Bengali Medical Professional and Artist Amitabh Mitra Honoured in South Africa

Bengal-born Dr. Amitabh Mitra, a medical professional, artist, and poet, was honoured by the Bengali Association of South Africa (BASA) on Sunday for his three decades of service to South Africa and other countries. The award was presented at BASA's annual event 'Kobi Pranaam', which celebrates revered Bengali polymaths, poets, and composers.

Dr. Mitra's journey with Africa began when he worked as a UN volunteer in Niger, performing orthopaedic surgeries under tents for six months. He arrived in South Africa in 1993, just before the country's first democratic elections after Nelson Mandela's release from prison. "The apartheid era was in full strength, and I had to take permission to enter East London," Mitra said in an earlier interview with the African Writer magazine.

Celebrating Bengali Culture

BASA President Gourish Chakraborthy expressed the association's goal of bringing Bengali art and culture to expatriate Indians and South African Indians. "We aim to bring the art and culture of Bengal to all the expatriate Indians and also the South African Indians who like this sweet language Bengali," he said. He believed that even those who did not understand Bengali would appreciate the performances due to the universal language of music.

Indian High Commissioner Prabhat Kumar highlighted the global recognition of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. "Who doesn’t know our national poet, the writer of our national anthem? He travelled the world and wherever you go, from Japan to Argentina, you will find that he has been there," Kumar said. He thanked BASA for honouring these legends.

Dr. Mitra's Contributions

Dr. Mitra currently resides in East London in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. He initially took over the orthopaedic section of Umtata Hospital before joining the South African military service as a captain, working on the Mozambique border where he received the highest military honour. His work in trauma care at Cecilia Makiwane Heritage Hospital in Mdantsane has been described as "painful".

To cope with his challenging work, Dr. Mitra turned to painting and writing, believing in fusing art, poetry, and medicine for healing. His artwork has been exhibited in South Africa, India, and Europe. He has also served as an orthopaedic surgeon in high-altitude hospitals in Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh.

Award-Winning Career

Dr. Mitra's numerous accolades include the South African Police Service Provincial Commissioners Ambassador Award in 2022, the provincial Eastern Cape Minister of Art and Culture Special Award in 2018, and the Discovery Foundation Award for research in 2017. He was also honoured as the first English Poet awarded in memory of Indian National Peoples Poet Mukut Bihari Saroj at Gwalior in 2022.

Dr. Mitra has been associated with the African National Congress since 1979 when he assisted its Representative’s Office in New Delhi through the Indian government. "I am passionate about the politics of both these countries which bear so close a resemblance to each other," he said.

Adult and youth members of BASA paid tribute to Bengali legends through song, dance, and drama performances at 'Kobi Pranaam'. Dr. Mitra accepted his award with gratitude, reflecting on his long-standing connection with Africa and his contributions to both medicine and art.