"Abanida", as he is lovingly referred to by most people, was born on 24.7.1936 in a small village called Pirojpur in Barishal district(now in Bangladesh). His early childhood days were spent there & primary schooling was in the nearby village school. During those early years, the seeds of being a medical practitioner were implanted within him after he came in close proximity with his family physician, Dr Naren Das. It was not Dr Das’s proficiency in medical treatment- rather the treatment of love, respect and gratitude meted towards him by family members that acted as a major catalyst in deciding the road he would embark upon for his future endeavours.
To give shape to his aspirations, he pursued his higher studies with zeal. After finishing secondary schooling in a lesser known school in Dhanbad,he moved base to Bangabashi College,Kolkata and finally, to his beloved alma mater, Calcutta National Medical College, to complete his M.B.B.S degree. He ended his academic pursuit in AIIMS with achieving the Postgraduation in Medicine.
What followed next was his prolific academic-cum- professional career, the majority of which was spent in NRS Medical College (1980-1993) with memorable stints in Calcutta National Medical College (1964-1974), School of Tropical Medicine (1974-1976) and North Bengal Medical College (1976-1980). After resigning from Government service in 1993, he was attached to Ramakrishna Mission Sevaprathisthan Hospital till his death.
Though medical practice was his profession, ‘teaching’ was his passion-with a big P- a passion that encompassed all his waking hours. A passion that would be kindled with the least amount of poking from a questioning mind and he would instantaneously mould himself into an ever- enthusiastic professor.
A life like his had many influences and support without whom it would not have been so smooth a sailing- most notable among them were wife Dr Sulekha Roychoudhury, friend-philosopher-guide Dr Dilip Roy and ‘aide-de-camp’ Ramkaran Jha- lovingly called “aabji” by family members.
P.S.- On behalf of his family I take this opportunity to express our best wishes & wholehearted support to all his students & admirers for the initiative they are taking to keep his memories alive.
Mr. Arindam Roychoudhury & Mr. Anirban Roychoudhury
