A DATE WITH DR PRANAB DASGUPTA

There is a special charm about Dr Pranab Dasgupta that makes his patients wax eloquent about him. Most celebrity babies in the city have been delivered by him and their mothers cannot stop talking about his expertise or his kindness. Dr Dasguptaʼs high-profile patients underscore his largesse to thousands of poor patients who have been helped by him. Questions about his silent support to the poor and the needy make him uncomfortable. He prefers to talk about advances made in the field of gynaecology and his own work in the area of IVF.

DR PRANAB DASGUPTA IS ONE OF THE CITYʼS BUSIEST DOCTORS AND HIS IVF CLINIC HAS HELPED MANY MARRIED COUPLES, WHO HAD NO HOPES OF HAVING A BABY, TO MAKE THEIR DREAMS COME TRUE. THE SILENT BENEFICIARIES OF HIS professional SKILLS HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS.

Looking back on his past, Dr Dasgupta says, “I was born in Kolkata but educated at the Bishop Cotton School in Bangalore. I returned here to study medicine and enrolled for the MBBS course at RG Kar Medical College. But because of political trouble in the State aggravated by the Naxalites, I was sent for my post-graduation to Chandigarh Medical College. Finally, once my education was completed in India, I went to England to do my MRCOG in 1977. My specialisation in gynaecology can be attributed to the fact that I happened to get the best marks in that subject. I also enjoy the company of women!”

Having spent over six years in the UK, Dr Dasgupta returned to India in 1981 to a very different environment. But he was full of dreams and hopes to be of service to his country. “I had Kolkataʼs first sonography and MRI equipments that are very expensive but absolutely necessary for neurosurgery and for some complicated gynaecology cases.”

Having worked under Dr PC Sengupta and Dr Tarun Banerjee, Pranab Dasgupta finally set up his own practice and soon became the most fashionable doctor on Park Street. As he says, “A doctor delivering babies has a huge responsibility towards the expectant parents. A baby in a family brings the biggest joy that no money can compensate. The smile on the face of the mother and father is worth all the riches of the world. All my patients are like my sisters and over time they have become very good friends. They have the freedom to call me whenever they want. I also make friends with their husbands so that they have confidence in the trust they have reposed on me. I really find talking to my patients very relaxing.”

Dr Dasgupta is very actively involved in the social life of Kolkata besides being a top ranking professional. He has been a past president of the Bengal Club, The Calcutta Cricket & Football Club and the famous East Bengal Football Club. He is a great fan of both football and cricket and never misses a match between East Bengal and Mohan Bagan if he is in town. He is also very active on the cityʼs social circuit and you will often see him attending a party after a long and tiring day. Whenever he needs to charge his batteries, he and his wife visit their daughter in England. As he says with a smile, “My most wonderful moments have always been time spent with the family on holidays when I do not have to worry about work.”

Today, Dr Pranab Dasgupta is one of the cityʼs busiest doctors and his IVF Clinic has helped many married couples, who had no hopes of having a baby, to make their dreams come true. The silent beneficiaries of his professional skills have been countless. Of course he has patients from the top echelon of society but he also has a huge following of those who come from poor homes in the districts. And he is infinitely compassionate to both these classes. Thatʼs what makes Dr Pranab Dasgupta so unique!