E-Paper
Bengal's famous ‘one rupee doctor’ Sushovon Bandyopadhyay dies at 84: A rich life
The Padma Shri awardee passed away on Tuesday at the age of 84, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee were among those who expressed their condolences for his demise.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took to Twitter to condole the demise of Bengal's famous ‘ek takar daktar’ (one rupee doctor) Sushovan Bandyopadhyay. Remembering him as one who “epitomised the best of human spirit”, Modi wrote, “He will be remembered as a kind and large hearted person who cured many people.” Sharing a picture of him with Bandyopadhyay, the prime minister further recalled his interaction with him at the Padma Awards ceremony. “Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” the post on the micro-blogging site read. PM Modi also paid rich tribute to him in Bengali.
Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) boss Mamata Banerjee also tweeted to mourn the loss of Bandyopadhyay. Expressing her condolences, she remembered the late doctor for being known for his “public-spirited philanthrophy”. “Sad to know of the demise of benevolent doctor Sushovan Bandyopadhyay. The famed one-rupee-doctor of Birbhum was known for his public-spirited philanthropy, and I express my sincerest condolences,” Banerjee tweeted.
Bandyopadhyay died at 84 on Tuesday. He breathed his last at a Kolkata hospital after suffering for nearly two months from kidney related ailments.
A doctor as well as politician, Bandyopadhyay hailed from Bengal's Birbhum district. He was a former MLA from Bolpur seat and had contested from there on a Congress ticket in 1984 when the Left ruled the eastern state. Later, he joined Banerjee's side and became its Birbhum district president. However, later he quit the TMC as well.
He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2020, and the same year his name was recorded in the Guinness World Records for treating the maximum number of patients.
Bandyopadhyay was treating patients for close to 60 years until his death.
(With PTI inputs)
