'Bandra boy' who was man of medicine and immense heart

MUMBAI: He spent his final days guiding medical students through patient care and mentoring them as he had done for decades, even as he lost his battle to cancer.

- Aditi Shekar

On Saturday, Dr Rashid Merchant, 79, died in home care, leaving an irreplaceable void in Mumbai's paediatric community and in the hearts of all who learnt from him.

Dr Merchant's contribution to paediatrics was monumental. In the 1980s, he played a pivotal role in establishing the neonatal department at the Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital, a critical addition for a hospital that treated 18,000 patients a year. The department evolved into a centre of excellence in the care of premature babies and a beacon for paediatricians and gynaecologists across the city.

“He was a force to reckon with and a father figure to me. His life revolved around teach-

ing and learning, and all his students will be forever grateful to him for that,” said Dr Samir Dalwai, a paediatrician and former student of Dr Merchant.