Dr K K Aggarwal: Healthcare messiah to millions embodied service with smile

Padma Shree awardee and former national president of the Indian Medical Association Dr KK Aggarwal has passed away after battling Covid-19 for several days at New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Dr Aggarwal, 62, died at 11.30 pm on Monday “after a lengthy battle with Covid”, said an official statement on his Twitter account. He had taken both vaccine doses.

“Ever since he became a doctor, Padma Shri Dr KK Aggarwal has dedicated his life to the welfare of the public and raising health awareness. Even during the pandemic, he made constant efforts to educate the masses and was able to reach out to over 100 million people through numerous videos and educational programs and saved countless lives,” said the statement.

A towering figure in the field of medicine, he was known across the country and loved by commoners and celebrities alike. While his family in the statement said that Dr Aggarwal wanted his life to be celebrated on not his demise to be mourned, the outpouring of grief on social media has been unprecedented.

Thousands and thousands of doctors, politicians, journalists and people from all walk of life are sharing their condolence messages – that stand testimony of how many lives Dr Aggarwal did touch during his long and illustrious career as a medical professional.

Former president of Medical Council of India and the President 2016 of the World Medical Association, Dr Ketan Desai remembered Dr Agarwal as a rare individual with amazing blend of qualities of head and heart. “By virtue of his commitment, devotion and dedication he had made a unique mark for himself. It was his passion for profession and unstinted dedication for the society that In him IMA has lost a valiant warrior, profession has lost a devoted professional and society has lost an excellent human being. Frankly speaking I have lost forever a dependable personal friend of all weathers and seasons. The void so created by his loss would remain unfilled for all times to come,” he said in a condolence message.

On twitter, KK Aggarwal’s name was trending amid huge number of tributes pouring in from all parts of the world.
Dentist Dr Sumit Dubey wrote, “I have personally consulted him for many of my patients and he was just a call away and appointment was always just a thought away. Smiling, cheerful, fearless and ever supportive. RIP Legend.”

Dr Jagadish, founder of ACE Healthcare, said, “KK Agarwal sir will be fondly remembered. We met only twice but he left a lasting impression. He has left an inspiring life behind for us to emulate. Thank you Sir for being who you were.”

Journalist Aneesha Bedi outlined how Dr Aggarwal impacted lives of even those who couldn’t meet him ever. She stated, “My mother is most upset about Dr KK Agarwal’s demise. She would watch his videos rather sincerely only to share them later on our family group. Besides those he helped, you know someone was a true warrior when he’s remembered by those whom he didn’t even impact directly.”

Businessperson Mimi Mohanty from Orissa wrote, “With the prayers of millions…I thought Dr Aggarwal would recover soon! It’s feels like a personal loss. Rest in peace Sir! And thank you for helping many of us when we needed the most!”

Such was Dr Aggarwal’s commitment towards his cause of helping people through medical advice that even after having contracted Covid-19, he was seen LIVE on Facebook while being on oxygen support via nasal cannula.

His unwavering support to the cause of common people, makes him an unforgettable figure in the history of Indian medical fraternity.

And as he said in his last facebook live, barely two weeks ago, “the show must go on to help as many as possible…”