A Doctor for the People

Bengal might have a reputation for being the hub of artistic and cultural milieu but it also has made sizeable contributions in the fields of science. Mahendralal Sarkar was one such apostle who was not only an excellent practitioner but also a social reformer.

A picture of the mind that strived tirelessly; Image Source- Statesman

From his very childhood, rebellious fervour and angst were ingrained within Mahendralal Sarkar maybe because of the fact that he lost his parents at a very young age after which he was educated in Hare School and Hindu School.

As a student, he was extremely sharp and confident. He had a boldness about him that was only accentuated by his excellent performance. In addition to this, he also had a sharp tongue and would often engage in debates regarding spiritualism.

As he grew up, he only became brighter and bolder. It is said that at one instance, he was called up by his professors to deliver a lecture on optics at Calcutta Medical College. Thereby, it is one of those few instances in history where a student educated a professor.

Mahendralal Sarkar also held very sharp views regarding most things. He was heavily influenced by a book called Philosophy of Homeopathy by William Morgan. This leads him to widely proclaim that homoeopathy was way better than western medicine which lead him to be rusticated from the British Medical Association.

He did not believe in the existence of God, a statement which his spiritual friends like Ramakrishna Paramhansa accepted with a pinch of salt. He, however, did believe in the worship of humanity- the one true way to god. For this cause, he used to treat the poor for free and give food while charging almost double for his richer patient. He was sort of a Robin Hood of the 19th century Bengal Renaissance.

By far his greatest contribution was the establishment of India’s first science association called the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science. This body worked tirelessly to inject the masses with a scientific temperament – it democratised the subject. Along with this, he also arranged seats for women to receive lectures and scientific education through this body.

He had treated many well-known personalities in Bengal at that point in history. He was the personal doctor of the novelist Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay. He also served the Tripura’s King.

This was how he used to manage his funds. Mahendralal Sarkar was a great doctor, pragmatic social reformer and an able educator. He was a person who always stood up for his ideals and never hesitated to say what he believed. He was one of the most dynamic personalities in Bengal at that time.

It is honestly sad and viciously cruel when one discovers that this great personality was felicitated with a doctorate by the British only after his death in 1904. As one individual dies, his idea lives on with a thousand other individuals and we see that only a few doctors in our contemporary times are as dedicated and committed as Mahendralal Sarkar.