In bustling emergency rooms, quiet rural clinics, and high-pressure operating theatres across India, doctors show up—day after day—not just with clinical expertise, but with courage, compassion, and an unspoken promise to be there when it matters most. While many of us mark our calendars for festivals and family milestones, doctors live by a different clock, one dictated by the unpredictable rhythm of patient needs.
This Doctors’ Day, we step beyond the stethoscope to witness the lived realities of India’s caregivers—their sacrifices, their stories, and the quiet resolve that fuels their purpose.
Answering the Call, Every Time
When the world slows down for festivities, weddings, or birthdays, doctors often find themselves trading personal moments for a call to duty.
“Heart attacks strike at midnight, during storms, or in the middle of personal crises. But in those moments, the call to save a life takes precedence over everything else,” says Dr. Y V C Reddy, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. “We don’t have the luxury to pause, because every second we act, we offer someone another chance at life.”
Dr. V S R Bhupal, senior interventional cardiologist at Capital Hospital, Vijayawada, recalls getting ready for a family function when an emergency struck. “It was a high-stakes case that couldn’t wait,” he says. “I stayed back. Missing that moment was hard, but seeing the patient survive reminded me why I chose this path.”
For many, these choices are quiet but profound reflections of a deeper promise—a promise they make to every patient who places their trust in them.
Dr. Sudheer Koganti, Senior Cardiologist at Citizens Hospital, Hyderabad, shares the memory of missing his son’s school performance because a patient arrived with a life-threatening condition. “Explaining that to my son wasn’t easy,” he admits. “But I also knew another family would get to keep their loved one that day. That knowledge keeps you going, even when it’s hard.”
Festivals Deferred, Lives Saved
For many doctors, festivals often come and go in the corridors of a hospital.
Dr. Niranjan Hiremath, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, remembers one Diwali when family rituals took a back seat to an emergency. “Just as we were about to begin our Diwali puja, I got a call about a Type A aortic dissection—a life-threatening condition,” he shares. “We operated through the night. That’s the nature of emergency care—you don’t get to choose your moments, you just respond.”
These stories of postponed celebrations and missed milestones are not exceptions, but woven into the daily reality of doctors, embraced as part of the calling they have chosen.
From a Career to a Calling
So, what keeps doctors going through these unending demands?
“It’s not just about treating illness—it’s about restoring hope,” says Dr. Koganti. “What motivates me even today is the look of relief on a patient’s face, the gratitude in their eyes, and the quiet confidence they place in us.”
Dr. Amit Bhushan Sharma, Director and Unit Head of Interventional Cardiology at Paras Hospital, Gurgaon, sums it up: “Yes, I’ve missed birthdays, anniversaries, and festivals. But when you see a patient’s heart stabilise, you understand the gravity of what we do.”
For many, this sense of duty has deep roots. Dr. Hiremath recalls watching his grandfather, a small-town physician, work tirelessly, often skipping meals to attend to those in need. “That quiet consistency shaped my understanding of what it means to serve,” he reflects.
The Privilege of Trust
Every emergency brings pressure, but it also brings the profound privilege of trust.
“Every patient is someone’s parent, child, or sibling. When you help save a life, you’re not just helping one person—you’re impacting an entire family,” says Dr. Reddy. Recalling missed family milestones and festive gatherings, he adds, “It’s not easy. But when a patient’s family tells you that you’re in their prayers, it’s humbling.”
A Salute to the Silent Sacrifices
There is a reason doctors hold a sacred space in Indian society. It is not just their expertise, but the countless quiet sacrifices they make—the celebrations missed, the personal crises deferred, the emotions they set aside—to be strong for others.
This Doctors’ Day, let us look beyond the white coat and the confident demeanour. Let us honour the long nights, the missed milestones, and the quiet strength it takes to carry the hopes and lives of others.
To every doctor who has ever placed a patient’s life above their own—to every doctor who has stood at the threshold between life and loss with steady hands and a compassionate heart—we see you, we thank you, and we celebrate you.