A TRIBUTE TO Dr. BASANTA LALL

A Tribute to Dr. Basanta Lall

(published in the NEGAAS Newsletter 1999)

(Dr. Basanta Lall Shrestha was the founder President of NEGAAS, and a renowned Physician and Ultrasonologist of Nepal. His sad demise on 10th June 1999 in Bangkok Thailand while on a vacation trip with his family was the most unfortunate incident. His untimely demise has been a great loss to NEGAAS and to the medical world. This article is a small endeavor to pay tribute to him for his tremendous contribution.) 

My first meeting with Basanta Lall was in October 1995 at a reception hosted by the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst/German Academic Exchange Service) in hotel Shankar. I had then just returned after completing my M.E. from Germany. At the very first meeting, I was dazzled by the brilliant qualities of this kind-hearted man – so polite in attitude and warm in behavior; he whole-heartedly invited me to be a part of NEGAAS and contribute to it. Soon after this comfortable event, we had chances to meet regularly – mostly in the executive board meetings of NEGAAS, every now and then at the reception held by the DAAD, Goethe Institute and the German Embassy, quite frequently in many seminars, talk programme and cultural activities. Every time and everywhere  I met Basanta Lall, I found him pleasant, cool and confident. It appeared as if not a single day of his life had passed without an accomplishment and a generous act.  I came to know Basanta Lall only for 4 years, he lived a short and a sweet life. "Great people live in deeds and not in years", this is exactly what I would like to say seeing the life of Basanta Lall. Basanta Lall's life has been a unique and inspiring one. After receiving a Medical Degree from the renowned Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg and having a Post Graduate training on Ultrasound in Medicine from Dusseldorf Germany, he acquired priceless experiences in the German Hospitals, before returning to his own motherland to serve the needy people. In his professional realm, Basanta Lall was not only a doctor, but also a brilliant combination of researcher, pioneering entrepreneur and social-worker. Besides serving the Ultrasonic Department of Tribhuvan University Teaching hospital, Military Hospital and the Thapathali Maternity Hospital as the chief personnel, Basanta Lall set an example as a pioneering entrepreneur in the field of Ultrasonic Diagnostic. He was the first medical practitioner in Nepal to establish an Ultrasonic Diagnostic and Research Centre adding a new dimension in the medical history of Nepal. Since 1983, he not only served the society with his technical expertise in the ultrasonic field, but also trained numerous physicians on Diagnostic Ultrasound and conducted research in this field in collaboration with RONAST. Basanta Lall was an equally popular medical practitioner among the foreigners living in Nepal (especially the Germans) as with the fellow Nepalese. He was also known as "Arzt der Deutschen Botschaft", meaning "The doctor of the German Embassy". Within his professional career, he contributed several publications and presented papers in prestigious journals, conferences and symposiums, both at national and international level. As the honorary member of Nepalese society of Obstetrics and gynaecology, an executive member of Nepal Health Research Council and as an Advisor of Chhetrapati free clinic, he contributed tremendously to the health and welfare of the Nepalese Community. Many of Basanta Lall's works might have served as benchmark, making him a legend in the Nepal Medical Society. I am sure the medical society is proud of and grateful to him for his contributions.    Basanta Lall had a heart of gold in the matter of charity and generosity – which cannot be written in words alone. Seeing the need of the poor and underprivileged, he had provided medical check-up for such patients at a subsidized rate and for some he even waved the fees whole-heartedly. As far as I know, all the members of NEGAAS had been served free ultrasonic investigation at his Ultrasonic Diagnostic Centre of Chhetrapati. For all his divine qualities he was admired by all who knew him. Basanta Lall was the mastermind in conceptualizing, forming and running the Nepal German Academic Association (NEGAAS), the first ever established academic association of Nepalese nationals – who had completed their post-graduate degree from German Universities. NEGAAS, on one hand, gave the opportunity for social/cultural educational promotion through monthly gathering, talk programme, lectures, seminars and publications and, on the other hand, encouraged the exchange progammme between Germany and Nepal. In this way NEGAAS played a vital role in representing the Germany-Graduate Nepalese academicians in an united and organized front to contribute to the society through their professionalism. As a NEGAAS Vice-President, Basanta Lall sincerely served the association for several years –contributing more than anyone else by providing his valuable time and resource, In my eyes, Basanta Lall was not only an architect of NEGAAS, but also its genuine promoter and preserver – who gave life and soul to it. One of the remarkable events worth mentioning is the State visit of the then German President Professor Dr. Roman Herzog to Nepal in the year 1996 upon the royal invitation by the late King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya. During this precious event Basanta Lall played the key role in organizing a half-day seminar with the German President – giving all the NEGAAS members the golden opportunity for interaction. Basanta Lall also took the incentive in publishing special edition of the NEGAAS Newsletter highlighting their visit. NEGAAS presented a marvelous wood-carved sculpture of the Hindu Goddess NawaDurga to Mrs. and Dr. Herzog as a token of appreciation- which we later came to know was given a special place in a German museum - exhibiting the Nepalese handicraft. In this way Basanta Lall helped enhance the image of NEGAAS – adding a new dimension. In his personal life, Basanta Lall always believed in simplicity. In his attitude, he was always friendly, sincere, social and co-operative. Anyone would be impressed by his generosity and courtesy. In every gathering, he used to play dynamic role and was always a enthusiastic person. As and when the executive board meeting of  NEGAAS was held at his Chhetrapati clinic, I recall Basanta Lall serving tea and snacks to all the members with his own hands. Each time he invited us to his home for dinner, I remember him serving his guests by himself. I found his heart so magnanimous, his spirits so high and his mind so pious. "Behind every successful man there is a woman's hand." This aphorism is equally true in Basanta Lall's life. It would be our utter ignorance, if we were not to appreciate Mrs. Dr. Roshana's contributions, which led her husband peaks of success and popularity. Though her contributions are hidden, they are no doubt significant and momentous. Despite attaining the highest academic award from Germany and being professionally competent, Dr. Roshana sacrificed her professional career and happily dedicated herself as a housewife for the well being of her family. My respect knows no bound to such a great lady. Personally I consider Basanta Lall not only a reputed doctor, entrepreneur, a social person and a friend nearly 20 years senior to me in age, but also as a brother. Had I not met this great soul in my life, I would have been deprived of one of the blessings in my life. In a short span, I could learn so much from his professional as well as personal life, much of which have given me new insight into life and understand life to its depth that a cherished and immortal life is the one which does not live for ones own success and prosperity, but for the welfare and happiness of others. My attachment with Basanta Lall gives me the feeling that blood relations are not always the strongest. Even though "Blood is thicker than water", certain bonds surpass the blood relations. I consider Basanta Lall a brother whom I respect so much. I received so much love, kindness and understanding from him in such a short duration of being together with him that every time I sit down to think on the past moments I shared with him, my eart gets filled with joy. This unique combination of love and respect keeps the memories of Basanta Lall ever alive in my mind and soul.