A Titan Honoured: Dr. Biswambhar Rajguru receives Lifetime Achievement Award

In a moment that brought pride not just to Odisha but to the entire nation, the All India Ophthalmological Society earlier this month conferred its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on none other than Dr. Biswambhar Rajguru—a towering figure in the world of ophthalmology and an enduring symbol of service, scholarship, and selfless dedication.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

At the remarkable age of 97, Dr. Rajguru continues to inspire generations with his razor-sharp intellect, humility, and tireless commitment to public health. A living legend in every sense, Dr. Rajguru's story is the stuff of epics—born in September 1927 in the quiet town of Paralakhemundi, he rose through adversity with sheer grit, determination, and an unshakable will to serve.

Witnessing firsthand the devastating toll of cholera and smallpox on his community and even his own family, a young Rajguru was driven to pursue medicine not as a career, but as a mission. He entered SCB Medical College in Cuttack and made history by becoming the first gold medalist in MBBS from the institution—topping both medicine and ophthalmology with distinction. Such was his brilliance that each professor vied to mentor him.

It was, however, the ophthalmology department that claimed him, recognizing early on that he was destined to reshape the field.