Bharat Ratna (1961)
Bidhan Chandra Roy (1882 – 1962) was an Indian physician, educationist, philanthropist, freedom fighter and statesman who served as Chief Minister of West Bengal from 1948 until his death in 1962.
Bidhan Roy is considered the maker of modern West Bengal due to his key role in the founding of several institutions and four eminent cities Durgapur, Kalyani, Bidhannagar and Ashoknagar.
He is one of the few people in history to have become both a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) and a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). In India, the National Doctors' Day is celebrated in his memory every year on the 1st of July.
Bidhan's parents were ardent Brahmo Samajists, led an austere and disciplined life, and devoted their time and money to the service of everyone in need, irrespective of caste or creed. He & his siblings were taught and even encouraged to give away what was precious to them, freely and willingly.
He believed that swaraj (the call to action for India's freedom) would remain a dream unless the people were healthy and strong in mind and body.
Dr. Roy was both Gandhiji's friend and doctor. When Gandhiji was undertaking a fast in 1933, Dr. Roy attended to him. Gandhiji refused to take medicine on the grounds that it was not made in India. Gandhiji asked Dr. Roy, "Why should I take your treatment? Do you treat four hundred million of my countrymen free?" Dr. Roy replied, "No Gandhiji, I could not treat all patients free. But I came... not to treat Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, but to treat "him" who to me represents the four hundred million people of my country." Gandhiji relented and took the medicine.