‘I’ve lost my husband, but society lost a good doc’

Dr Atul Thakre who died in Istanbul was cremated on Saturday; he was the only surgeon in the country to use robots in the field of paediatric urology
By Hemington James and Jignesh Barot
Posted On Sunday, July 05, 2009 at 02:36:42 Ahmedabad Mirror

Atul Thakre is survived by his wife Nita, a gynaecologist with SAL hospital, and children Anuj (15) and Udit (18)Dr Atul Thakre, a 44-year-old paediatric urologist from the city who died in Turkey on Thursday, was cremated in Ahmedabad on Saturday afternoon. The medical fraternity mourned the death of their colleague, who was the only surgeon in the country to perform robotic surgery in the field of paediatric urology.Dr Thakre’s body was flown from Istanbul and arrived at the Ahmedabad airport at 8 am. Throughout the day, people streamed into his house at Kalash Apartment on Stadium Road to offer their condolences. The doctor — who ran Welcare Hospital in Navrangpura — is survived by his wife Nita, a gynaecologist with SAL hospital, and children Anuj (15) and Udit (18).
He went to Istanbul on June 27 to attend the first Istanbul Robotic Urology Symposium. On Thursday, he called to say ‘I am going to achieve new levels in my career’. Those were his last words to me —Nita Thakre, Atul Thakre’s wifeRecalling the last time she spoke to her husband, Nita said, “Atul went to Istanbul on June 27 to attend the first Istanbul Robotic Urology Symposium held on July 1 and 2. He was staying at Dedeman Hotel from where he called on Thursday around 1 pm. He said, ‘I am going to achieve new levels in my career’. “Atul also informed me that his flight is at 6 pm and he would call me once he catches his flight from Delhi so that I could pick him up. Those were his last words to me.”She added, “After the call, he visited the hotel spa where he took a sauna bath. He was alone there at the time. A while later, the hotel staff discovered his body in the pool area.” As a police case was filed in Istanbul to rule out suspicion, medical experts confirmed Dr Thakre died of heart failure. “Atul did not have any history of heart trouble,” said Nita, adding: “I have lost a husband but the society has lost a good doctor. All he wanted to do was serve people.He was shy and humble. He never worked to be in the limelight. In fact, people do not know how much charity and good work he has done because he never praised himself.
The certificate of attendance that Dr Atul Thakre received on July 2, the same day he died of a heart attack“He worked hard to excel in his field and was quite renowned. Just last week, he was invited by the European Journal of Urology to write a chapter on paediatric urology.”Dr Thakre’s death has left his son sad, but inspired. Anuj, who studies in Prakash High School, the same place where his father studied, wants to be a doctor. “I have promised my mother I will grow up and become a paediatric urologist like my dad,” said the 15-year-old.Dr Kandarp Parikh, urologist and Dr Thakre’s former partner, said: “Atul was calm and extremely dedicated to his work. He was easy-going but highly ambitious, too. In all the time I was associated with him, he was never rude to anyone. He was an excellent partner who had gained great recognition in his field of work. I will miss him a lot.”