Publication

Abstract : Dr. Rajendra Tandon, father figure of pediatric cardiology in India, passed away on 26th of February 2014, after a brief illness. He represented the fountainhead for the pediatric cardiologists of India, and directly and indirectly influenced much for the growth of the disciplines in the field of adult and pediatric cardiology in India [Figure 1]. Dr Tandon was born on 21st January 1931. He had his early medical training at the famous King George Medical College, Lucknow in early fifties. Subsequently, he was trained at the Boston Children hospital under Dr. Alexander Nadas during the nascent years of the discipline of pediatric cardiology. He chose to return to India despite the easy feasibility of staying overseas then, [Figure 2] because of his commitment to his country. He joined the budding cardiology department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1963; guided and nurtured generations of students in the practice of cardiology who then went on to head the cardiology departments throughout the country. He superannuated as chief of the cardiothoracic center at the All India institute of Medical Sciences in 1991. His legacy now extends to more than 2 generations of cardiologists and includes numerous luminaries in India and abroad. Although he often lamented that he could train only 6 students to take up his primary vocation of pediatric cardiology, this had more to do with the way cardiology care was organized in India rather than the reflection of his influence: For his influence went even beyond cardiology and pediatric cardiology, but touched the very core of his student's being.