Why Dr. Dash Deserves
This National Honour

Dr. Dash has performed approximately 90,000 cardiac interventions across 35 years — covering every subspecialty of modern cardiology. This is a volume matched by very few physicians in India, particularly given its breadth: he did not specialise in one procedure, but mastered all. Each intervention represents a life directly improved or saved.

For 23 years at SSSIHMS (where all care is free), and now at a government hospital, Dr. Dash has deliberately chosen pathways where his skills reach those without means. He has conducted free cardiac camps across West Bengal, Sikkim, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha. He spearheads children's screening under the Government of Odisha's RBSK programme.

Five of Dr. Dash's students achieved gold medals in the DNB Cardiology examination — the highest mark of distinction in postgraduate training. These doctors now serve patients across India, multiplying his impact far beyond what any one clinician can achieve directly. Over 35 years, he has been simultaneously a practitioner of the highest order and a teacher of exceptional quality.

Dr. Dash has not merely practiced cardiology — he has built institutions. He led the Cardiology Department at SSSIHMS for 23 years, growing it into a nationally recognised centre of excellence. He now directs Cardiology and CTVS for the Government of Odisha, shaping how cardiac care is delivered to millions of citizens across the state.

Perhaps most tellingly: patients from the most remote areas of India travel specifically to Dr. Dash — not because he is the closest physician, but because they trust him. His principle — "each patient gets equal attention and importance, the work flow goes relentlessly till the last patient is seen" — is not aspiration but practice. This is the kind of service the Padma Shri was created to honour.