Pran Nath Chhuttani
Pran Nath Chhuttani | |
|---|---|
| Director of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research | |
| In office 1969–1978 | |
| Preceded by | Santokh Singh Anand |
| Succeeded by | Iqbal Chand Pathak |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 February 1915 Leiah |
| Died | 16 July 1996 (aged 81) |
| Relations | Rai Bahadur Tilok Chand (grand father) Rai Sahib Rup Narain (father) |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan 1972 |
Pran Nath Chhuttani (26 February 1915 – 16 July 1996) was an Indian physician and medical educator, recognized for his role in establishing and developing Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.[1]
Early life
Pran Nath Chhuttani was born on 26 February 1915 in Leiah, now part of Pakistan.[2] He completed his M.B.B.S. (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) at Punjab University, Lahore, in 1938. He earned a D.T.M. (Diploma in Tropical Medicine) from the University of Calcutta in 1940 and an M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) from Punjab University, Lahore in 1942.[3] Before his time as a medical student, he volunteered in the aftermath of the 1935 Quetta earthquake, assisting patients despite contracting severe dysentery that required extended hospitalization.[4]
Post-independence, his family relocated to Gangtok, where his father held the position of Chief Judge.[4] In 1949, he was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship and pursued further studies in the United Kingdom.[4] When he returned to India, he worked at the Government Medical College in Amritsar and also ran a private practice.[4]
Career
The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research was established in 1962 in Chandigarh.[5] Chhuttani, along with Dr. Tulsi Das and Dr. Santokh Singh Anand, proposed the idea for the institute.[5] Punjab Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon supported the plan and got approval from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.[5] Chhuttani became the institute’s first Dean and later its Director in 1969, serving for nine years—the longest tenure in PGIMER’s history.[6] During his leadership, PGIMER gained prominence as a leading medical research and educational institution, though it also faced challenges, including controversies related to the death of Justice D.S. Lamba[7] and the treatment of Jai Prakash Narayan.[8]
Chhuttani published over 150 research papers on health sciences, focusing on tropical medicine and communicable diseases.[4] He was elected a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru in 1975 under the Medicine section.[9] Dr. Chhuttani was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including:
- The Padma Bhushan from the Government of India in 1972.[10]
- The Dr. B. C. Roy Award from the Medical Council of India.[4]
- The Shakuntala Amir Chand Prize from the Indian Council of Medical Research.[4]
He also served as the President of The Tribune Trust, helping expand its operations, including setting up a printing press in Gurgaon.[4] He also established the Tirlok Tirath Vidyavati Chhuttani Charitable Trust, which supports medical relief and research.[4]
Death and legacy
Chhuttani died on 16 July 1996.[9] After his death, several honours were established in his name:
- PN Chuttani Award (1998) by the Indian Society of Gastroenterology to recognise outstanding contributions in gastroenterology.[11]
- Dr. Pran Nath Chhuttani Oration (1999) by the National Academy of Medical Sciences to promote studies in tropical medicine and communicable diseases.[12]
Additionally, the Chhuttani Medical Centre in Chandigarh stands as a tribute to his enduring impact on healthcare in the region.[13]
References
- ^ Yadav, Dr Arvind (2022-06-13). A Master Surgeon in Love with Humanity. Notion Press. ISBN 979-8-88684-536-5.
- ^ Who's who in India. Business Press Private Limited. 1986. p. 89.
- ^ "Tributes paid to Dr PN Chhuttani". The Tribune. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum". www.tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ a b c "Values, traditions sustain PGI". The Tribune. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ Bharti, Vishav (2015-02-10). "PGI to make a film on Dr Chuttani, one of the fouding fathers". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ Link. United India Periodicals. 1979. p. 21.
- ^ Gupta, Shekhar (2018-10-11). "The cruel truth is that Jayaprakash Narayan was let down by his own followers". ThePrint. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ a b "Indian Academy of Sciences". fellows.ias.ac.in. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Padma Awards | Interactive Dashboard". dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "ISG - PN Chuttani Award". www.isg.org.in. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "NAMS ORATIONS 2016-2017" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "About - About Us Page". Chhuttani Medical Centre. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
External links
- Dr. Chhuttani’s life and contributions are detailed in the biography Pran Nath Chhuttani: Physician to the Subcontinent, written by his cousin and student, Prof. H.K. Chhuttani, a former Director of GB Pant Hospital, New Delhi.