Dr. Angshuman Ganguly, a reputed young doctor in his 80's is practicing the art of acupuncture and healing his patients for the last 50 years!
An amazing personality with loads of energy and wit to deal his patient. Had he been a true professional inclined to make money, he would have made himself rich with all his expertise. But no, he believes that all the patients whether rich or poor should be treated same, when they come to him.

He sits in a small dispensary provided by Fatima Church in central Kolkata. He would patiently listen to the problems of his patients and then decide on the treatment schedule for them. He never favours a false hope. If he feels it's not something that Acupuncture can treat then he would politely tell them that this is not possible. My interaction with him in the last three months has amazed me by his empathy towards his patients and the energy level with which he single handedly provides the acupuncture session to around 20-25 patients every evening.

The present art of Acupuncture was discovered around seven thousand years ago in China. A warrior, struck by an arrow in battle became aware of numbness that had nothing to do with his wound. From this it was assumed that by penetrating the skin at certain points, a number of diseases could apparently be cured. In older days the therapists used stone  needles, fish bones or thorns which was later replaced by gold and silver needles. Today acupuncturists use specially processed sterilized stainless steel needles which they claim are neutral. In Chinese philosophy, there exists in our body, twin flows of energy called Yin & Yang. Yang is positive stimulating force in Man & Nature. Yin, by contrast is passive and is almost negative in influence. Acupuncture treats the body as a human circuit and for good health and well being to be maintained successfully. The equilibrium of Yin & Yang must be maintained in the body.

The story goes back to the Sino Japanese war when the Chinese Govt. requested the Indian leaders to send some doctors to treat the war patients.  Dr. Bijoy Kumar Basu was sent to China for relief work where he witnessed acupuncture and fell in love with this oriental treatment.  There were five doctors who visited China, among whom were  like Dr Kotnis, Dr. Bijoy Basu, Dr Atal & Dr Cholka.         Dr. Basu learnt it and brought it back to India. With him there was only one practitioner of Acupuncture in Bengal -  Dr. Angshuman Ganguly, who is still leading the practice in a genuine manner. Dr. Ganguly has now seen a huge number of patients and treated them. There are hundreds and more patients who flock to Dr Ganguly's clinic at Fatima center. Some suffer with nerve ailment, some with Parkinson's disease, some with bone problem, others with a spondalytis , some with gastric ulcer, some with tumors and many other diseases which I cannot spell or know. He charges a bare minimum fee for his service and would often reduce it in case of poor patients.

Dr. Ganguly has assisted  around 50 ceasarien operations without anesthesia but with acupuncture at R.G Kar Hospital. The patient remains conscious while the operation is in progress. An electrical stimulation keeps the needles inserted in the patients body to produce an analgesic effect. He dealt with several maternity cases wherein acupuncture has helped in painless baby birth.

                            Dr Ganguly performing acupuncture to a patient before a cesarean operation

Baby taken out after operation wherein the patient was under acupuncture therapy without anesthesia.            
He performed painless Dental Reduction wherein the tooth is removed without the patient being anesthetised through acupuncture.

 Dr Ganguly putting acupuncture needles on himself before going for painless dental reduction.

These are some of the achievement of Dr. Ganguly wherein no one stands to his competition. The patients seems to have a blind faith on him. Just last week I met Mr. Pradyut Das, who came back after 17 years with his friend. He was a football player and had an injury in his right knee. Everyone had told him that he would not be able to play again. He had taken Dr. Ganguly's session and never had a complain about his leg further. He was excited to tell me that it's a miracle and he gives all credit to Dr. Ganguly, for his treatment. He has  treated personalities like Babu Jagjevan Ram, Prafulla Sen among others in his earlier years.

Dr. Ganguly has been involved in the research on  the following at Ballygaunge Science College -

• "Stabilising effects of electro acupuncture Treatment and B endorphin on Rat RBC membrane."
• "Role of Adrenal Steroids on Electro accupuncture analgesia and on antagonising potency of Naloxone".
• "Electropuncture induced changes in developing Brain in relation to analgesia and GABA system".

Dr. Ganguly's work has been widely recognised and respected in his circle. His dedication to work and the passion to serve his patients sets him apart from others. He has an honest gleam in his eyes when a patient turns up to him and says they are feeling better.

He has passed his art to his daughters Dr. Indrani Ganguly and Dr Monalisa Ganguly who has taken up the practice with the same passion as him.  His sense of humor will make the most depressed patient go out laughing. I believe in one attribute that cures a patient - A Doctor's response them!
 A kind word is the best medicine to a patient.One can find it in Dr. Angshuman's clinic and his daughters are the true harbinger of the same.

Dr. Indrani Ganguly performing acupuncture

    Dr. Monalisa Ganguly and Dr Indrani Ganguly carrying forward the legacy of healing the patients.

Dr. Ganguly never wants to promote himself. He feels good work has its own fragrance. There are people coming to him from far and wide just by word of mouth.
I tried writing a bit about his selfless work as I strongly feel that in this age of digital supremacy, everyone must know about this young Man of 80 who represents the true nature of a Doctor. He inspires us with his work! Hats off to you Sir!

Glimpses of some of the noted work, media extracts, Abstracts of the journals and the certificates of recognition to Dr, Ganguly.

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-Ranjeeta
Loves to write biographies and true inspiring stories of human contribution to the evolving world.
Also the founder of www.twaksati.com  promoting anything and everything made by hands.