“Picture abhi baaki hain” and “the show must go on” were some the last words of cardiologist Dr K K Aggarwal, 62, in a video that he posted just before he got admitted to AIIMS because of Covid-19. He died on Monday night. Aggarwal, a recipient of Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Award and head of Heart Care Foundation of India, was admitted at AIIMS for the past 10 days and was put on a ventilator.
His friends recalled him not just as a doctor but also as a medical educator. “He was born on Teacher’s Day in 1958 and never stopped imparting lessons on health issues. Even when he was down with Covid, he continued educating people through his videos,” said Dr. Vinay Aggarwal, former president of Indian Medical Association (IMA). The annual Perfect Health Mela held in Delhi was Dr Aggarwal’s brainchild. It was not just the medical fraternity which mourned his death. Tributes poured in from politicians, bureaucrats, artists and actors.