Some days back when Rajay called me from the UK explaining his plans of paying homage to his father by way of setting up a website, I realised what a priceless legacy – the ability to develop and express strong filial feelings, has Dr Mahendra Narain left behind in his sons. To this it is necessary to add for those who did not know the doctor well at a personal level, that he remained a devoted and dutiful son to his ailing and blind father till as long as the aged parent breathed the air of this earth.

My family’s trust with Dr Narain (as we fondly called him) began in the year 1978 when he first came to our house at Rajendra Nagar in Patna to treat my mother suffering from bronchitis. He came, he saw and he won our hearts with his professionalism, good sense of humour and personal care with which he treated my mother. Now when he is no more around and I am in a way penning an obituary for the wonderful and loving doctor, I can clearly recall the day when he first came to our house. It was a hot and humid June morning and the doctor in his early forties tall in stature and big in personality come in briskly in response to our S O S call. After making some brief enquiries, he requested us to leave him with the patient. After the medical check up was done and prescription written down, I remember my father giving an envelope to the doctor who very courteously invited himself to come the following day for looking up the patient and then taking the fees. The next day found my mother up on her feet and the doctor taking the packet from her hand – such was the charisma of Dr Narain.

Dr Narain was a true human being, humane by nature and sincerely genuine in his feelings. His faith in mankind was immense and if and when the aberrations took place, he reacted very strongly. It was during such times that he used to rush to my mother to seek comfort and solace in her company. Over the years the two had built an unique mother – son relationship which however, got torn in 1994 with the death of my mother. The untimely death of my mother came as a big shock to the doctor who rushed from Patna to be with us in Kolkata, and in between his uncontrollable sobs and attempts to console my father he again and again moaned – “this is a huge personal loss – never to get filled up“.

Anecdotes and incidents related to our long association with the doctor are so many with each one being more enthralling than the other, that many pages will get filled up. I would therefore think it appropriate to end this piece now, by sharing with you what my father used to say of Dr Narain - Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there and the renowned doctor of Patna had it !!

October 25, 2005

RAJ BHAWAN
HARYANA

My dear Rajay Narain,

Thank you very much for your email of October 22. I am very happy to know that a group of Bihari Doctors in UK in memory of Dr. Mahendra Narain are organising a Camp for Diabetes Detection and Retinopathy Screening. Dr. Mahendra Narain was an eminent physician who rendered valuable services for a long time to the people of Bihar. Therefore, it will be most befitting to organize such Medical Relief Camps to commemorate his life and mission.

I wish the programme all success and hope that such programmes would continue in future also.

With best wishes and kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

(A.R. Kidwai)
Governor, Haryana

Mahendra Narain, FRCP, 1938-2005

It is with great sadness that I pay this tribute to Dr Mahendra Narain, whose death will be dearly mourned by his family and friends. In addition, the news will sadden countless people who, if not owing their lives to him, find themselves enjoying a more comfortable life, as a result of Mahendra’s tireless efforts and his medical skills. He was a deeply compassionate man who championed the cause and needs of the poor and the disempowered.

Born and trained in Bihar, Dr Mahendra Narain came to England in 1965 and worked in a number of hospitals in the UK, he became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians, specialising in Cardiology. Because of a deeply felt sense of commitment to his native Bihar, he returned there in 1975. He continued to work indefatigably tending the sick, regardless of their financial circumstances. He continued to work long hours every day often through to midnight or beyond. He was called away all too soon and Bihar has lost a real hero. I feel proud to have known him and to have been closely associated with him. Bihar has lost a champion of its disadvantaged groups, a sincere friend and a great physician, who will be sorely lost.

I feel proud to have known Mahendra Narain since 1965. He was a fine man.

Gajendra Verma

Dr. Ranjan Chowdhary & Dr. Seema Chowdhary
12 Calladine Close. Sutton-in-Ashfield.NOTTS. NG171NQ
United Kingdom
Email: ranjanseema@hotmail.com

It is difficult to believe that our mentor, philosopher and guide has left us alone so suddenly. Words simply cannot express our grief. We still perceive his presence in our day-to day life and feel blessed by him.

A great person like Dr. Mahendra Narain will always remain in the heart\'s and minds of millions of people all over the world as he was no ordinary person and it takes centuries to produce one like him.

We deeply regret his loss and pray to God to give strength to his family to carry forward his mission of care, love, affection and generosity for which he was well known globally.

Please accept our deepest condolences from the CHIANG family. May his noble soul rest in heavenly peace.

There are no words in the English language to describe my personal loss for a person who I did not see just as a doctor, but also as an elder brother, role model, guide and a mentor. As days pass on I may be able to express myself better for my own loss. A long time ago, during a difficult period, he once said to me \"Murli the world is full of crooks, but even if you are able to sustain one of them you can conquer the world and achieve your goals\". He was right then and is right now. Rest in peace my friend and mentor.

Dr. Murli Sinha - UK

I was very sorry to hear about your father's death. As you know, I was a very close friend of your cousin Rajesh Narain and I used to go with him to your house in Rajendra Nagar on a regular basis. I would describe him as very understanding, mature and a caring person. I lost touch with him after I came to the US in 1981 but did saw him couple of times during my visit to Patna.

May his soul rest in peace.

Punyatma

'I have very sweet memories of Dr Mahendra Narain. I first met him as an undergraduate Medical student at Nalanda Medical College and remained in touch with him ever since. He had then just returned from England having completed his initial training. In college, we were all impressed by his keenness, style and enthusiasm. His lectures and clinical sessions were always well attended. His patients adored him. As my own career evolved through certain stages, over the years I began to look to him for advice and guidance. He was always spontaneous and frank, never minced words. We were fortunate to be considered a part of his family and as Rajay moved to UK , he provided the vital link to his father. I am saddened that I could not meet him during the last year and was not there during his illness in Delhi.

They say that the heart like the mind has its own memory. So true. I cannot remember any other teacher of mine, apart from the Jesuits at St Xavier\'s, Patna with whom my relationship developed such as it did with Dr Mahendra Narain.

This is going back so many years and yet it seems like yesterday. Such was his impact on those who came in contact with him. May he rest in peace. We shall gratefully remember the good he did to us all.

Dr Narain was a great inspiration to all the students of Nalanda Medical College where I first met him as my Professor and Head of the Deparment of Medicine. He was a caring and very able teacher and Doctor who was able to inspire many like me to follow his footsteps. He was like a father figure for me and many like me. He had deep sense of fairness and nurtured talent and hard work when he saw them. I have personally felt a great loss when I heard that Dr Narain has left us all and I share his loss with his family.

I have known Dr Narain very personally as a student who has not only been taught by him but also has been blessed by him from his heart and could feel his love and care for me personally on many an occaison. My career in medicine was very much inspired by him. I pay my tribute and respect to Dr Narain and pray for him so that his soul be peaceful. I will always remember Dr Narain as a wonderful person, a remarkable Physician and an Excellent Teacher.

We are very pained to know the demise of Dr. Mahendra Narain who was a member of Patna Branch, IMA. We pray the Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family members to bear the irreparable loss.

Kindly convey our heartfelt condolences to other family members as well.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Rajiv Dhir

Dr. Anupam Banerjee
Asst. Professor
Dept. of Community Medicine
Pandit Deen Dayal Govt. Medical College
Rajkot, Gujarat, India

Dear Rajay,

I am touched wih the efforts you are pooling in for the foundation. My sincere best wishes remain, with you and your family members. With warm wishes and regards.

Please take care...May God Always be with you.

Dr Rajesh Kumar
147, Sharoe Green Lane
Fulwood, Preston PR2 8HE
United Kingdom
Email: pupraj@hotmail.com

Dr Mahendra Narayan was a Great Physician, a great Guru and above all a Great human being who was always there to help everyone. He will always be remembered by everyone who came in contact with him. May his soul rest in peace!.

Rohit Raj
BP16097, 98C
Commune de la Gombe
Kinshassa
Dem. Rep. of Congo
Email: rohitraj12@rediffmail.com

A combination of fatherly figure and a person whom I grew up -admiring-.

A complete human being.... His words of encouragement and praise for young ones like us are still a source of inspiration.