Venugopal retires, leaves a legacy of 'triumph of truth'

New Delhi, Jul 2 (UNI) All India Institute of Medical Sciences flamboyant director Dr P Venugopal retired from the prestigious institute after a tempestuous 49-year-association dotted by controversy and accolades in equal measure.

In his parting words, Dr Venugopal expressed ''profound gratitude and indebtedness'' to the Institute, its Founding Fathers, its faculty and students among others, while regarding his 49-year-old association as an undergraduate, postgraduate, faculty member and director with the AIIMS as ''a great privilege''.

''In total, I express a sense of fulfillment as I lay my office and I still feel if given an opportunity I would like to be re-born for the service of humanity through AIIMS.'' Reserving his special thanks ''to the judiciary for upholding the truth and honesty and preserving the dignity and honour of Medical profession'', Dr Venugopal said, ''I would also like to express my indebtedness for the legal help and cooperation received...'' Highlight of Dr Venugopal's career at AIIMS was his reinstatement as director of the revered institute on the orders of the supreme Court, after his unceremonial removal from the post by Union Minister of Health Ambumani Ramadoss.

His victory was hailed as the victory of justice by the medical fraternity and a rebuke to the uncalled for interference by political masters in the running of government bodies, with several bigwigs calling it 'triumph of truth' against all odds.

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