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Dr B C Roy: A legendary doctor
*Corresponding author: Bhaskar Shenoy, Department of Pediatrics, Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. bshenoy@gmail.com
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How to cite this article: Shenoy B. Dr B C Roy: A legendary doctor. Karnataka Paediatr J. 2026;41:161-2. doi: 10.25259/KPJ_51_2026
On 1st July every year, India pays tribute to our doctors’ selfless service to heal, teach and enrich our communities by commemorating National Doctor’s Day. This day commemorates the birthday and death anniversary of the great doctor and statesman, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, and shows the important part doctors play in public health. Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy was born on this day and was a remarkable doctor, freedom fighter, Chief Minister of West Bengal and Bharat Ratna Awardee. To celebrate his work and inspire the medical fraternity, the Government of India declared 1st July to be National Doctor’s Day.
The theme for 2026’s National Doctor’s Day is ‘Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers?’ This theme explores not only the dedication and sacrifices of physicians, but also the importance of supporting their well-being and emphasising the importance of caring for caregivers. The theme emphasises the importance of supporting the well-being of doctors.
Bidhan Chandra Roy (01 July 1882–01 July 1962) was a physician and politician who served as Chief Minister of West Bengal from 1950 until he died in 1962. After completing his further studies in medicine at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, he returned to India. Roy joined the provincial health service. He taught at the Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata and later at the Campbell Medical School (now Nil Ratan Sarcar Medical College) and the Carmichael Medical College (now R. G. Kar Medical College). He served as the first president of the Cardiological Society of India from 1948 to 1950. Roy was Mahatma Gandhi’s personal doctor and friend. During the Dandi March in 1931, many members of the Calcutta corporation were imprisoned. Congress requested Roy to remain out of prison and discharge the duties of the Corporation. He served as the Alderman of the Corporation from 1930 to 1931 and as the Mayor of Calcutta from 1931 to 1933. Under him, the Corporation expanded schemes for free education, free medical aid, improved roads and lighting and water supply. He set up a framework for dispensing grant-in-aid to hospitals and charitable dispensaries.
CHIEF MINISTER OF WEST BENGAL
The Congress Party proposed Roy’s name for Premier of West Bengal. Although Roy sought to continue with his profession, he accepted the position and took office on 23 January 1948 upon Gandhi’s advice. Bengal at the time had been torn by communal violence, shortage of food, unemployment and a large flow of refugees in the wake of the creation of East Pakistan. In an address to the people of West Bengal, Roy said: We have the ability and if, with faith in our future, we exert ourselves with determination, nothing, I am sure, no obstacles, however formidable or insurmountable they may appear at present, can stop our progress. (if we) all work unitedly, keeping our vision clear and with a firm grasp of our problems.
On 26 January 1950, Roy took the oath as the first Chief Minister of West Bengal in Independent India. Under his leadership, the Congress party won the legislative assembly elections in West Bengal in 1952 and 1957. He was instrumental in establishing the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur in May 1950, with Roy serving as the first chairman of the board of Governors.
Bidhan Chandra Roy died on 01 July 1962, coincidentally on his 80th birthday. His house was later converted into a nursing home named after his mother, Aghorkamini Devi. The Indian Government honoured Roy with the Bharat Ratna on 04 February 1961.
The B.C. Roy National Award was instituted in 1962 in his memory and has been awarded annually since 1976. The award recognises excellent contributions in the areas of medicine, politics, science, philosophy, literature and arts. The Dr. B. C. Roy Memorial Library and reading room for children in the Children’s Book Trust, New Delhi, was opened in 1967. Today, his private papers are part of the Archives at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, at Teen Murti House, Delhi.
Dr. Roy was a multifaceted individual recognised for his work as a physician, educator, teacher, humanist, administrator and politician. He was a prominent figure in India’s history and made significant contributions as a physician, freedom fighter and statesman. As one of the most esteemed doctors of his time, he was instrumental in advancing medical education and healthcare in India, founding institutions such as Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Medical Council of India (MCI). His role as the second chief minister of West Bengal was marked by his visionary leadership, where he focused on rebuilding the state post-independence, promoting industrialisation and improving infrastructure. Dr. Roy’s contributions to healthcare and politics remain foundational to modern India. His work established medical institutions and infrastructure, improved healthcare access and laid the groundwork for public health policy in the post-colonial era. His legacy continues to inspire medical professionals and leaders alike. His legacy extends beyond his scientific contributions; it lives on in the countless medical professionals he mentored, inspiring them to prioritise holistic care and community engagement. Dr. Roy’s commitment to his patients and the ideals he championed will continue to resonate in the medical field, serving as a beacon of compassion and innovation for years to come.
Dr. Bhaskar Shenoy
Editor in Chief
Karnataka Paediatric Journal