Hummingbird News Desk
KRISHNAGAR, 1 JULY: The birth anniversary of architect of modern Bengal and second chief-minister Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy was celebrated in the Kalyani University with the vice-chancellor Prof Manas Kumar Sanyal garlanding his statue at a function today.
Several professors including Debangshu Roy, Sukhen Biswas and Bimalendu Biswas garlanded Dr Roy’s statue in the programme.
The celebration was also observed in Kalyani Medical College, Kalyani municipality, Kalyani Central Park and other places with due respect.
Remembering his works, Vice-Chancellor Prof Sanyal said, “Dr Roy was not only the architect of Kalyani, he was the architect of the entire West Bengal. Dr Roy brought laurels to the realms of medicine and politics with his exemplary public service. He dedicated his life to the profession of medicine.”
“Dr Roy had special insight. He had capacity to diagnose the patients by merely observing them without depending on their clinical test reports. His magical diagnostic skills later triggered waves in the society. The news of Dr. Roy’s quick analysis of chronic ailments and simple, affordable treatment spread, transforming the young doctor into a magical angel of health. But he was sucked into the independence struggle and he quickly realised that treating an individual patient may not cure the sufferings of society at large. The ills of society ramified much deeper than the roots of any disease,” Prof Sanyal said.
Dr. Roy was forced to join politics where he proved that a real leader can stand tall, above the petty bickering for fame and power.
He was decorated with various positions for his accomplishments in the field of politics. He became governor of Uttar Pradesh in 1947 and later went on to become the Chief Minister of West Bengal on 23 January, 1948.
A legendary physician, he has contributed greatly to the Indian medical scene. He also played a crucial role in establishing the Indian Institute of Mental Health, the Infectious Disease Hospital and even Kolkata’s first-ever postgraduate medical college.
He made quality health services available to common people. He established some leading medical institutions in Calcutta like the R.G. Kar Medical College, the Jadavpur T.B. Hospital, Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, Kamala Nehru Hospital, Victoria Institution, and Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital.
As Mayor of Calcutta Corporation, he promoted free education, free medical aid, better roads, improved lighting, and water supply.
Later, as Chief Minister of West Bengal, he restored law and order in the state. He laid the foundation five eminent cities, namely, Durgapur, Kalyani, Bidhannagar, Ashokenagar, and Habra.
The Government of India honoured him with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, on February 4, 1961.
The B.C. Roy National Award was instituted in 1976 for work in the area of medicine, politics, science, philosophy, literature and arts.
Call it magic or sheer chance, Dr. B.C. Roy died the day he was born but became immortal. The nation pays its homage to this great doctor by celebrating 1 July as ‘Doctors Day’ in India.
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