Book throws new light on Indian medical mission to China

Nearly 85 years after a five-member medical mission of doctors went to China, a new book throws a new light on the phenomenon and brings Indian scholars and Chinese diplomats on one platform.

Kolkata

Nearly 85 years after a five-member medical mission of doctors went to China, a new book throws a new light on the phenomenon and brings Indian scholars and Chinese diplomats on one platform.

During the launch of the book titled Indian Medical Mission to China earlier this month authored by historian Amalendu De, Chinese Consul General in Kolkata Zha Liyou described the team of five-member medical mission as “Chinese Generals from India” and “the bravest and heroic story across borders”.

In 1938 Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose joined hands to send the five-member Indian medical mission to China, to fight side by side with the People’s Liberation Army in China’s struggle for freedom. The book provides details on how the five doctors came to help the people of China.

“The medical mission of five Indian doctors fought alongside the Chinese Communist Party and one of them Dr. Dwarakanath Kotnis died on Chinese soil and in combat. The Indian Medical Mission to this day remains etched in the memory of Chinese people. Translating and publishing this book had been a great experience,” Sunandan Roy Chowdhury Publisher, SAMPARK publishing house, Kolkata, said.

Describing Dr Kotnis as a ‘great friend to the Chinese people’ and one of greatest sons of India the Consul General said that the ‘Chinese Edition’ of the book is in process.

The book does not only deal with the sacrifice of Dr. Kotnis but also about the contribution of other members of the team particularly Bijoy Kumar Basu who was part of the mission .Mrigendranath Gantait, who is president of Dwarkanath Kotnis Memorial Committee, West Bengal, said that after the India China border conflict of 1962 when relations between the two countries had hit the lowest, China had invited Bijoy Kumar Basu to learn acupuncture, an ancient practice of traditional Chinese medicine.