SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan. 28: Dr Vikas Hazra, an IVF specialist and top gynecologist of the state, who along with his wife died in a fire tragedy in his nursing home cum residence, made his mark in the medical field by pressing his entire family members in service of poor patients.
Both Dr Hazra (64) and his wife Dr Prema Hazra(58) were doctors. They have left one son Dr Ayush and a daughter Dr Prerna. Both are also doctors. The son is studying in Pondicherry Medical College while his daughter is completing medical courses in Nepal Medical College. Dr Hazra’s younger brother Dr Samir Hazra and his wife who survived the Friday night tragedy in the house are also doctors.
Dr Hazra couple had been serving the patients for more than 30 years in the coal city.
Family members disclosed that Dr Hazra’s wife Dr Prema Hazra was granddaughter of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. Both were students of Bangalore Medical College and tied the knot after completing the course.
A friend of Dr Hazra said, he received an offer and pressure to settle in Bangalore and do the medical practice there but he preferred his father’s hospital in Dhanbad to pursue his career.
However, after completing his higher medical course (MD) Dr Hazra returned to Dhanbad and began service to patients in his own hospital cum residence at famous Tele-Exchange Road Purana Bazar under Bank More police station along with family.
Dr Hazra belonged to Kamarpukur Joyrambati of Bankura district in West Bengal. In 1950s private colliery owners of Gujarat appointed his father Dr CC Hazra in Dhanbad. After nationalization of the coal industry in the country, Dr C C Hazra set up the first gynecology private hospital (RC Hazra Memorial Hospital) at Telephone Exchange Road of Dhanbad in 1982.
The family members said though Dr Hazra had permanently settled in Dhanbad and made the coal belt his working place, he was in constant touch with his family members, friends and relatives in his Kamarpukur Joyrambati village. He celebrated Saraswati Puja every year on a large scale and called relatives of the village to Dhanbad on the occasion. This year ( January 26) too, several of his relatives and villagers had come to Dhanbad.
Dr Hazra was also senior vice- president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dhanbad chapter for the last two terms and actively participated in all programmes of the organization.