Renowned McLeodganj doc with ‘magical touch’ dies at 92

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, November 26

McLeodganj’s iconic medic Dr Yeshi Dhonden, known globally for treating cancer patients using the Tibetan system of medicine, passed away today at his residence. He was 92.

A family member said that Dr Dhonden complained of respiratory difficulties on Monday, after which they called Dr Tsetan Dorji of Delek Hospital for consultation. “Apart from the respiratory problem, he had no other health issues. He died at home today at 2:53 am, with family members by his bedside,” the family member said. The cremation will take place on Friday morning in McLeodganj.

Born on May 15, 1927, Dr Dhonden was a practitioner of traditional Tibetan medicine and his patients said what made Dr Dhonden special was not just his medicine, but his “magical touch”. At 11, he joined the Chakpori Institute of Tibetan Medicine, in Tibetan capital Lhasa. After the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959, he accompanied the 14th Dalai Lama to India and lived in Dharamsala. Dr Dhonden was appointed director and CMO when the Dalai Lama started a charitable institution in Dharamsala in 1961. He served in that capacity till 1966. The elderly monk served as the personal physician to the Dalai Lama from 1963 to 1980.

Dr Dhonden started his own private clinic in McLeodganj in 1969. He is best known for curing cancer patients, who have shared their testimonies of the success of his treatment. Last year, the Centre honoured him with the Padma Shri, the country's fourth highest civilian award. He ended his practice in April this year.

(With PTIinputs)