Our Bureau
New York, NY
Dr Sunil Pandya, was not just a teacher but a guiding light, a beacon of knowledge and a true leader to be followed for leading an accomplished life. With deep grief and tears in the eyes, the shocking news of passing away of Dr Pandya has left all his family and friends in anguish and heartbroken.
“Today, is one of the saddest days of my life and also for everyone whose life Dr Pandya had touched,” said Dr. Raj Bhayani.
Recalling Dr. Pandya’s contribution, Dr. Bhayani said, “I still remember the first day, I visited the department of Neurosurgery with mixed feelings of anxiety, overwhelmed and unsure. When I gave Dr. Pandya the paper of residency assignment, he got up from the chair and smiled and congratulated me for joining the department.” Dr. Bhayani was literally in awe with his towering personality in white dress that comforted and made everyone feel welcome with his genuine smile and infectious enthusiasm.
The epic sessions of radiology reading by Dr. Pandya always had a knack for breaking down complex concepts into understandable pieces, making learning not just accessible, but exciting for all. Not just Neurosurgery and academics, Dr. Pandya had taught many life lessons to many who were blessed to have received his guidance.
Dr. Pandya did not just teach but he encouraged everybody to question, to think critically, and to never be afraid to voice their opinions. Whenever each one of his acquaintances stumbled, Dr. Pandya was there to lift them up, offering support and encouragement without an iota of doubt and judgment. He was a true believer in the ability of people to achieve greatness, and that belief propelled many forwards.
Remembering Dr. Pandya, Dr. Bhayani put his own emotions out and said, “When I joined the department, I was a timid man, not so confident and unsure of what I want to do in my life. By the time, I finished three years with Dr Pandya, Dr Nagpal and Dr Karapurkar, I was completely transformed by them with clarity, confidence and conviction about any challenges in my life.” He even clarified further that in Initial days, as much as we respected him, we used to be very afraid of him.
“When I went through some emotional crisis in my personal life, I had no idea how to deal with it. I gathered my courage and told him what I was going through,” said Dr. Bhayani.
Dr. Pandya calmed him down and assured him of his support and continued the backing for three years which was life changing for Dr. Bhayani.
Dr Pandya was more than just a teacher; he was a mentor, a confidante, and a role model. His legacy lives on in the countless students he has inspired to pursue their passions, to embrace challenges, and to make a positive difference in the world.
“These thoughts of gratitude and respect, I could never express to him directly out of tremendous respect for him. As in front of him, I often became speechless and short of words. I now sincerely wish I should have done that when I had a chance,” said an overwhelmed Dr. Bhayani.
As we all mourn this great loss, make it a point to celebrate the life Dr. Pandya lived and the impact he made. Let us carry his spirit of empathy, ethics, curiosity, kindness, and dedication in our hearts, and strive to be the kind of people Dr. Pandya believed we could be.
Let Dr. Pandya rest in peace as we convey our heartfelt thanks for believing in us, even when many of us didn’t believe in ourselves. His valuable life lessons will always guide us as he stays in our heart forever even after leaving for the heavenly abode.
Countless people and the neurosurgeons, in particular, whose life Dr. Pandya touched and changed need to ensure that we continue to honor his legacy and aim to establish an endowment chair in his name at King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital.
