Obituary

Late Professor Jagdev Singh Guleria was born in village Manjara located in the Punjab province of British India in 1927. After completing his MBBS (1953) and MD Medicine (1957) from Amritsar Medical College of Punjab University, Dr Guleria had served in Punjab Provincial Medical Services for a short while and later joined the first batch of DM (Cardiology) course under the mentorship of late Professor Sujoy B. Roy at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

Later, he joined the Department of Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi as an Assistant Professor where he continued to work as Professor and later in 1982 as the Head of the Department of Medicine and Dean till his superannuation in 1986. Subsequently, he continued to see patients and provide best possible expert medical advice at Sitaram Bhartia Hospital, New Delhi till his demise at the age of 98 years on January 22, 2026.

Throughout his illustrious career, he was considered to be a great mentor, medical teacher, and a role model of clinical excellence. The AIIMS, New Delhi honoured him with Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. In recognition of his meritorious services in the field of Medicine, he was awarded the coveted Padma Shri award in the year 2003. I have been blessed with the opportunity to work under Prof. JS Guleria for a long time and have been the beneficiary of his munificence.

Personal Reminiscences

My first encounter with late Prof. JS Guleria was at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh when I was appearing in the MD final examination in 1978, he was an observer of proceedings of MD Internal Medicine examination.

I was selected as a Senior Resident (SR) in the Department of Medicine at AIIMS, New Delhi and joined my first posting at the Casualty in March 1979. Two months later I was posted as a Senior Resident (Medicine) at the Comprehensive Rural Health Services Project Hospital, Ballabhgarh attached to AIIMS, New Delhi for rural posting of undergraduates for their training.

During that tenure, I observed that Prof. Guleria was very popular among undergraduates posted at Ballabhgarh who looked forward to his long-awaited bedside clinical case discussion/demonstration classes when he visited Ballabhgarh. He had a unique way of teaching undergraduate students. He used to instruct me to keep good cases for discussion so that analysis of history, demonstration of clinical signs and diagnostic reasoning can be taught. He emphasized the art of practicing clinical medicine with limited access to investigations.

Subsequently, by a stroke of luck I was posted in his medical unit as a Senior Resident. In Prof. Guleria's time, his medical unit had only 2 Faculty Members: himself and his favourite student the Late Professor JN Pande.

I noted that he was very punctual and would usually come to the medical ward daily between 7:16 am - 7:30 am. He would go around the medical and emergency wards to see sick patients who were hospitalized the previous night.

In the medical ward (DII ward) at the second floor of AIIMS, New Delhi, he enjoyed blackboard teaching and students often took notes. During the era when examiners were stern and intimidating, he was a kind examiner with empathy and used to encourage students to do well.

Clinical Excellence

During his lifetime, whether at AIIMS, New Delhi, or in private practice outside, Prof. Guleria was the most sought-after internist, chest physician and cardiologist. Very important persons, high profile cabinet ministers, high ranking government officials, film stars, celebrities and their family members used to consult him regarding their health issues.

He was a very popular clinician at AIIMS, New Delhi; all sick students, faculty colleagues and their family members wanted to get admitted under his medical care. Inspite of being a famous doctor, Prof. Guleria was very caring and ever ready to help his students and colleagues who were having difficult times.

He would go beyond the line of duty. Inspite of being a Senior Professor, he rushed into the AIIMS Casualty in the dead of night and organized treatment of serious cases, leading from the front.

During my Senior Residency I was sick with high grade fever and resting in my hostel. He visited me, enquired about my health, offered home cooked food and wished me recovery.

He also initiated morning bedside case demonstrations/mock exams for postgraduate residents.

Diagnostic Brilliance

He was an epitome of diagnostic reasoning and a master clinician who made diagnoses without relying on excessive investigations.

One memorable case involved a patient with rapidly falling hemoglobin and jaundice, later diagnosed as severe hemolytic anemia due to Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Another case involved detection of a liver abscess despite earlier negative ultrasounds, confirmed only after his insistence on repeat imaging.

He also applied global medical knowledge, recommending Tamoxifen therapy for a cancer patient even before it was available in India.

Contributions to Medicine

Prof. Guleria pioneered respiratory medicine services at AIIMS. He started the Chest Clinic, established respiratory laboratories, and introduced bronchoscopy procedures.

He guided numerous postgraduate theses and contributed to high-quality research, including work in high altitude pulmonary edema.

Compassion & Leadership

He was deeply concerned about poor patients and often waived hospital charges. When junior doctors were overwhelmed, he would personally take over patient load.

Even in absence of ICU facilities, he admitted critically ill patients and worked tirelessly to ensure their recovery.

Legacy

In the passing away of Prof. JS Guleria, an era of clinical excellence has come to an end. India has lost an astute clinician and an excellent teacher, mentor and guide.

His students across the world continue to carry forward his legacy in medical care, research, and teaching.