SKS
Physician

Santosh Kumar Sen

Born 21 October 1910 · verify

First Indian surgeon elected Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Santosh Kumar Sen was an Indian surgeon and the president of the Association of Surgeons of India. He was the first Indian surgeon to be elected to the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Sen trained under Lorenz Böhler in Vienna, a pioneer of trauma surgery, before joining Irwin Hospital in 1938 as its first honorary consultant surgeon.

The Story

1
In 1938, Santosh Kumar Sen returned from Vienna and joined Irwin Hospital, New Delhi, as its first honorary consultant surgeon, marking a pivotal moment in Indian surgical history.
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🌍 During his time in Vienna, Sen trained under the famous surgeon Lorenz Böhler, gaining cutting-edge expertise in trauma surgery rarely accessible to Indians before independence.
3In 1959, Sen became president of the Association of Surgeons of India, steering professional standards in surgery during a critical post-colonial transition period.
4🏥 He was instrumental in founding Maulana Azad Medical College and served as the first honorary faculty surgeon, shaping postgraduate surgical education in Delhi.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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🔍 One thing most people don't know

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Sen was the first Indian surgeon elected to the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, a distinction not common for Indians in the mid-20th century.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Born in Delhi
Santosh Kumar Sen was born on October 21, 1910, in Delhi, India.
1910
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Career
Joined Irwin Hospital as honorary consultant
Upon returning from Vienna, Sen joined Irwin Hospital, New Delhi, as its first honorary consultant surgeon.
1938
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Career
President of Association of Surgeons of India
Sen served as the president of the Association of Surgeons of India, guiding surgical standards nationally.
1959
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Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
The Government of India honored Sen with the Padma Bhushan for his work in surgery.
1962
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Death
Passed away
Santosh Kumar Sen died in 1979, leaving behind a legacy in Indian surgical education.
1979
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🗝️Discoveries

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01 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

He trained in Vienna under Lorenz Böhler, famed for pioneering trauma surgery, before World War II, which was an unusual international exposure for an Indian surgeon at the time.

02 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

At Irwin Hospital, Sen was the first honorary consultant surgeon, a role signifying both prestige and responsibility in pre-independence Delhi's medical system.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

He was a founder member of the Delhi Surgical Society and led the Delhi Medical Association, which is among the oldest medical associations globally.

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🌱 What changed because of them

Santosh Kumar Sen helped establish Maulana Azad Medical College as a center for surgical education, shaping generations of Indian surgeons. His presidency of the Association of Surgeons of India and leadership in multiple medical societies influenced the development of surgical standards and medical governance in Delhi and nationally. His election to the Royal College of Surgeons of England fellowship marked a breakthrough for Indian surgeons on the global stage.

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