I joined the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute (GCRI), Ahmedabad in 1983. Dr. M. T. Bhatia was the Head of the Anaesthesia Department. Therefore, I am an eyewitness to the movement to start Pain and Palliative Care in India, which was led by Dr. Keshav Pandey, Dr. Akram Lal, and Dr. M.T. Bhatia. In 1987, many “Training of Trainers Programmes” (TTPs) were held across India in collaboration with WHO.
Two institutes were actively involved in these trainings: the Department of Anaesthesia, GCRI, and the Department of Anaesthesia, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. As a lecturer in the former department, I witnessed leaders like Dr. Keshav Pandey, Dr. M. T. Bhatia, Dr. Akram Lal, and Dr. Virendra Rastogi working with WHO representatives to initiate the acceptance and spread of Palliative Care in India. I also witnessed the formation of IAPC at Varanasi and its subsequent registration in Ahmedabad in 1994.
Dr. Akram Lal was an excellent physician with an approachable personality and great dedication to Anaesthesia, Pain Management, and Palliative Care. He was a backbone of ISA and one of the founding members of ISSP and IAPC. He served in various capacities in all three associations. I humbly pray that God grants sadgati to his soul to attain moksha. I am sure his legacy will continue to guide us in future endeavors in palliative care.