Dr. Bhupendra Chandra Bansal (May 21, 1935–December 17, 2025)

Dr Bhupendra Chandra Bansal (May 21, 1935-December 17, 2025)

From the minute we are born to the moment we take our last breath, a person who is born is destined to die. Death is a universal truth of life. Yet, the concept of losing someone near and dear forever is something that is difficult to grasp. Soon after losing a person who is as close as a family member comes the grueling process of writing his obituary. Dr. Bupendra Chandra Bansal departed for his heavenly abode on December 17. He lived a full life of over 90 years and left a legacy of “healing and leading.”

Dr. Bansal was born on May 21, 1935, in Chakwal (present-day Pakistan), to the late Kaushalya Devi and Lala Budh Ram, a prominent educationist. Following the partition of India, the family returned to their native village of Sahoran (District Ropar in Punjab). He went on to earn his MBBS from Medical College, Amritsar, in 1957 and his MD from Medical College, Patiala, in 1962.

In 1963, he became a founding member of the Medical College at Rohtak (now PGIMS Rohtak). During 1970–1971, he went on a WHO fellowship to the United Kingdom and Australia to train in neurology. He rose to the rank of professor, founded the department of neurology, and served as its head of department until his retirement in 1989 from Rohtak. During this period, he not only inspired and guided thousands of medical students but also mentored and trained hundreds of MD students and junior colleagues. He also served in the Indian Army (AMC) for 4 years during the conflict on the Eastern Frontier at Guwahati and Kohima.

Dr. Bansal was a doctor and a human being par excellence. He has healed and shaped countless lives during his illustrious professional career of over 65 years. Beyond his teaching, clinical and military service, Dr. Bansal was also a prolific academician, authoring dozens of scientific publications and several books that have been published. His sincere hard work, sense of responsibility, discipline, administrative and leadership skills were recognized nationally. He served as the National President of the Association of Physicians of India (API), as well as a founder member and held leadership roles in various professional organizations such as the Geriatric Society of India, Indian Epilepsy Society, Neurological Society of India, various chapters of API, and many more industry bodies and associations.

In his later years, he was settled in Delhi and Noida, and he served as a senior neurological consultant at several prestigious institutions and prominent hospitals in Delhi and the NCR. His philanthropic spirit remained tied to his roots, as he continued to provide financial and leadership support to his father's school in Kurali and the Swami Shradhanand Guru Shai Vedic Vidyalaya in Moradabad, apart from supporting many other social, developmental, and religious missions and organizations. A man deeply admired by all whom he touched, he had great acumen in many other fields apart from medicine. He was not only an eloquent speaker but a fabulous singer and very good at sher o' shayari too.

Dr. Bansal's zest for active life remained undiminished even after his cancer diagnosis in October 2024. He never missed any scientific convention despite old age and sickness, and actively contributed to every discussion with full energy. He continued to treat patients until November 2025 and enjoyed his daily 3-hour bridge games until his hospital admission in the first week of December. Dr. Bansal will be remembered equally for his philanthropy and his unwavering spirit. He remains a motivating force, a guiding light, and a role model for the present and future generations. He donated almost Rs. 1.10 crores from his own earnings and savings to various orations and charities, with his last donation made just a few weeks before he passed away.

Dr. Bansal was always very dedicated and diplomatic in his approach to complex situations. All of us in India have known him to be a very friendly, composed, and compassionate person with a great sense of humor. The epilepsy and neurology community in India has lost a huge pillar of strength. What he could achieve in the past 4 to 5 decades will be difficult for anyone else to match. To me personally, he was like a fatherly figure with whom I interacted on a regular basis for any kind of advice and also exchanged every small happening in the family. He was very close to my wife, Menka (also his student), our children, and even our grandchildren.

With Dr. Bansal's death, an era of refined leadership defined by consensus, humor, charm, wit, vision, intelligence, endowments, and humility comes to an end in the Indian context. His passing away leaves me personally bereft, but the life he lived was one to be celebrated.

Our prayers and condolences go to his wife, Mrs. Uma Bansal; sons, Samir and Sandip Bansal; and daughter, Dr. Mita Gupta; their families; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.

We in the Indian Epilepsy Association, Indian Epilepsy Society, and the IEA-18th IEC Trust pray for the departed soul.

Publication History

Article published online:
19 February 2026