Dr. Sushovan Banejree, who was selected for the Padma Shri award by Centre, has given the credit for his achievement to the people for “whom he has dedicated his life”, reports Times of India.
Banerjee, who is better known to the residents of West Bengal’s Bolpur as ‘Ek Takar Daktar’ (One rupee doctor), got the Padma Shri award for treating poor patients for just a rupee.
“I have been treating patients for 57 years. The Padma Shri was possible only because of them. I dedicate the award to them,” Dr Banerjee was quoted as saying.
The doctor, who was also a Congress MLA from Birbhum district’s Bolpur seat in 1984, also received a congratulatory call from former president Pranab Mukherjee.
Banerjee said that he was surprised on knowing that he was in the list of Padma awardees this year.
“I was a Congress MLA. It was surprising for me that the BJP government at the Centre chose me for this award. Nevertheless, I am grateful to them,” he said.
Dr. Banerjee graduated from RG Kar Medical college in Kolkata and later completed a post graduate degree in pathology from Calcutta University following which he headed to London for a diploma in Haematology. He worked as a senior registrar in London for four years but later chose to return to his native Bolpur to serve the needy people.