Padma awardee Dr Dawar, renowned for treating patients for nominal fee, passes away at 79

Padma Shri awardee Dr Munishwar Chandra Dawar, renowned for treating patients for a nominal fee of Rs 20, died on Friday at the age of 79, his kin said here.

He died due to age-related ailments and his last rites were held at 4pm at Gupteshwar Muktidham in the midst of a large number of admirers, including fellow doctors and people who had been treated by him over the years.

''The news of the death of Padma Shri Dr. MC Dawar is very sad. This is an irreparable loss not only for Jabalpur but for the entire state. May God grant his soul a place in his lotus feet,'' Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said in a post on X.

Recollecting his recent meeting with Dawar, the CM said he was deeply inspired by his dedication to public service.

''Your demise has left a deep void in the field of human service and public welfare,'' Yadav said.

Jabalpur MP Rakesh Singh, in a post on X, said, ''The news of the demise of Padmashri Dr. M.C. Dawar, the famous doctor who treated the poor for two rupees, the pride of Jabalpur, is extremely sad. His demise is an irreparable loss in the field of social service.'' Dr. Dawar was born on January 16, 1946 in Punjab province in Pakistan. His family moved to India during Partition and he completed his MBBS from Jabalpur Medical College in 1967.

He served in the Indian Army for about a year in 1971 during the Indo-Pak war, before returning to Jabalpur in 1972 to start a medical practice that soon became famous for providing treatment for sums as low as Rs 2. Over the years, the fee rose to Rs 5, Rs 10 and Rs 15 before settling at Rs 20, a boon for patients in the time of expensive medical treatment.

He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2023.

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