ABOUT THE FOUNDER: DR. N.K. AGARWALA

Dr. N.K. Agarwala was born in Kamarbandha Ali, Golaghat on 29-03-1938. He did his schooling from Kamarbandha High School and later completed his MBBS from Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh in the year 1965. He then opened a pharmacy named Drug House in Dibrugarh and started general practice there. This pharmacy has since grown into a big business house. In 1965 he went to United Kingdom for further education. He earned the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from Liverpool in 1968. He then earned the degree of D.L.O from London in 1972 and F.R.C.S. from Edinburgh in 1974. After having worked for about a decade in Inverness and Edinburgh, he returned to Assam to serve its people. He then set up his ENT clinic in Bharalumukh, Guwahati in the year 1977. His practice flourished and soon he was recognized as a proficient and well renowned doctor in the field of ENT. His fame and recognition grew over the years and soon he was considered to be one of the leading ENT specialists and surgeons of the state. The clinic that he set up in Bharalumukh was soon overwhelmed with patients and he was finding it difficult to accommodate the large numbers. He also realized that the city needed a specialist ENT hospital. Hence, he decided to construct his own hospital. He laid the foundation stone of his hospital in the year 1989. NIGHTINGALE HOSPITAL was thus born.

Dr. N.K. Agarwala was one of the leading ENT specialists in the entire state of Assam. Though he was an ENT surgeon, he had varied experience of working in Renal Transplantation Unit, Ophthalmology etc. He was one those few who had popularized Micro Ear Surgery and Rhinoplasty in Assam. He excelled in his profession and was a well renowned and respected member in his field. He had an amazing gift of talent with gentleness. His patients, to this day, fondly remember their meetings with him. The way he was able to make a patient feel better just by being in his presence is well renowned. He always took great care in the treatment of his patients and personally devoted for their well being. His humility towards his patients was one of the salient features of his practice. He was awarded with many titles and honors by various individuals and organizations. He was actively involved with the Medical Practioners Association. He was the Vice-President of the Northeastern branch of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India (AOI).

Dr. N.K. Agarwala was a compassionate and humble person. Though gifted with many talents and adulations, he was always the personification of kindness and generosity. His talents were far stretched beyond the field of medical profession. Amongst his many passions Magic was foremost. He was always fascinated by the world of magic and since early in his life he learned to perform magic. Over the years his reputation as a premiere magician grew. Though a true student of medicine by heart, he never let his passion for magic diminish. He became one of the forerunners of the community of magic in the state of Assam. He became an honorary member of the Association of Magical Arts of India. He used to perform live shows for the public on a grand stage. He performed magic in many countries including Japan and the USA. He was awarded the honorary title of JADU BHASKAR by the Brotherhood of Magicians of India. He was also a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. It is rare for an individual to reach the heights of two different fields, even rarer when the two fields are as different as medicine and magic, but he was one such gifted person who excelled in both these fields. Indeed, he had magical hands both on and off the operating table.

Dr. N.K. Agarwala was an avid social worker and was well respected by the society. He was member of many prestigious clubs and associations of the state. He was a past President of the Rotary Club of Guwahati south. He was also acknowledged in the field of literature. He was actively involved with the All Assam Navin Lekhak-Lekhika samaroh and the Assam Sahitya Sabha. He was felicitated by the Honorable Governor of Assam, Shri L.N. Mishra in June, 1994 on the Bishnu Rava Diwas. In 1987, he wrote an Assamese novel “AIYA JANO PRATIKHYA” which was lauded and praised by all.

Dr. N.K. Agarwala passed away on 19-10-95 at the age of 57 from cancer. His sudden demise was a shock and heartbreaking to not only his family, but also to the community as a whole. It felt as the society had lost a prominent doctor amongst them as well as an exceptional person who lived a glorious and passionate life. He is fondly remembered by all and though it is hard to fill his boots by any individual, his glory and legacy lives on.