Vinayak Nagesh Shrikhande (8 March 1931–11 October 2024)

Professor Vinayak Nagesh Shrikhande breathed his last on 11 October 2024 at his home in Mumbai – after a long and fulfilling innings as a pioneering surgeon, distinguished academician, master educator, researcher, author, orator and a thorough professional! Despite his petite size and disarmingly childlike and always pleasant smile, he was a towering personality! With a long career spanning several decades, he served as Professor of Surgery at Grant Medical College and subsequently as Professor and Head at Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences and Postgraduate Studies. He mentored and trained innumerable students many of whom head prestigious posts across the country. His dedication has been a beacon of inspiration for many. Born in the small town of Kolhapur – he moved on to Belgaum as a child and frequented his maternal home at Dombivli where the principal attraction was seeing the superfast Deccan Queen hurtling towards the big city which would make him famous! His own voyages would take him past Pune and Bombay (as it was known then) to the distant shores of England to complete the Fellowship examinations in Surgery (England and Edinburgh) in the first attempt, and he still avoided the lure of staying on there. He went on to become the Honorary Surgeon to the Governor of Maharashtra and operated on the President of India (Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma) at a time when it was fashionable for Indians with means to seek surgery abroad. He was born with a stammer and converted the inevitable ridicule to transform himself into a good listener. Hearing a lecture from the British Health Secretary to a packed hall in Mumbai – he was inspired to join public speaking lessons and never stopped speaking since, regaling audiences everywhere. He was one of the pioneers of hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery in the country and set up the Shrikhande Clinic in Dadar in October 1977 to treat patients irrespective of their financial status, advance the cause of gastrointestinal and HPB surgery, especially laparoscopic surgery, train young surgeons and host observers from around the world. Even after retirement from active surgery, he continued to consult with patients here biweekly. He wrote a bestselling book Aani dono Haath, transcribed in English as Reflections of a surgeon, a delightful narrative with anecdotes. The blurb described it as ‘part AJ Cronin, part Gray’s Anatomy and interestingly part philosophy, part Indian value education and part spiritualism’! The editor-in-chief of this journal (Prof Samiran Nundy) aptly wrote on the foreword to the English version of the book –… full of optimism and gratitude for what life has given to the author – work when young, guidance and protection from mistakes during operations, a disdain for money and ‘good health to enjoy the evening of his life’. He describes it as ‘This philosophical anecdotal and charming autobiography celebrates a life all his colleagues in the medical profession as well as his countrymen should be proud of’. The book won Marathi literary awards; it as well as available as an audiobook on All India Radio. He was the founder and president of the Indian Chapter of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) which he helped cobble together with an interested group of surgeons and physicians, especially Prof P Jagannath. It is my proud privilege to be the baton holder of this position currently and have always been inspired and impressed with his disarming humility, basic honesty, common sense approach to problems and deep sense of ethical values. He is the perfect embodiment of everything a surgeon should be. At last count, he had given more than twenty orations, each peppered with real-life anecdotes showing mistakes which helped us learn – completely opposite to the frequent chest-thumping alpha male surgical personalities seen in most conferences now! For me, a special moment with him was to be a part of the 2-day festschrift conference at Mumbai a decade ago, celebrating his operative career by surgical celebrities from India and abroad. A recipient of innumerable awards, it never seemed to affect his sense of modesty and simplicity. His surgical legacy lives on through his countless students including those within the family – son-in-law Anand Nande and illustrious son Shailesh who continued past the presidency of the Indian chapter to hold several coveted international posts in the IHPBA and is a part of several important consensus documents. This endearing personality will be deeply missed by all yet we should celebrate it as a life lived well. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.