In memory of Dr Hardev Coonar

Dr PPS Coonar

The first head of the Dental Department, PGI, Chandigarh, consultant oral surgeon, Eastman Dental and Hammersmith Hospitals, London (UK), and co-founder of Charitable Dental Clinic, Hansali, Patiala district, Hardev Singh Coonar had a glittering career in dentistry and oral surgery in both India and UK where he was a master surgeon and teacher. 

Coming from a medical, military and farming family he qualified in the first batch from Amritsar Dental College. He was then commissioned into the Indian Army Dental Services. He obtained the fellowship in dental surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons in England. 

In training, he worked at hospitals in India, Denmark, London, the UK and also Massachusetts General Hospital affilliated with Harvard University, USA. 

Appointed consultant in London, he developed aspects of oral implantology in the UK and also undertook major cancer and trauma surgery. 

He retained close links with India, visiting regularly. With his brother the late Dr Pritam Singh Coonar, who had brought him up after the early death of their father, they founded the dental clinic in Hansali, which is supported by both the gurdwara and also Rotary International. 

Dr Hardev Singh was the first person to be trained in implants in the UK. He conducted the first workshop on implants at the PGI in 90s for Indian dentists for a month along with Dr Featherfellow from Eastman Hospital, London.

In retirement, he and his wife became even more sociable. They travelled widely and enjoyed being involved in Rotary and other charities. 

His wife Sarla Coonar passed away on June 28, 2018. They had met as teenagers when they joined the first class of the Amritsar Dental College. Hardev Singh Coonar died when visiting Solan a place that he dearly loved and had spent time in childhood on May 6, 2019. 

He is survived by his son, who is the head of thoracic surgery in Cambridge, UK, and a daughter, who is an orthodontist in London, UK. He has two nephews, also doctors.

The writer is a retired Joint Director, Medical Education, Punjab.