Long live Tapan da!!

This is not what I had envisioned! Yes, I used to wonder who would be the next IAP personality (after Naveen) to don the cover page of Pediascene? Believe me, only one name used to come in mind and that was Tapan Ghosh. Such was the attachment, affection, and proximity I enjoyed with him. Though of late, I was not in regular touch with him and my name was not there in the list of his close confidants. Communication gap? May be a temporary phase of our long relationship. But somewhere deep down inside, we both used to respect and value our association. The fellow who has written the following obituary is 100 percent right when he/she describes Tapan da as a ‘cordial’, ‘loving’  and ‘kind hearted’ person. Anyone who knew him would instantly discover what these adjectives indeed mean. Quite admittedly, he was not a great academician but his penchant for publishing books, journals, bulletins was commendable and rather infectious. And he knew this ‘craft’ quite meticulously. There was hardly any meeting where he had not conveyed his great fondness for this very publication.

So friends, Tapan da is there at the cover. For the first and probably for the last time. But as I said in the beginning, this is not what I had wished, not even in my wildest dreams! A great promise cut short by the cruel fate. What else can we say!    

-Vipin M. Vashistha

Obituary:

We all pediatricians across India and neighboring countries deeply mourn for the  extremely sad and untimely demise of our beloved Dr Tapan Kumar Ghosh on 6 November 2009 at 8 am in Goa. He was 56 years and has left behind his wife, two daughters, son-in-law and many friends and well-wishers.

His all round contribution to Indian Academy of Pediatrics was immense. In brief following were his achievements and associations.

Scientific Coordinator in Institute of Child heath Kolkata: His passion for constant work benefited the institute to develop the academics and create state of art infrastructural facilities to provide quality healthcare facilities to the children at affordable cost.

IAP assignments: He was the Chairperson, IAP Infectious Diseases Chapter 2006-2007, President, Indian Academy of Pediatrics, West Bengal Branch, 2007, Past President,  IAP East Zone Coordination Committee, 2005, Jt. Secretary. IAP Central Committee, 2004, etc. He took initiative in developing journals like Indian Journal of Growth.  Development and Behavioral Pediatrics where he was the Editor-in-Chief and associations like Association for Prevention and Control of Rabies in India (APCRI) where he was the founder secretary. He was member of the IAP committee of immunization.  He conducted many CMEs/workshops/conferences on vaccines, infectious disease throughout his tenure.

He had edited and authored many text books, monographs and articles in various infectious disease areas, vaccines, etc. which had a wide acceptance amongst practicing pediatricians and post graduates.

A good academician and very dynamic personality, very kind hearted human being. His extensive work in IAP has made a permanent imprint in the heart of pediatricians across the country. He was the strength of the pillar for IAP WB and IAP East zone, and united the IAP East Zone under one umbrella. He sacrificed his life for the IAP activities, a true selfless IAPian rare to find nowadays.

The cordial and loving nature of Dr Tapan Kumar Ghosh has developed a good unity amongst the pediatricians across different states of India and the neighboring countries, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal etc.

Our sincere prayer towards his peaceful rest at the heavenly abode.
Tapan Da really lived a life for all of us and our last salute to him.

We all united would fulfill his vision for a glorified IAP.