Upendra Chandra Biswal

 

                          Memory of Upendra - Ajay Upadhyaya

 

Dr Upendra Chandra Biswal, retired Head of  Surgery from RLH, Delhi, our 1970 batch mate in MKCG College, left for his heavenly abode on 13 May 202, after a short illness with COVID-19 infection.

 

My association with Upendra was long, stretching back almost half  a century, starting from MKCG days. We kept in touch through my time in Indian Navy, in Bombay, to my stint in the USA and throughout my long stay in England; geographical distance was never a  barrier. On my umpteen visits to India, over the years, on landing at Delhi, I used to spend a few days before flying to BBSR, when I periodically stayed with him.  Upendra also visited us while welived in the US and    a few   times in England.

           ( Upper one is NY 1987 and lower Upendra in 1997)

Our  contacts deepened further in recent years, particularly since the pandemic and the Lockdown.  There are too many anecdotes with Upendra to relate to, but I shall limit myself to just this one.  In his last visit to us in England, I had made a programme to travel around and visit a few places.  But, he said, “Seeing new places has its charm at a certain age; now is the time to spend time with friends.”  So, we changed our programme of  travelling and visiting National parks etc, and spent most of the time at home or walking round, locally, chatting. 

 

Upendra’s two sons were special in their own ways. His older son, Paplu, a high flyer of the highest order, who now lives in the US, dazzled us all, from a young age, with his intelligence and brilliant mind, which Upendra nurtured with his utmost might.  Upendra took legitimate pride, like all of us,  in his phenomenal accomplishments, but he never flaunted him. 

 

Tragically, his younger son, Jagan, was born with serious disabilities,  which  devastated the family.  But in the same way, as Paplu’s brilliance did not make him vain, Jagan’s plight did not make him bitter either.  It actually brought to the fore, the caring side of his personality.  Upendra understood Jagan’s body language and could read his moods, better than anybody. Upendra and his wife Kanak spared no pains in looking after Jagan, round the clock .  In the midst of all this, Upendra never lost his cheerful demeanour, gentle smile and hearty laughter.

 

We can all recall, the sight of Upendra and Kanak, behind  Jagan in his wheelchair, a permanent fixture in all our batch mates reunions.  We have seen, first hand,  how Upendra cared  for Jagan lovingly. Upendra and Kanak’s  dedication to Jagan’s care was truly exemplary.

 

Within a few days of Upendra’s death, sadly Jagan also fell victim to COVID-19. After the initial shock of hearing Jagan’s death, I must confess, it  crossed my mind  that perhaps God’s plans work in mysterious ways. With Jagan’s multiple disability and extensive needs,  Jagan and Upendra were inseparable in life.  In a way, death has reunited them.

 

In his recent retirement message, Upendra  said, he came from a family of teachers.  Of course, his legacy will live on through the generations of doctors and surgeons he has trained.  But his teaching mission did not stop at training doctors.  When I asked him how he was going to spend his time in retirement, he said,” I have got a new project - teaching our maid, the domestic help.”  This struck a chord in me, as true to my name, I am a teacher at heart. Upendra perhaps did not realise, he has taught us a lot, as well.  Certainly, for me, his life was a lesson in simplicity, sincerity, and humility, which will  guide me in my quest for fulfilment in life.

 

Our friendship had lately become so close that it won’t be an exaggeration to say, with his sudden and untimely death, a part of me  died.  Although true, this will be an incomplete statement; for the truth is that my life has also been enriched by his gift of friendship, untainted by guile or pretence. His spirit of living life, as it comes, and dealing with its challenges unflinchingly, will continue to inspire me.

 

I still can’t believe, Upendra is gone.  In fact, he has only gone from our sight, but  he will  live, for ever, in our hearts and minds.  Mourning the death of a fine human being like him is natural, but we will be doing injustice to his memories, unless we celebrate his life, as well; an inspiring life, full of achievements, lived with fortitude and  in quiet dignity.

 

Ajay Upadhyaya

24 May 2021