Renowned Doctor Mani Chhetri Passes Away, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Expresses Condolences

Kolkata, April 6: Renowned physician and Padma Shri awardee Mani Chhetri has passed away, as confirmed by his family on Monday. He was suffering from age-related ailments.

Dr. Chhetri took his last breath at his residence in Ballygunge Place at 10:15 PM on Sunday. He was 105 years old. According to his family, he sustained a head injury fifteen days prior, which led to a rapid decline in his health.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her sorrow over his passing via social media. She wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the demise of renowned doctor Dr. Mani Chhetri. A chapter in the medical world of Bengal and India has come to an end. I pray for the peace of his soul and extend my condolences to his family, countless students, patients, and admirers.”

Dr. Chhetri was the director of SSKM Hospital, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU). His initiatives also led to the launch of various departments, including endocrinology, cardiology, nephrology, diabetes, and rheumatology, marking the first time these specialties were introduced in any state hospital.

The West Bengal Doctors Forum announced that all doctors in the state would wear black badges at work on Monday to pay tribute to the great physician.

Mani Kumar Chhetri was born on May 23, 1920, in Darjeeling. He completed his early education at Darjeeling Municipality Primary School and passed his matriculation exam from Calcutta University in 1936.

He earned his medical degree in 1944 and a postgraduate degree in 1949, after which he pursued further studies abroad. In 1955, he received the MRCP degree from the Royal College of Physicians in London. He was awarded a fellowship from the American College of Cardiology in 1969, followed by fellowships from the Indian Academy of Medical Sciences in 1972 and the Royal College of Physicians in 1973.

Upon returning from London, Dr. Chhetri began his career as a resident physician at the School of Tropical Medicine in Kolkata. Later, during the tenure of Chief Minister Bidhan Chandra Roy, he was appointed as a consultant physician at Presidency General Hospital.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the medical field, Dr. Mani Kumar Chhetri was honored with the Padma Shri award by the Government of India in 1974.