As Patna welcomes eye doctors and experts from across the nation for its Fourth Bihar Ophthalmologic Society annual conference in Patna on Dec. 9, 2006, the guests remembered Patna's very own eye surgeon and a great humanitarian Dr. Anjani Kishore Prasad who, after battling cancer for a long time, passed away last May. (Read the news here.)

During his brave battle with the deadly disease, Dr. Prasad candidly expressed his feelings, as a cancer patient, for his family members.

Since the conference is a tribute to the rich legacy left by Dr. Prasad, his daughter Anjali Prasad, in the article below made available to PatnaDaily.Com, talks about her father and the impact he left on all of his family members and admirers.

The Daddy Everyone Loved

By Anjali Prasad
(Daughter of Dr. Anjani Kishore Prasad)

Dr. Anjani Kishore Prasad was a renowned eye surgeon of Patna. He completed his MBBS from Patna University in 1959. After finishing his Post Graduate from Patna Medical College Hospital, he worked there as Assistant Surgeon for a few years.

He left for the United Kingdom in 1967 for further studies and experience. He worked for Bradford Royal Infirmary, Lincoln County Hospital and Myland Hospital, Colchester, UK, along with his studies. He earned Diploma in Ophthalmology (DO), Royal College of Surgeons & Physicians of London in 1967. He joined the King’s Lynn & East Suffolk Hospital, UK in 1970.

His hard work and dedication earned him the prestigious degree of Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) Ophthalmology, Edinburgh in 1971. Despite several lucrative job offers, he returned to India in 1971 where he proved his dedication to his profession by serving his patients very successfully and whole-heartedly. His simple and honest nature won many hearts.

In the year 1978, he was posted at Tripoli, the capital of Libya as Specialist Ophthalmology, EL Khadra Hospital. Soon his skills were recognized and he became personal eye physician to Col Muammar Gaddafi. In 1984, after witnessing brutal public hangings during a coup, he opted to return to the democratic environment of his country.

His simplicity and good nature added to his brilliance, made him popular, and loved amongst his patients, colleagues, and students. A large number of patients, rich and poor, waited outside his clinic patiently, to be examined by him. He was a doctor with his own beliefs and never gave much importance to money. He owned a small clinic, which was as simple as he was.

“God gives those who give”. With a roaring practice, he could afford to give a happy and comfortable life to his family as well as treat many of his patients, especially the poor, without any charges. He never failed to offer monetary help to those in need.

He was called ‘daddy’, not only by his daughters, but also by his nieces, nephews and his grandchildren. His friendly and cheerful nature, his modern and liberal beliefs made him a very popular ‘uncle’ amongst his next generation.

He did not believe in rest. Despite his busy schedule, he was very social and active. He read many books and people found him very knowledgeable in almost every field. He believed in learning at any age, and learnt to play the Tabla in his late 50s. He loved traveling and visited many places in India, Europe, Africa, and the United States along with his wife.

At the age of 67-69, he was diagnosed with two of the most dreaded and incurable diseases -Parkinson and Lymphoma. But he did not give up and continued to serve his patients. Gradually, the diseases started taking its toll over his body, and restricted him from working as much as he wanted to. In his last two years, his body had stiffened, he had become very weak and needed regular blood transfusions, but he never gave up his routine life. Patients continued to visit him and he never refused to treat them. I still remember him dragging his feet to his clinic to help his patients. He had no choice but to discontinue with the surgeries, though. This is when he began writing down his experiences. At one time, he wrote -

"My wife Purnima, told me there is great strength in prayer, meditation and faith. Though helpless physically I always give a brave face, but in hearts of hearts, everything was artificial. I found myself clinging to my own life, fully dependent. I owe my life to my known and unknown donors, friends and relatives who have arranged and are still arranging for blood. I am hanging on to my life till life is with me.”

Dr.Anjani Kishore Prasad died on May 5, 2006. Thousands of relatives, friends, patients, well-wishers, and students lined outside his residence to get a last glimpse of the man they loved, adored, and idolized.

We are trying to get on with our lives, but, it's not anything like before.

Fate took you away from us daddy, but we will never let you go….. You will remain in our hearts forever and ever!