Tribute to Dr. Birendra Nath Deka

We share the grief of the million families affected by the pandemic in India. Despite the relentless efforts of the doctors at the Apollo Hospital, Guwahati, our father Dr.Birendra Nath Deka too, lost his battle to post-COVID complications on May 21. Our mother and both of us got a second chance to life for him, and remain his last patients while the entire family tested positive. As a doctor, he never retired.

Originally from Sarthebari, Assam, our father was born to Late Harendra Nath Deka and Late Dalimi Deka at Kamalpur in 1953. He was the youngest of five siblings Prabin, Joymoti, Kamakhya and Tarun. He was brought up in Guwahati and completed his education from Arya Pathsaala, Rehabari and Kamrup Academy Higher Secondary School, Panbazar. He completed his medical studies from Patliputra Medical College Hospital (PMCH), Dhanbad in 1981, and returned to Guwahati after his father's demise.

My father closely worked in the medical rehabilitation of the victims during the Bihar floods of the 1970s and the Nellie Massacre in 1983. Till the mid 1980s he was the senior resident CTVs at GMCH, and for over a decade thereafter, he did private practice at his chamber in Lakhi Mandir, Beltola. His last stint at work was at International Hospital (now Apollo), Guwahati, where he served as Senior Registrar, Department of Surgery.

Apart from his medical career, he was a bodybuilding enthusiast and was a fine tabla player and drummer. He always kept his work life out of home, and was a fiercely loyal and compassionate family man. He often treated patients from humble economic background by providing them with consultation and medicines free of cost. His death is untimely and has left his family, friends, patients and well wishers devastated. He leaves behind his wife Kabita Deka, son Rajarshi Kashyap Deka and daughter Dixita Deka. On his adya shraddha, we pray for his eternal peace.

* Dixita Deka

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