A legend of the medical profession and administration, Kashmiri doctor, Prof Girija Dhar, who served the State in many capacities, passed away here on Friday at her Boulevard residence.
Her demise has been widely condoled.
Prof Dhar was a gynecologist of high repute who rose to take charge of the prestigious Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar in 1985 where she served till 1992. The same year, she assumed charge as chairperson of JK Public Service Commission.
She was appointed as the first chairperson of J&K Women’s Commission in 2000.
The compassionate doctor was also running Rahat Ghar, a home for children at Tangmarg.
Prof Dhar had studied medicine at King George Medical College Lucknow in 1952 wherefrom she proceeded to London to do DRCAG and later to Edinburgh for FRCH. She first joined GMC Srinagar in 1964 as a faculty member.
On Friday morning, after feeling distress for brief while Prof Dhar passed away. She was suffering from a chronic cardiac ailment, a family doctor said.
Prof BL Koul, a relative, who along with his wife was present with her at the time of Prof Dhar’s passing away, said she had “mild chest pain for 10 minutes”.
“We called doctors from Kyber hospital who arrived in no time. But we lost the iconic woman at 9:45 am,” Prof Koul said.
Prof Dhar was the wife of another legendary doctor, Prof Naseer Ahmed Shah, who passed away last October.
A family friend said Prof Dhar had been keeping unwell since the demise of Prof Shah.
“She suffered a heart attack the day Prof Shah died and had to be rushed to a private hospital in Khayam,” said the family friend.
Prof Dhar is survived by daughter Dr Tina, a well known gynecologist working in London.
Prof Koul said last rites of Prof Dhar would be performed on Saturday at 4 pm in Karan Nagar crematorium.
“Her daughter and son-in-law had left for UK two days ago. We informed her in morning about the sad news and she would arrive earliest by Saturday,” he said.
Described as an able administrator by people who worked with her, Prof Dhar was known to have brought about reforms in medical education in the state. Faculty members of the medical college described her as a doyen of change, who would envisage great policies for the college and execute them perfectly.
Governor N N Vohra and Mrs Vohra have expressed grief over the demise of Prof Dhar. Recalling his long association with the eminent lady, Governor observed that he and his wife had known “this noble person who had remained very active in carrying through various programmes for providing care, protection, education and skills to young girls who belonged to the neglected segments of the society”.
Former Chief Minister and PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti also expressed grief over the demise of the noted Kashmiri gynecologist.
Paying tributes to the legend, she recalled the “immense contribution made by Prof Dhar in the healthcare sector of the State”.
Medical Faculty Association (MFA) of GMC Srinagar described demise of Prof Dhar as a “great loss to medical fraternity of J&K .
“She not only was an accomplished gynecologist who would always give her best to the patients but also a caring and inspirational teacher,” a statement by MFA said.
“As an administrator she used her authority for the welfare of faculty and students.”
A condolence meeting will be held at GMC Srinagar on Saturday.