By Malini Manjaly

Mokama: The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in India are mourning the death of a surgeon who sacrificed a lucrative career to serve the poor villagers of Bihar, an eastern Indian state.

Doctor B K Setty died on June 6 at Bhubaneswar, capital of Odisha, another eastern Indian state, due to heart ailments. He was 88.

Setty worked in Nazareth Hospital the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth manage at Mokama, a village some 60 km east of Patna, Bihar capital. He had joined the hospital in 1968 after his medical and surgical training in Ireland and retired 27 years later.

“Dr. Setty sacrificed a lucrative career in a large city to devote his attention to the poor of Mokama,” says Charity Sister Mary Joseph Pamplaniel, a nurse anesthetic who had worked with the surgeon for several years.

Setty served the hospital with “great commitment, dedication. His patients still remember him as he was very good to them. His integrity and principles and hard work really touched all who came into contact with him,” she told Matters India.

The accomplished surgeon soon won local people’s confidence as he saved countless lives through skillful and painstaking surgery. “He also raised the standard of surgical care at Nazareth hospital,” Sister Pamplaniel added.

The surgical department of the hospital became synonymous with Doctor Setty, said Sister Maria Palathingal who was the supervisor of the male surgical ward.

According to her, hospitals in India develop unique bonds with their doctors.

“The people in and around Mokama, loved him much and hold him dearly in their hearts even today.” said Sister Lata Thurackal, another Setty associate. Many recall with gratitude the healing they have experienced through him.

Sister Karuna Thottumarickal, who also worked with Setty, said he a fearless doctor, who was at the forefront in any crisis situation, be it a criminal or a violent mob. “He was always supportive of the hospital. He represented the hospital in the medical legal cases at the court,” she told Matters India.

Doctor Sister Ancilla Kozhipat recalls that Setty served patients round the clock. The hospital and the operation theater were his home first and the family came second,” she added.

Dr. Setty is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. His Irish wife, a staunch Catholic and a qualified nurse, was with the faculty for supervising the nursing students.