Meet the Padma Shri winners of 2020 in the field of medicine. They constitute a distinguished list of doctors who have made pioneering contribution for better medical services and health care across India. We introduce them to you briefly.
This year’s recipients of the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards of the country, in the field of medicine comprised an interesting mix. From pioneering achievers to outstanding contributors, from eminent personalities to unsung heroes, from mainstream doctors in big cities to offbeat practitioners in small remote areas across the country - it had all, including many women pathfinders. From treating thousands of cancer patients at zero cost, performing surgeries for burnt victims for free, to building an institution on mental health, providing treatment for reproductive health concerns for women, to opening up cochlear implants in Asia - each one’s body of work and tireless effort pushed the boundaries for treatment and therapies, care and cure and helped millions lead a better, healthier life.
Here, we bring you, a brief introduction of their triumphs.
Doctors practising in cities
Dr Prof Digambar Behera: Dr Behera is from Chandigarh and specialises in treating lung cancer. He is known as a pioneer of lung cancer chemotherapy in this part of the country.
Dr. Sandra Desa Souza: Dr Souza is a ENT/ Otorhinolaryngologist in Mumbai. She is the pioneer of cochlear implants having performed at Jaslok the first cochlear implant surgery in India and Asia.
Dr (Prof) Narendra Nath Khanna: Dr Khanna has worldwide recognition for his role and passion for “bringing the cutting edge technology to India and to bring cardiac care to the reach of the common man.” He has performed more than 9000 invasive/interventional procedures and has established interventional cardiology services in many cities like Varanasi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Gorakhpur and neighbouring countries of Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
Dr BN Gangadhar: Dr Gangadhar is the Senior Professor of Psychiatry and the current Director of National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). He brings over 30 years of extensive experience in the field of mental health, from both clinical and academic perspectives. His primary research interests span Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Schizophrenia, Community Psychiatry, Public Health and Yoga.
Air Marshal Dr Padmavathy Bandopadhyay: Dr Bandopadhyay is an Indian Air Force military officer and has contributed monumentally in the changing policies related to health for the defence forces personnel and contributed greatly to the nation in times of war. She first made history when she became the first lady Air Commodore in IAF in June, 2000.
Dr Shanti Roy: Dr Roy is a Gynaecologist based in Patna, Bihar. Her main areas of concern are reproductive health concerns for women and diseases common to women. Dr Roy has solved many cases by offering surrogacy as well as in-vitro fertilization treatments.
Dr Leela Joshi: Dr Joshi practices in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. The 76-year-old Dr. Joshi, who retired as Chief Health Director from Railway Medical Services, is working day and night to make the district, including tribal dominated areas, anemia-free.
Doctors practising in remote regions
Dr. Susovan Banerjee: Dr Banerjee is a veteran general practitioner from Bolpur, West Bengal. He is better known to the residents as 'Ek Takar Daktar' (one rupee doctor) for treating poor patients for just a rupee. After working as a senior registrar in London for four years, Dr Banerjee chose to return to his native Bolpur to serve the needy.
Dr Arunoday Mondal: Dr Mondal, also known as 'Sundarban ke Sujan' is a doctor who travels six hours every weekend to treat patients in remote Sundarban villages. More than 250 people, most of whom are poor, are treated every weekend across a range of treatments from heart to eyes, thyroid, gynaecology and paediatrics.
Dr Ravi Kannan: Dr Kannan is a renowned oncologist and is recognised as the medical messiah of cancer patients in remote Barak Valley, Assam. He has transformed the remotely located rural cancer centre at Barak Valley into a full-fledged hospital and research centre treating thousands of patients free of cost and providing accommodation, food, employment and spreading awareness.
Dr Yogi Aeron: The 83-year-old Dr Yogi Aeron based in Malsi, Dehradun is known as the ‘Himalayan plastic surgeon’. He performs roughly 500 surgeries every year for free on burnt victims from far and wide. In addition, Dr Aeron treats patients who have been attacked or mauled by bears, tigers and other wild animals from the surrounding forest areas. Even the local and government hospitals in the area redirect the most complicated cases to be under his expertise.
The only veterinarian
Kushal Knowar Sarma: Dr Sarma, a veterinarian in Guwahati, has devoted his life to the conservation of Asian elephants. He has pioneered research in elephant anesthetics, especially using remote tranquilizing injection technique. He is acclaimed for treating more than 700 elephants every year.
Padma Bhushan
Besides the Padma Shri awardees, a mention must be made of Indian gynaecologist Tsering Landol, who was felicitated with the Padma Bhushan, for distinguished service of high order. Dr Landol is one of the pioneers of women's health in Ladakh region in the North Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. She is Ladakh's first gynaecologist, is an inspirational figure for the Ladakhi people.
