AN UNUSUAL FAMILY OF DOCTORS

Kanahiya Lal Jain (KLJ) was born in 1908 in Firozpur Jhirka – a small dusty town in Punjab (now Haryana) currently about 90 minutes’ drive from Gurgaon – but he was clearly destined for bigger things in the service of society.

- By Krishan Kalra

Our man studied medicine – not sure from where – and in 1933 joined as Medical Officer, Children’s Free Dispensary, founded by Lala Shri Ram ji, near Hauz Qazi police station. He would later set up his own clinic at Gole Market. The brusque young man, abrupt and to the point – known as one with no patience for small talk – yet a great doctor and with a philanthropic bent of mind, soon became famous. Being probably the first paediatrician in Delhi; his practice blossomed quickly and soon there was a second clinic in Kamla Nagar and, much later, in Defence Colony.

Meanwhile, a son born to him in the year he moved to Delhi – Krishan Mohan (KM) – followed in his footsteps. Krishan Mohan went to Jaipur Medical College, was a diligent student, excelled in studies, specialised in paediatrics and worked in the UK for a few years after completing his studies there. He didn’t want to settle abroad and was keen to return and join his father’s practice. Delhi, a rapidly growing city with the huge influx of refugees from Pakistan had a burgeoning middle class population and families were forever looking for ‘a good child specialist’.

Service to the Less Fortunate

As a pioneer, KLJ was appointed Paediatrician to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Prime Minister’s House to look after Indira Gandhi’s children and also by a few embassies. He became founder member of the Delhi State chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatricians; was awarded Fellowship of the Indian Institute of General Practitioners (FCCP) and believed strongly in ‘service to the less fortunate’ rather than personal gain.