Not many people realize that ‘Doctor’s Day’ in India is observed in honor of one of the greatest of our community – Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy. Dr B. C. Roy, as he is widely known, was multi-faceted - a physician, educationist, philanthropist, freedom fighter and statesman. He was Chief Minister of his home state, West Bengal, for a period of 14 years. A rare accomplishment of being both a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and a Member of the Royal College of Physicians, Dr Roy was awarded our highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna.
As can be expected, there are many lessons to be learned for all of us from such an illustrious life that began on July 1, 1882 and ended on July 1, 1962. The motto that he lived by, ‘Whatever thy hands findeth to do, do it with thy might,’ is simple, but profound. How easy it is to give up, and how often we do it – whether it is walking the extra step to take care of a patient, or to save a life, or to find a new way that will work better. Perseverance was the hallmark of his life. He applied 30 times for admission to study further at the St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in Britain, because the Dean kept rejecting him on grounds of his being an Asian, till he was let in, subsequently passing with honours.
A firm believer in service – be it to the ailing, to the country as a freedom fighter, or to his state at a time torn by communal violence, famines, unemployment and large inflow of refugees – he made no distinction between who and what needed his time and efforts, and served till his last breath.
Today, when both the country and our countrymen are ailing, I urge you to look at broader horizons, to the path set out by the greats. I urge you to rise above petty political landscapes and mere personal gain. Turn firmly to science and service to help one another; that, to my mind, would be the greatest tribute by a doctor to a doctor.