A boy was born on the 1st of July 1882 to a Bengali family in Patna. He grew up and gained his MBBS degree from the Calcutta Medical College and enrolled in St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the Great Britain for his higher studies. He was accepted into the institution after being rejected 30 times.
In 1911 he became a member of Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Surgeons simultaneously. Interestingly he got into politics as well! He became the first formal Chief Minister of West Bengal in the year 1950. He held the office of Chief Minister from 26th January 1950 till 1st July 1962 , until his death which strangely coincides with his birth date. This boy is Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy , a well known physician and highly esteemed politician of our country. It is on his birthday, India celebrates the National Doctor’s Day every year. In the year 1991 India observed it’s first National Doctor’s Day to emphasis the significant role that the frontline workers play in our society.
This Year’s Theme: The Indian Medical Association declares the theme for National Doctor’s Day each year. This year the theme is “Healing Hands,Caring Hearts”. A very simple yet a profound theme that screams front and centre of the characteristic of the frontline warriors.
Why do we celebrate Doctor’s Day?
Like any other special day that is observed across the globe — Mother’s Day , Father’s Day , Women’s Day, Teacher’s Day etc., for their act of love and selflessness, we celebrate the Doctor’s Day to acknowledge the selflessness in the duty they provide and honour their years and years of education and training to serve the mankind.
Significance of National Doctor’s Day: · A sense of Gratitude: It’s not that often a layman thinks about the hardships of a doctor. On doctors day , when the social media and other modes of communication focus on our doctors, a person might for a second think about that surgeon who saved his/her loved one.
· Next Generation of Doctors: Upon seeing the emphasis on doctors, the upcoming generation may aspire to take up this as a career or motivates a student already in the path of becoming one.
· The hurdles: On this day , the public becomes more aware of the hardships and hurdles faced by the medical fraternity. It’s only days like these people get to hear a clear voice from the medical fraternity.
A rhetorical question to the people reading this blog : The society — our seniors , patients and the public always wants the doctors to work and be on their feet 24/7 , isn’t it inhuman for an intern student doctor to work for 36 straight hours?
How is it fair that our counterparts have family time and me time and not us? Why are we blamed when we try to grab that time?
Why is the rate of medical negligence increasing? Why is the suicide rate among doctors increasing? Isn’t it an irony for a psychiatric resident to kill him self because he was depressed?
Is the violence against the doctors tolerable? Don’t we get tired? Don’t we deserve a break , a vacation or at least a good nights sleep when we can have it?
Unfortunately, self care and sleep becomes a luxury in this field. THINK! Doctors of our country serve with honour, they deserve respect. The acknowledgment and recognition for the doctors and their work should go beyond this particular day.
“Whatever thy hand finedth to do, do with thy might" A quote that inspired Dr BC Roy.
(Article writtern by Dr Surya Malaiyappan, III MBBS student , Arunai Medical College and Hospital.)
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