India July 1st is celebrated as Doctor’s day and this is to honour the legendary physician and the second chief minister of West Bengal Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy.
All over India July 1st is celebrated as Doctor’s day. This is to honour the legendary physician and the second chief minister of West Bengal Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy ,popularly known as Dr B.C Roy. He was born on July 1st, 1882 and died on the same date in 1962, aged 80 years. Dr Roy was honoured with the country’s highest civilian’s award, The Bharat Ratna on February 4th, 1961. This observance fulfils the need to show the doctors and physicians in our lives how important they are to us and how invaluable their treatments that cures us.
The celebrations are indicative of respect that they command in the lives of their patients and thus obligate them to fulfil their responsibilities as well. The large population of India depends on the efficiency and responsibility of physicians to large extent at all times. Medical professionals in India over the years have shown remarkable improvements and made definite progress in medical treatment that need to be acknowledged. It may be seen as an encouragement and an eye opener to all such doctors who have been struck by a failing career owing to a lack of commitment. There have been instances of public violence and protest against doctors who failed to perform. Whatever said and done it is the responsibility if every citizen and public to be patient with doctors and should not take law into their hands. No doctor wants his patient to die either in his clinic or at home.
Who is Dr B.C Roy?
Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, MRCP, FRCS was born on July 1st 1882 in bakipor Patna, Bihar. He did his schooling in Patna and Kolkata. He was an alumnus of medical college Kolkata of the University of Kolkata. He is one of the few people who completed both FRCS and MRCP simultaneously within only 2 years and 3 months while at medical school Bidhan came upon an inscription which read ‘ whatever thy hands findeth to do, do it with thy might’. Bidhan was deeply impressed by these words and they became a source of inspiration for him throughout his life.
Bidhan’s term in school was fraught with hardships. His father retired as deputy collector after the first year and could no longer send any money to Bidhan. He then funded himself by getting a scholarship and living frugally saving on books by borrowing notes and relying on the books in the library. After graduation in 1909 he went England and in 1911 he finished his MRCP and FRCS and returned to India. Dr B.C Roy believed that Swaraj would remain a dream unless the people were healthy and strong in mind and body. He made contributions to the organisation of medical education. He was a great teacher and a role model for his students. He established the Jadhavpur TB Hospital, Victoria Institution, Chittaranjan Seva Sadhan, Kamala Nehru Hospital and Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital. Dr Roy was both Gandhiji’s doctor and friend. When Gandhiji was undergoing a fast in parnakalavin, pune in 1933 during quit India movement Dr Roy attended, treated and convinced him to give up fasting.
Dr B.C Roy was greatly influenced by the simplicity of Mahatma Gandhi and his vision. He entered active politics in 1925. He stood as an independent candidate and defeated grand old man of Bengal – Surendra Nath Banerjee. Later he participated in the Dandi March in 1931. He served as the alderman of Kolkata corporation from 1930 – 31 and mayor in 1933. Under him corporation made leaps in the expansion of free education, free medical aid, better roads, improved lighting and water supply. He was responsible for setting up a framework for dispensing granting aid to hospitals and charitable dispensaries.
1948 – Post independence, on January 23rd he took charge as chief minister of west Bengal and served till 1962. On 1st July 1962 after treating his morning patients and discharging affairs of the state he took a copy of brohmopgeet and sang a piece from it. 11 hours later Dr Roy breathed his last on his 80th birthday at mid-day past 3. He gifted his house for nursing home named after his mother Aghorkamini Devi. The B C Roy award instituted in 1976 for work in the area of medicine, politics, science, philosophy, literature and arts.
Dr B.C Roy not only excelled as a physician he was an educationist, social reformer, freedom fighter and above all a great human being. He practised medicine as his passion in spite of his busy political and social life. He never did practise for the sake of making money. He always charged minimal for his patients and even free for the needy. He always quoted ‘‘Poor are my patients, god pays for them’’ and practised the same till his last breathe. It is the duty of every citizen and doctor to remember his service and try to follow his footsteps for the betterment of the humanity. Let us all pray for his soul and practised what he preached.
Dr.Muralee Mohan Choonthar
Prof A B Shetty dental College
Consultant Maxillo Facial Surgeon, Suraksha Dental Clinic, Rifa Centre, Hosangadi junction, Hosangadi Manjeshwara – 671323, Kasaragoad, Kerala.
Mob. : 9845135787 Ph: 04998-273544, 235111
www.surakshadental.com Email: drmuraleemohan@gmail.com
