Page 40 - NIS English February 16-28
P. 40
Special Report Pa a A a
Dr Thiruvengadam Veeraraghavan Ta Na Na a a De at We t Be ga
Po t o Creator of world’s longest-running comic strip
A doctor with Rs 2 consultation fee
If it is asked who holds the record of running
Dr Thiruvengadam Veeraraghavan from North the longest comic strip in the world, even well
Chennai was famous for treating patients informed people might be caught unaware. But
for just Rs 2. Dr Veeraraghavan started this this extraordinary feat is achieved by Narayan
in 1973 to ease financial hardship of his Debnath. Born in Howrah, the 97-year-old
patients. He increased his consultation fee to Debnath has been making Bangla comic strips
Rs 5 later. Other doctors in the area objected for over 70 years and is the only comic artist
to this, asking him to charge at least Rs 100. who has been awarded a D.Lit. His comic
But opposing this he decided to diagnose the character Bantul is a household name in entire
patients for free. West Bengal.
T t C o o La a S t C atto a a We t Be ga
Built 38-km-long road by selling his property Teacher charging Re 1 as tuition fee for entire year
Saddened by the struggles faced by locals due Sujit Chattopadhyay of Bardhman District of
to lack of proper roads, 79-year-old Tsultrim West Bengal, is a shining example of altruism.
Chonjor of Zanskar area of Kargil District sold He is charging Re 1 per annum as fee for
his property to buy a machine costing Rs 57 his classes. There are over 300 students
Lakh and built a 38-km-long road. Earlier locals in Chattopadhyay’s coaching institute.
had to walk for several days and had to pay Chattopadhyay says, “How can children
huge amount for commutation but with this from the poor families afford huge fees of
road, challenges are reduced. coaching? Considering this, I decided to start
this coaching. I was not expecting such a
great honour for his work.”
7 personalities have been conferred Padma given Padma Vibhushan for providing a new
Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan and 102 Padma dimension to Indo-Japanese friendship. Great
Shri. A few renowned personalities conferred singer from Tamil Nadu S P Balasubrahmanyam
with the Padma awards included Shinzō Abe, was given Padma Vibhushan posthumously.
former Prime Minister of Japan, who was Ex-Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi, was
38 New India Samachar
