Page 32 - Seniorstoday September 21
P. 32
There was no Military Hospital (MH) 2021 that is nearly 50 years now, many
in Tatanagar except for a small section regiments (perhaps 10) have come in and
hospital and our unit RMO (Regiment gone out from the Steel City but Dr Rita
Medical Officer) would attend to the Bhatnagar continues to do yeoman service
regiment and the NCC there. This RMO to the single army gunner regiment there.
was also often attached for small tenures She mentions that her MI Room is the same
from the MH in Namkum near Ranchi and she sits in the same place-the ‘room
(about 100 kms from Tatanagar). We didn’t with the window’ where she has sat since
have a proper RMO posted to us. December 1971.
However, Dr Ms Rita very gladly accepted If the walls of that room could narrate
being appointed our Lady Doctor with their story, surely Dr Rita Bhatnagar’s
the regiment for a paltry remuneration would be like a great batsman who has
and attended to our families. Often, she carried the bat through the innings scoring
would also take the Sick Report and give numerous centuries for the men in uniform
medical advice to our troops. Her husband and especially for their families and in the
Dr William Bhatnagar who worked in the Family Welfare Centres of the units. She
TISCO Hospital also would team up with attended to our Regiment thrice a week as a
Rita to support us when needed. regular feature then.
Rita just requested us for a separate It is a case of these two civilian doctors
‘Room with a Window’ a little away from (husband-wife couple) who have done so
the Section Hospital within the regiment much for so many in the uniform fraternity
campus, so that she could function for nearly five decades with a lot of pride,
independently. That was done and we dignity and decorum. Their continued
soon realised that Rita and William had service and unanimous acceptance by
become integral to our 14 Field Regiment. the regiments that have passed through
We made them honorary members of our the steel city speaks volumes of their
officer’s mess and they would attend all professionalism and dedication to the
our regiment events including those within Army. They both have been excellent
the unit lines. They enjoyed the status Doctors and great human beings with
of our officers and ladies and our troops empathy for all.
endeared to this charming couple very well.
William and Rita were always available
for our regiment and Rita would be there in
her Medical Inspection Room for all visits
of senior officers from the formation. Her
briefing was very professional. This couple
were a great asset to our regiment till June
1977 while we were there. Subsequently
she kept serving with the other regiments
that kept moving in as part of their move
schedule.
The most interesting part is that since
December 1971 till date in September Dr Rita Bhatnagar has provided yeoman service to the
uniformed fraternity
32
