Karnataka - Mysore

Award for their contribution

All smiles: Physicians and surgeons who were felicitated to mark Doctors’ Day in Mysore on Tuesday. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

MYSORE: “Vaidyo Narayano Hari”, says an ancient Sanskrit text, which best epitomizes society’s faith and indebtedness to doctors since the earliest times.

And reflecting the sentiments expressed in the aphorism, the Mysore Clinical Society felicitated 10 senior surgeons and doctors to mark Doctor’s Day here on Tuesday.

For the record, Doctors Day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of B.C. Roy reckoned to have epitomized all the virtues of a doctor. Incidentally, he also went to become the first Chief Minister of West Bengal, but much before that he excelled in his profession and reached out to the downtrodden and became a legendary figure among his peers for which he was also awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1961. Ironically, Dr. B.C. Roy, who was born on July 1 (1882), also died on July 1 (1962). In recognition of his services to the field of medicine, Doctor’s Day is celebrated on July 1 every year.

B.N. Jayaram, plastic surgeon, was honoured with the title of Vaidya Ratna. The Vaidya Shree Award was given to nine doctors. They are M.G. Krishnamurthy, who is serving at the Rural Medical Research Centre, Beerihundi; Sarojini Vikram, who is involved in free health camps; K.S. Jayashree; H.L. Krishne Gowda, Abdul Ravoof, who helps economically backward people by rendering free service; B.M. Prakah, J. Sandeep, B.E. Dinesh and Bhavani K. Babu.

The awards have been instituted by the Mysore Clinical Society, which was started by C. Sharath Kumar. A book, “Namma Maneya Mallige”, was released on the occasion. It is a compilation of questions asked by audience and broadcast by AIR, Mysore, and the answers have been provided by Dr. Sharath Kumar.

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