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Dr. Paras Nath Sinha, alias
Paras, has been a person of an era. He is identifiable from a modest
beginning of life from childhood spent at village Mangalpur of Palamu
district. By sheer personal efforts and fired by sustaining enthusiasm he
acquired the degree of M.B.B.s. from Patna University in 1929. The fire
inside was clearly visible in his quick and firm long steps that he was
identifiable with. The same spirit and the adventure of his three friends
who went round the world in 90 days. Dr. Sinha ventured to England on his
own in 1937. He obtained D.O.M.S (Lond.) in 1938 and D.L.O. (Lond.) in 1939
and had his further training in Vienna.
On his return to India he was appointed Honorary Surgeon in the Eye and ENT
Department of Patna Medical College in 1940. Subsequently his merit and
devotion to work soon saw him as Lecturer and then Professor of Clinical
Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngoloby in 1948. On the retirement of Dr.
Dukhan Ram, he was appointed as Professor and Head of ENT in 1957 till he
retired from government service in January 1960. He enjoyed a good
professional practice till his demise on 11th November, 1980 at the age of
76 years. He left behind two sons, two daughter and a large number of grand
and great grand children in India and abroad.
During his tenure at Patna Medical College he had identified the need of
development and progress of ENT as a speciality separate grom Eye. To this
end he divided the work at House-staff level and brought in latest advances
in ENT available at Patna Medical College.
He was responsible for acquiring the first Arphi Audiometer, the Zeiss
Operating Microscope and electric drill which contributed to development of
ear surgery. The ENT work at Patna Medical College Hospital during the
1950’s was more advanced than neighboring states of Bengal, Orissa and U.P.
The progress and status of Ear, Nose and Throat speciality owes a great deal
to his sincere efforts and desire. This has facilitated further development
of this speciality in Bihar and would continue to remind the future
generation of Dr. P.N. Sinha’s contribution and inspire them to aspire and
work for achieving still greater height in the future.
Amongst his academic activities one can mention his being an active member
of Patna University Senate and Syndicate between years 1952 and 1960.
He was President of the All India Association of Oto-laryngologists and
Presided over the Gwalior Conference in 1959. He had the privilege of
presiding over the Silver Jublee Session of All India Ophthalmological
Conference held in Madras in 1965. As an Indian delegate he attended the
International Eye Conference in Montreal New York (1954) and New Delhi
(1962) and International Ear, Nose & Throat Congress in Paris (1961) and
Tokyo (1965).
Back home he has been President of the Bihar Ophthalmological Conference for
a number of years and saw that the Society gets through its teething
trouble. He has been founder Secretary of Rajendra Memorial Research
Society; a society which runs the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute (R.M.R.I.)
in Patna to promote research in medical disciplines.
In 1959, he was elected Senior Vice-President of Indian Medical Association
and continued to be a member of the Central working Committee of the I.M.A.
for a number of years both before and after. As a lion he has been its Zonal
Chairman.
Dr. Sinha, the surgeon, the academician, the teacher, a strict
disciplinarian, a dedicated social worker, the humanist, the lovable
colleague he was a true gentleman. The founding of RMRI and status of ENT
will be permanent reminders of life and work of Dr. P.N.Sinha.
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