We are grateful to doctors: PM Modi on Doctors' Day

India has been celebrating National Doctors' Day on July 1 since 1991 to honor the memory of legendary physician Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. However, this Doctors' Day is all the more special because, after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, society has started truly acknowledging the selfless services of doctors who risked their lives every single day to save the people of the society.

Different countries have different dates for this special day. Brazil celebrates it as a Holiday on October 18, in Canada the date is May 1, while in Cuba Doctors' Day gets celebrated on December 3.

Also Read: Ahead of Doctors Day, PM Modi talks about contribution of Doctors

• History:
  

India started celebrating National Doctors' Day on July 1, 1991, in memory of Dr. B.C. Roy, an Indian physician, educationalist, philanthropist, freedom fighter, and renowned doctor. He served as the second Chief Minister of West Bengal from 1948 until his death in 1962.

Often considered as the maker of modern West Bengal, Dr. B.C. Roy was an excellent student throughout. He first pursued B.A from Patna College with Honors in Mathematics and afterward he pursued his medical education from Calcutta Medical College. He is one of the rarest people who had obtained F.R.C.S and M.R.C.P degrees simultaneously.

Not only he was an excellent student, but Dr. Roy also was a social worker from the heart who kept on serving people through his immense dedication and hard work. He is known to have played an important role in the making of Jadavpur T.B. Hospital, Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital, Victoria Institution (college), and Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital.

He was also a founder member of the Journal of the Indian Medical Association (JIMA) back in 1930. Known for his active participation in the promotion of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr. B.C. Roy was also the first elected president of the Medical Council of India. Dr. Roy was awarded Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor on February 4, 1961.

• Significance:

Doctors are truly the saviors of society, the heroes without capes. Throughout the pandemic, they worked tirelessly, without sleep or rest, to save the people of this country and throughout the world. They fought the war from the front line while risking their own lives. This pandemic has cost India losses of hundreds of doctors and as per the recent information provided by the Indian Medical Association, 798 doctors lost their lives in the second wave of the pandemic alone.

Also Read: PM Modi to address medical fraternity on National Doctors Day

Honoring the doctors, several eminent figures, including Ministers, Politicians expressed their gratitude to the medical fraternity and many even showered their love for the doctors on their Twitter handles.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his clip from his last 'Mann ki baat' on his Twitter handle and wrote, "On Doctors Day, my greetings to all doctors. India's strides in the world of medicine are commendable and have contributed to making our planet healthier."

Acknowledging the contribution of doctors, a Government official wrote on Twitter, "Heroes without capes. #DoctorsDay". He also posted a meaningful photo along with the post where the so-called superheroes are saluting the doctors.

Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik paid his tribute to the doctors with a beautiful artwork. Sharing the picture, he wrote on Twitter, "On National #DoctorsDay We salute the doctors working dedicatedly to serve mankind. My sand art with message "Doctors are next to God"."

Meanwhile, remembering the contribution of Dr. B.C Roy, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan wrote on Twitter, "Dr. Bidhanchandra Rai ji not only made an important contribution to the advancement of medical world, but he was also the builder of modern Bengal. He always stayed away from the politics of rivalry and conflict. He will always remain in our memories for his remarkable contribution towards the society."

"#NationalDoctorsDay at the heart of all those doctors caused Naman, whose spirit of service saved numerous people from Corona epidemic. Our doctors served us without worrying about their lives, so this day becomes special. Come, let us all thank them and encourage them," read another Twitter of the Union Health Minister.

Indian Medical Association (IMA), in a press release dated 30.06.2021, mentioned its plans of celebrating Doctors' Day and about the address by the Prime Minister at 3 p.m. Declaring the theme of 2021 Doctors' Day as "Save The Saviour", IMA in the press release mentioned, "This year, Doctors' day is very special on background of profound devotion showed by all IMA doctors across country during the dreaded pandemic. IMA lost its more than 1500 eminent doctors. This sacrifice for the mankind has added its shade of remembrance to the Doctors' Day celebrations. Doctors' Day 2021 is dedicated to the innumerable medical practitioners who sacrificed their lives while serving the citizens of our country & to those numerous eminent professionals who are still serving on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Also Read: Medicos to observe Doctors Day with their blood