Dibrugarh: As India observes National Doctors’ Day on July 1, in memory of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, Dibrugarh celebrates its own unsung hero — a 67‑year‑old surgeon known as the “bike doctor”. A 67-year-old surgeon who threads through morning traffic on an ageing motorcycle, rushing from one emergency to another long before most residents have had their first cup of tea.Dr Sarbeswar Bhuyan, professor of general surgery at Assam Medical College & Hospital (AMCH), has spent 35 years earning a reputation built on work, not publicity — one rooted in the belief that medicine is a calling, not a business. Earlier this year, Dibrugarh University honoured him with an honorary Doctor of Science degree, but colleagues say his real recognition has always come from the people he treats.His day begins at 7 am and often stretches past midnight. At AMCH, he sees more than 100 patients a day, then rides to four private hospitals across the city. In emergencies, he is known to leave his motorcycle wherever it stops and sprint straight to the operation theatre.“Traffic in Dibrugarh can be unpredictable, and at his age, most doctors would have switched to a car long ago. But he insists the bike helps him move faster between hospitals. For him, every minute saved is a life possibly saved,” says Pranab Kakati, a hospital administrator who has worked with Dr Bhuyan for years.Kakati, who has spent two decades in healthcare administration, says he has rarely seen this level of commitment. “I have watched him get off the bike and run inside the operation theatre the moment a critical case arrives. He treats every patient — regardless of their economic status — with the same care and respect. If someone cannot pay, he waives his fees and operates anyway. He never seeks credit. He is an inspiration.”His approach to fees sets him apart. While consultations with senior specialists often cost thousands of rupees, Dr Bhuyan charges Rs 50. For patients who cannot afford treatment, he waives even his surgery fees — asking nothing for procedures that would cost thousands elsewhere.“I have seen him operate on patients for free, absorbing the cost himself rather than turning anyone away,” said a fellow physician. “He rarely talks about himself or his work. Ask him about a difficult surgery and he will simply nod and move on to the next patient.”Born in Sivasagar on Dec 1, 1958, Dr Bhuyan completed his MBBS from Assam Medical College in 1981 and his MS in surgery in 1986. He joined AMCH in 1990 and has since performed thousands of surgeries, averaging five to 10 operations a day, spanning routine procedures and complex emergencies — while staying away from the limelight.“He doesn’t need people to know his name or praise his work. He is a man of very few words,” says a junior colleague who has assisted him. “You will not hear him speak of his achievements. His satisfaction comes from a patient’s recovery and a family’s relief. That is the only recognition he wants.”On a day dedicated to celebrating doctors across India, those who know Dr Bhuyan say his motorcycle rides, his Rs 50 consultation fee, his willingness to waive charges for the poor, and his silence about it all speak for themselves — telling the story of a man who has quietly redefined service.
Dr Sarbeswar Bhuyan, professor of general surgery at Assam Medical College & Hospital (AMCH), has spent 35 years earning a reputation built on work
Dr Sarbeswar Bhuyan, professor of general surgery at Assam Medical College & Hospital (AMCH), has spent 35 years earning a reputation built on work
