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Dr. Dukhan Ram was born in a
poor Vaisya family at Sasaram in Bihar on July 15, 1899. He lost his father
when only four years old. Being very poor, he could not afford even the
village Pathshala. But while looking after the village cattle he used to
watch and listen to the village teacher teaching the students. He could
recite extempore whatever the teacher taught the previous day. This caught
the attention of the teacher who was prompted to let him sit in one corner
while he was teaching, on compassionate grounds. While still very young, he
used to watch with admiration the village doctor, Dr. Jaffer Hasan, going in
and out in a palenquin with village folks bowing their heads with folded
hands. He started nursing the hope to emulate the revered doctor. It will be
obvious that he surpassed his ambition in more ways than one.
Dr. Ram had brilliant career. He stood first in lower primary, upper primary
and matriculation exam in the district of Shahabad, earning scholarship of
Rs. 2/- per month to Rs. 10-/ per month. This enabled him to pursue his
further higher education. In addition, he supplemented his income by giving
private tuition to rich students and selling readymade garments brought from
Calcutta to Sasaram during the holidays.
He had early marriage in 1915 as was the custom then. He joined Medical
College, Calcutta, in 1920 and passed out in 1926. In the midst of his
medical education, he joined the evening B.Sc class and passed out with
distinction in 1925. He joined Patna Medical College as a House Surgeon in
1927, was selected by the State of Bihar for post graduation in 1933. He
passed both D.L.O. and DOMS of Royal College of Surgeons, London in 1934 and
returned to join as lecturer in Eye and ENT Dept., Patna Medical College. In
1944, he was elevated to the post of Prof. of Eye and ENT Dept. which was a
combined department at Patna. During this professorship, D.O. and D.L.O
courses were started in addition to M.S. (Eye) and M.S. (E.N.T.). He visited
a number of universities in India as external examiners and also as
inspector on behalf of Indian Medical Council. He was nominated as the
member of the Governing body of A.I.I.M.S., New Delhi, by the then Health
Minister Raj Kumar Amrit Kaur and served in that capacity till the Institute
was fully established.
He was conferred the title of Rai Saheb in 1945. In addition to his medical
teaching and extensive practice, he was associated with a number of social
organisations in various capacities. He served Arya Samaj as Pradhan, Bihar
State Arya Pratinidhi Sabha (1951). Vice-President, All India Pratinidhi
Sabha (1956) and President. International Arya League at Mauritus (1975). He
became the principal of Patna Medical College in 1959 and continued in that
capacity till he was elevated as the Vice-Chancellor of Bihar University
which comprised all graduate and post-graduate institutions in the state of
Bihar, except those located at Patna. Rajendra Medical College, Ranchi, came
into being during his tenure and the seeds of Medical College at Muzaffarpur
and Bhagalpur were also planted.
In 1957, he was selected by the then President of India, Late Dr. Rajendra
Prasad to operate on his eyes for cataract. He continued to be Hony.
Opthalmic surgeon to successive Presidents of India till late Fakhruddin Ali
Ahmad.
In recognition of his services to the speciality, he was awarded Padma
Bhushan in 1967. He was also elected to the state assembling from Sasaram
the same year.
He was equally involved in the activities of the associations of Eye and ENT
Surgeons both at the State and All India level. The state unit of A.O.I. was
formed under his Presidentship in 1952. He was the Chairman, organising
committee of the annual conferences of A.O.I. held at Patna in 1952 and at
Jamshedpur in 1956. He presided over the all India annual conferences of ENT
and also Eye held at Hyderabad in the year 1953 and 1961 respectively.
He was actively associated with furthering of the cause of the two
specialities at national and international levels. Himself a meticulous and
natural surgeon, he trained a number of competent and expert surgeons. This
was an effortless surgery and it was a previlege and pleasure to watch him
operate. His tissue respect was legendary quoted by contemporary surgeons to
emulate. He was so devoted to his profession that in spite of ill health he
examined his patients till two days before he passed away at Patna on April
16, 1990. In addition he was a very good orator. His speeches were laced
with quotations in Sanskrit and sprinkled with humour.
He left behind six children, two sons and a daughter being doctors. His wife
predeceased him by two years. He has left behind a number of students,
admirers and well-wishers who celebrate his birth day as a solemn occasion.
Not only the people of Bihar, but the whole of India feels the loss of the
great soul. He loved the people and in return people also loved him in ample
measure.
Let his soul rest in peace.
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