Noted gastro specialist Dr Chawla dies at 83
LUDHIANA:NOTED gastroenterologist Dr Livtar Singh Chawla, 83, passed away at the Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), on Friday, after a prolonged illness.
Born on September 27, 1934, in Gujranwala (now Pakistan), Dr Chawla was the founder vicechancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in Faridkot from July 1998 to December 1999.
He studied at the Colony High School in Nangal and, later, the Doaba College from 1949 to 1951. He graduated from the Amritsar Medical College and got an MD degree in 1961, before doing his fellowship from England in 1968.
The principal of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, from January 1986 to August 1994, he also remained a member of the Medical Council of India from 1988 to 1993. The Central government nominated him again from 1995 to 2005.
As part of his professional commitments, he presented papers and attended conferences around the world. In 1992, he received the prestigious Dr BC Roy National Award for his services as an eminent medical teacher. He also became the national president of the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development.
In 2008, he was the key figure in the organisation of the World Congress of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) in New Delhi.
Ayurveda exponent Dr R Vatsyayan said, “He was a hard-core allopathic doctor, but he respected other systems of medicine.”
His elder brother Joginder Singh said, “He was not only my brother, but my best friend, as we were just four years apart. He always helped the needy.” His cremation will be held on September 2 (Sunday) at 11am at the crematorium to the rear of the Kundan Vidya Mandir School, Civil Lines, Ludhiana.