Doctors’ Day is celebrated on different dates across the world, which is an interesting fact. The date varies by country, depending on the commemorative event used to mark the day. The special day is observed on July 1 in India and it’s organised by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) annually. The first time this day was established was in 1991 and ever since annually, National Doctors' Day is celebrated across the country. The day also coincides with the birth and death anniversary of the physician and second chief minister of West Bengal, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy.
International Doctors Day: In 1953, the Pan American Medical Confederation agreed to commemorate December 3rd as “International Doctors’ Day” as a tribute to all medical professionals, in memory of the Cuban doctor Carlos J. Finlay, who discovered that Aedes aegypti was the transmitter of Yellow Fever. The theme of National Doctors Day 2022 is ''Family Doctors on the Front Line''. The theme is dedicated to doctors and healthcare workers who have unquestioningly and selflessly assisted us and our families in our dire need of help. For several years, the government and non-government healthcare organisation have celebrated National Doctors’ Day to raise awareness of the contributions of doctors. It is truly said, "God cannot be seen, but the contextual profile of God can be seen in the faces of doctors who save us and help us live better lives."
Tribute to Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy (BC Roy)
Doctor’s Day honors Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, a renowned doctor and West Bengal's second chief minister, whose birthday and death anniversary fall on the same day. Doctors’ Day is celebrated not only to honor Dr Roy, but also to recognise everyone in the medical field for their indefatigable efforts and dedication to patients.
Major Contributions: Dr BC Roy MRCP FRCS (1 July 1882 – 1 July 1962) was not only a dedicated physician but also an educationist, philanthropist, freedom fighter and statesman who served as Chief Minister of West Bengal from 1948 until his death in 1962. He is often considered the maker of modern West Bengal due to his key role in the founding of several institutions and the cities Durgapur, Kalyani, Bidhannagar, and Ashoknagar. He is one of the few people in history to have become both a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and a Member of the Royal College of Physicians. In India. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour on 4 February 1961.
Birth and Education: Dr Roy was born on 1 July 1882 to a Bengali family in Bankipore in Patna, where he studied at Patna Collegiate School in 1897, and obtained his I.A. degree from Presidency College, Calcutta. He completed his undergraduate studies at Patna College, where he obtained a B.A. degree with honours in mathematics. After graduating with his bachelor's degree, he applied to undertake postgraduate studies at the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology and at the Calcutta Medical College. His application was accepted by both institutions and he chose to attend the latter to study (June 1901) to study at Calcutta Medical College. While at medical school, came upon an inscription that read, "Whatever thy hands find to do, do it with thy might These words became a lifelong source of inspiration for him. Further, with a plan to enroll at St Bartholomew's Hospital, he left for Britain in February 1909. Being an Asian student he got admission to the Course only after 30 admission requests. He completed his studies in two years and three months, and in May 1911 became a member of the Royal College of Physicians and a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons simultaneously. He returned back to India in 1911 for a medical Job in India and Contribution to Medical Education: After his return, Dr Roy joined the Provincial Health Service. He exhibited immense dedication and hard work and would serve as a nurse when necessary. In his free time, he practiced privately, charging a nominal fee. He taught at the Calcutta Medical College, and later at the Campbell Medical School (now NRS Medical College) and the Carmichael Medical College (now R.G. Kar Medical College).
He made contributions to the organisation of medical education. He played an important role in the establishment of the Jadavpur T.B. Hospital, Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital, Victoria Institution (college), and Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital. In 1926, the Chittaranjan Seva Sadan for women and children was opened in by Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy In 1942, when Dr Roy was serving as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta fearing Japanese invasion, he acquired air-raid shelters for schools and college students to have their classes in, and provided relief for students, teachers and employees alike. In recognition of his overall efforts, the Doctorate of Science was conferred upon him in 1944.
Important Quote in Lucknow University (Lucknow): Dr Roy believed the youth of India would determine the future of the nation. He felt the youth must not take part in strikes and fasts but should study and commit themselves to social work. While delivering the Convocation Address at the University of Lucknow on 15 December 1956, Dr. Roy said: My young friends, you are soldiers in the battle of freedom-freedom from want, fear, ignorance, frustration and helplessness. By a dint of hard work for the country, rendered in a spirit of selfless service, may you march ahead with hope and courage...Firm Belief in Healthy Body: Dr Roy believed that Swaraj (the call to action for India's freedom) would remain a dream unless the people were healthy and strong in mind and body.
Relations with Mahatama Gandhi: Dr. Roy was both Gandhiji's friend and doctor. When Gandhiji was undertaking a fast in Parnakutivin, Poona in 1933, Dr. Roy attended to him, Gandhiji refused to take medicine on the grounds it was not made in India. Gandhiji asked Dr. Roy, "Why should I take your treatment? Do you treat four hundred million of my countrymen free?" Dr. Roy replied, "No Gandhiji, I could not treat all patients free. But I came... not to treat Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, but to treat "him" who to me represents the four hundred million people of my country." Gandhiji relented and took the medicine. Entry into Politics and his contributions: In 1925, Roy began his political career. He ran for elections from the Barrackpore Constituency as an independent candidate for the Bengal Legislative Council and defeated the "Grand Old Man of Bengal," Surendranath Banerjee. Though an independent, Roy voted with the Swaraj Party (the Parliamentary wing of the Congress in the 1920s). As early as 1925, Roy tabled a resolution recommending a study of the causes of pollution in Hoogly and suggested measures to prevent pollution in the future.
Roy was elected to the All India Congress Committee in 1928. Roy efficiently conducted Civil Disobedience in Bengal in 1929. This prompted Pandit Motilal Nehru to nominate him Member of the Working Committee (CWC) in 1930. The CWC was declared an unlawful assembly by Ruling Britishers and Dr. Roy along with other members of the committee was arrested on 26 August 1930 and detained at Alipore Central Jail. During the Dandi March in 1931, many members of the Calcutta Corporation were imprisoned. Congress requested Roy to remain out of prison and discharge the duties of the Corporation. He served as the Alderman of the Corporation from 1930–31 and as the Mayor of Calcutta from 1931 to 1933. Under him, the 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 grant-in-aid to hospitals and charitable dispensaries.
A stint as Chief Minister of Bengal: The Congress Party proposed Roy's name for Chief Minister of Bengal. Roy wanted to devote himself to his profession. On Gandhiji's advice, however, Roy accepted the position and took office on 23 January 1948. Bengal at the time had been torn by communal violence, shortage of food, unemployment and a large flow of refugees in the wake of the creation of East Pakistan. Roy brought unity and discipline among the party ranks. He then systematically and calmly began to work on the immense task in front of him. Within three years law and order were returned to Bengal without compromising the dignity and status of his administration. One of his famous Quotes as Chief Minister of Bengal: We have the ability and if, with faith in our future, we exert ourselves with determination, nothing, I am sure, no obstacles, however formidable or insurmountable they may appear at present, can stop our progress... (if we) all work unitedly, keeping our vision clear and with a firm grasp of our problems. The government of India decorated Dr. BC Roy with Bharat Ratna on 4 February 1961 for his immense contribution to the nation.
Death: On 1 July 1962, his 80th birthday, after treating his morning patients and discharging affairs of the State, he took a copy of the "Brahmo Geet" and sang a piece from it. 11 hours later Roy died. After he died, his house was converted into a nursing home named after his mother, Aghorkamini Devi. He had also constituted a trust for his properties at Patna to carry out social service, with eminent nationalist Ganga Sharan Singh (Sinha) being its first trustee The B.C. Roy National Award was instituted in 1962 in Roy's memory and has been awarded annually since 1976. The award recognizes excellent contributions in the areas of medicine, politics, science, philosophy, literature and arts. The Dr. B.C. Roy Memorial Library and Reading Room for Children in the Children's Book Trust, New Delhi, was opened in 1967. Today, his private papers are part of the Archives at the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, at Teen Murti House, Delhi
Column Writer
Prof Dr Vivek Gupta, MD,DM,FACC,FESC,FSCAI,FAPSIC,FEAPCI,FIEIC,FCSI,FICC,FIC (France)
Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi and Chairman Indo European Course on Revascularization (IECR), Chairman Indo European and American Conclaves