By Dr. Ashaq Hussain
This world has become a better and healthier place to live in with doctors bringing the joy of health and goodness to our lives. The existence and importance of doctors in human civilizations is as old as the history of mankind itself. It seems that the first doctor must have been the first person on this earth. It is not known what would have been the tradition or traditional scenario to honour the doctors as a Community. However individual doctors enjoyed the social status and blessings in various cultures like locomel (Luqman), Hippocrates, Gallen, Sushruta, Ibn-Ali Senna and others.
The hard work and dedication that a doctor demonstrates everyday are beyond the scope of just a profession and today amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, while we are still battling with the deadly virus, our heroes, “The Doctors” the Frontline Warriors are too fighting to save precious human lives. Even when the instances have elevated tremendously, the doctors have been working round the clock, risking their lives and desperately making attempts to save several the patients. Instead of thinking about their own safety and their families, they choose to serve the nation- Kudos to their spirit and dedication that they continued to work untiringly in the hour of crisis. Thus, there’s no better day than today, National Doctor’s day to express our gratitude for our medical saviors.
National Doctor’s Day honours Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, an internationally recognised medical practitioner who worked as a physician, a freedom fighter, an educator besides being a politician. Dr. Roy was born on first July 1882 at Bankipore in Patna. His career as a physician started in 1911 when he came back to India from Bartholomew’s hospital in the UK having completed his MRCP. Thereafter he joined the teaching staff of Calcutta Medical College and latter moved to Campbell Medical School and then to Carmichael Medical College. He dedicated his life to the uplifting of Indian society, especially the downtrodden. Not only did he excel as a physician, but he was also an educationist, social reformer, freedom fighter and latter on became Chief Minister of West Bengal. Dr. B. c. Roy passed away on July 1st, 1962 on the date of his birthday.
Only a doctor is blessed with the magical powers to treat a life, to bring health into our lives and to be there with us when we have lost all the hopes. With the contagious Covid-19 virus was gripping the nation, the first line of defense, doctors and other healthcare workers were caught in the eye of a storm. Nothing makes a doctor happier than a cheerful, smiling patient in front of them after they have been discharged from the hospital. It makes all of the hard work worthwhile. The difficult times amid COVID-19 have once again reminded us about the contributions and sacrifices made by doctors and the healthcare staff around the globe daily. While we are self-isolating, it is the doctors who are constantly fighting for the lives of people who have been infected with the deadly virus. The current undergoing pandemic is perhaps the most difficult time we are ever facing in our lives. It is even more difficult for the doctors who are working tirelessly to ensure that all those that are infected are provided with proper medical facilities. There was always a constant fear that runs in mind of doctors that what if they spread the deadly coronavirus to their children and family, who diligently follow the hygiene guidelines as suggested by the health bodies, but still they never looked behind and continued with their profession. Their contribution to the healthcare industry is thus incomparable.
Thus the Covid -19 pandemic has been hard on doctors and paramedic staff as well because even they lost their close family members to the virus. But kudos to their spirit and dedication that they still continued to work untiringly in the hour of crisis. So, thanks to the doctors for letting us to have the opportunity to lead a healthy and risk-free life, our society owes them a lot. Although their contributions and hard work deserve our gratitude each and every day and not only on any particular day but Today it is the time to express our special gratitude to all those doctors who have selflessly aided us in our time of need and tirelessly worked for our health. Just like in Mothers’ Day when we pay tribute to our Mothers, Fathers’ Day to our Fathers, Teachers’ Day to our teachers, Children’s’ Day to children; today is the day to acknowledge and appreciate the Doctors’ for the irreplaceable roles that they play in our lives. From dentists to neurosurgeons, homeopaths to heart specialists, physicians to pediatricians and even to the paramedical staff, Doctors’ Day is the time to pay tribute to the entire medical profession who Like soldiers on the frontline, are performing their duties during the ongoing pandemic with utmost diligence. This will bring doctors closer to the people and the purpose of the doctors dedication will get translated into and reflected by a healthy and disease-free community.
The writer is Assistant Professor in Chemistry at Govt. Degree College Chatroo and can be reached at joinchemistry@gmail.com
