Dr BD Gupta, pioneer in radiology, passes away

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, September 18

Prof BD Gupta, Emeritus Professor and former head of the department of radiotherapy at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) passed away on Sunday.

The PGI fraternity was shocked to hear the news of one more doyen of the institute passing away in quick succession.

Prof BD Gupta was born in Uttar Pradesh on March 8, 1934. After graduating from Medical College, Agra, he did his post graduation in radiology (combined radio-diagnosis and radiotherapy) under Dr PK Haldar. He obtained the FRCR degree from London and returned to India to exclusively practice radiotherapy and oncology.

Following a brief stint at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, he joined the PGIMER, Chandigarh, in 1971 and founded the department of radiotherapy. He served as the head of this department till 1994. He was also responsible for establishing the department of telemedicine, where he was an Emeritus Professor.

Prof Gupta established a department which went on to become one of the best in the country and gained recognition abroad. Beginning with a basic 250 KV machine, the department soon acquired modern tele-cobalt machines for therapy. He was instrumental in bringing the first CT scan machine and the first linear accelerator to the institute.

His pioneering work in brachytherapy fetched international recognition. The department started its MD (radiotherapy) programme where he trained numerous students who are now senior radiation oncologists in the country and abroad.

Even after retirement, he remained busy treating patients, advising, training manpower and spreading cancer awareness till the very end.

He is survived by his wife Kamlesh Gupta and two sons, Prashant and Nishant Gupta.

Departed souls remembered

A condolence meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prof Jagat Ram, Director, PGIMER, on Monday to pay homage to the departed souls of Dr KS Chugh, Emeritus Professor, and former head, department of nephrology, PGIMER, and Prof BD Gupta, Emeritus Professor and former head, department of radiotherapy, PGIMER. They both passed away on September 17. Senior professors, former directors, HoDs, PGI faculty members, the administrative staff and resident doctors joined in to mourn the death of two eminent doctors of the PGIMER who laid the foundations of their respective departments.

Prof Jagat Ram recounted the achievements of the two doyens and said that their sudden death was a great loss not only to the Institute and its fraternity but also to the nation.

About the professor 

Prof BD Gupta joined PGIMER, Chandigarh, in 1971 and founded the department of radiotherapy. He served as the head of this department till 1994. He was also responsible for establishing the department of telemedicine, where he was an Emeritus Professor. He established a department which went on to become one of the best in the country and gained recognition abroad. Beginning with a basic 250 KV machine, the department soon acquired modern tele-cobalt machines for therapy. He was instrumental in bringing the first CT scan machine and the first linear accelerator to the institute.