Tributes to Dr. K K. Agrawal n Dr. A. K. Walia
MS RAWAT
There is a reason as to why Doctors are called demi-gods. It is not because of their devotion to their duties that alone makes them demi-gods. They are considered demi-gods because of their noble deeds for sick and ailing.
Dr KK Agarwal was one such nobleman who in his lifetime with his exemplary deeds and actions was not only admired by one and all but became no less than a living God to many. Dr Aggarwal, an eminent Indian Physician and Cardiologist, was the President CMAAO, President of the Heart Care Foundation of India and the Past National President of the Indian Medical Association. In 2010, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for his contributions to the field of medicine.
He was one of the pioneers of Streptokinase therapy for heart attacks in India and also the one who introduced the technique of Colour Doppler Echocardiography in India.
He staunchly supported late Dr AK Walia for bettering the healthcare services in Delhi and NCR region during his tenure in Delhi as a Health Minister. He possessed remarkably clear thoughts and had always maintained that he had responsibilities for the society in general and for poor people in particular.
Words fall short when one goes to explain his role in life, he was a Physician, Cardiologist, Mind Body Consultant, a world class clinical echo cardio grapher, writer, author, anchor, orator, columnist, health communicator, social worker, educator, teacher, trainer, Cconceptualiser, visualiser, creator, organiser, preacher, administrator, advisor, social activist, researcher and meditation teacher par excellence.
If all of these still fall short, he was a ‘messiah’ to those who came in contact with him. He once said that he had accomplished what he wanted to. For remaining life, he wanted to give back to people what he had got from the society.
He conceptualised and organised the first ever “Perfect Health Mela” in the year 1993 which has been innovated every year since then.
His forward thinking and unwavering efforts to educate the masses helped him reach out to 100 million people through numerous videos and educational programmes and saved countless lives. He was a pioneer to advocate the idea of making groups of 100 patients and conducting zoom call to give them joint consultations for Covid. His honest voice and sincerest of efforts show his commitment to duty. These sentiments would
continue to reverberate in the heart and mind of all Delhiites for a long time.
An awareness stirrer, he designed over 1000 one liner health sutras which still serve as the cardinal principle for understanding how a good health can be achieved and maintained. He was one of the pioneers to organize conferences for doctors and releasing practical guidelines for the general public during the epidemics of dengue, plague, meningococcal meningitis, leptospirosis etc.
I was lucky to have had an intellectual discussion with Dr Aggarwal in the premises of Mayur Public School I.P.Extension on the 29th Sep, 2017 on WORLD HEART DAY. Once the workshop was done, we sat over a cup of coffee and talked about many a things related to the heart and related ailments. His dedication to the profession, humbly intertwined with his enthusiasm to do good for humanity, was palpable. His many ideas showed the zeal he had for his mission.
Another opportunity came my way in 2018 when once again on the occasion of the World Heart Day, we met in MPS talking about the heart and it’s related ailments.
In one of the satirical viral videos a few months back, he had said, ‘ laugh all u can but get vaccinated’. A fighter who fought till the very end at AIIMS where he breathed his last on the 17th May. Even while he himself was struggling to keep alive with progressive pneumonia, he made sure that his informative and educative videos do not stop. He wanted his life to be celebrated and not mourned.
KUSH RAHO AHALE WATAN..
HUM APNA FARZ NIBHA KE CHALE..
A humble tribute for Dr KK Aggarwal.
My deeply felt condolences for his family and all the residents of Delhi.
(The author is the Vice Chairman of Garhwal, kumaoni n Jaunsari Academy Delhi and an educationist)
