Banchbo Healing Touch Foundation Pays Tribute to Dr. A. K. Roychowdhury, Celebrates His Legacy of Compassion and Ethical Healthcare
By Suman Munshi | IBG NEWS
Kolkata, July 29: A moving memorial programme honouring the life and legacy of renowned physician, educator and humanitarian Dr. A. K. Roychowdhury was organised by the Banchbo Healing Touch Foundation at the Triguna Sen Auditorium of Jadavpur University. The event brought together eminent medical professionals, academicians, administrators and admirers to celebrate the values that defined Dr. Roychowdhury’s extraordinary career—medical ethics, compassion and dedicated service to humanity.
Centered around the theme “তোমারেই করিয়াছি জীবনের ধ্রুবতারা” (You Are the Guiding Star of My Life), the memorial transformed into an inspiring evening of remembrance, reflection and commitment to preserving the human side of healthcare in an increasingly technology-driven era.
One of the key highlights of the programme was the presentation of the Dr. A. K. Roychowdhury Lifetime Achievement Award to eminent geriatrician Dr. Chinmoy Kumar Maity, who is recognised as the second Bengali physician to serve as the National President of the Geriatric Society of India. The honour acknowledged his outstanding contribution to geriatric medicine and elderly care.
The Dr. A. K. Roychowdhury Outstanding Young Geriatrician Award was presented to Dr. Arijit Das for his exceptional dedication and service in advancing healthcare for senior citizens.
A thought-provoking Memorial Oration titled “Medical Ethics in the Era of Technology: Preserving the Human Touch in Healthcare” was delivered by senior IAS officer Debashis Sen, who highlighted the growing importance of ethical values and empathy in modern medical practice amid rapid technological advancements.
The programme was chaired by noted educationist and former Vice-Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University, Prof. Pabitra Sarkar. Reflections on Dr. Roychowdhury’s life and contributions were shared by his wife and eminent gynaecologist Dr. Shipra Roychowdhury, physician Dr. Sudipta Kumar Sen, renowned geriatrician Dr. Kaushik Majumdar, distinguished gynaecologist Dr. Rama Guha, along with several other dignitaries.
An emotional highlight of the evening was a dance performance by children from Vikashita School, an educational initiative supported by the Banchbo Healing Touch Foundation in the Sundarbans. The children dedicated their performance to their beloved “Dadu,” Dr. Roychowdhury, expressing their affection and gratitude through art, leaving the audience deeply moved.
Eminent speakers like Ex IAS Debasis Sen, educationist Ina Bose, and others received felicitations and delivered speeches touching on various aspects of life. Speakers throughout the programme emphasised that the memorial was not merely an occasion to remember an exceptional physician but also a call to uphold the ideals he championed throughout his life—ethical medical practice, compassionate patient care and unwavering respect for human dignity. The event also underscored the growing importance of geriatric medicine and the collective responsibility of society to ensure quality care and dignity for older adults.
The organisers, led by Dr. Dhires Chowdhury, Mrs. Kuhu Chowdhury, and the entire Banchbo Healing Touch Foundation team, were widely appreciated for curating a meaningful tribute that celebrated the enduring legacy of one of Bengal’s most respected medical personalities.
The evening concluded with a renewed pledge from the medical fraternity and participants to carry forward Dr. A. K. Roychowdhury’s vision of healthcare rooted in ethics, empathy and humanity.
