30.9.2024
I never knew that this day would come and I would be writing in memory of āSandip Daā [Dada stands for big bro in Bengali] as I called him fondly. Sandip Da was Sandip Chatterjee. How I would have loved to have written āisā instead of āwasā.
Dr. Sandip Chatterjee was an astute neurosurgeon, an eloquent speaker, a debater, an animal lover and a gentleman par excellence.
He belonged to an elite family in Kolkata. Born and brought up in Kolkata, finished his schooling and basic medical degree and moved to the United Kingdom for higher studies. He completed his FRCS from Edinburgh and FRCS [Neurosurgery] there and also did DNB in India. After practising for a short while in Britain, he returned to his hometown Kolkata.
He had a medical practising license both in UK and India.
He practised in Park Clinic in Kolkata and was also professor at the Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Kolkata. As a neurosurgeon he carved a niche for himself in the field of Pediatric neurosurgery and was appointed Treasurer of the International Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery after finishing a successful tenure as Education Committee Chairman. He was also past president of the Indian Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery and President and executive member of many other societies in India. Sandip Daās favourite child was pediatric neurosurgery, however he was also very active in neurooncology, intraoperative neuromonitoring and pediatric spine.
He contributed significantly to neurosurgery journals and his papers reflected the Indian picture of pediatric neurosurgery. He was Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Neuroscientists of Eastern India (JANEI), Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences,Ā Editor of International Journal of Hydrocephalus and Neuro-endoscopy, Associate editor, British Journal of Neurosurgery and Associate Editor, Child Nervous System. He has more than 150 papers published, 30 chapters and edited many text books. He was visiting professor in many universities nationally and internationally.
Thatās the neurosurgeon Sandip Da I tried to put in front of you so far.
He had many other facets. A very eloquent speaker who could mesmerize the audience for hours with his proficiency in English vocabulary. [āMuch better then many britsā as told by his British friend.] He enjoyed debating and was always part of the famous āKolkata Telegraph Debateā and founder of Kolkata debating society.
An avid photographer, who had a huge collection of Bengal tigers and rhinos in his kitty. I remember some breathtaking photos of the mighty Himalayas which he showed me once. He was a honorary member of World life Warden.
A wonderful friend for many across the world, he was smiling, caring, friendly and full of warmth and humour. Everyone loved his company.
As I mentioned he belongs to an elite family. He is survived by his father, currently 97 year old, a renowned pediatric surgeon, his wife, a renowned professor of pathology, heading the department in a teaching hospital, son, a wannabe dermatologist and a daughter in law who is a wannabe psychiatrist. All of us who know him have many anecdotal stories to write and share, which we will share at a later date.
I rest my pen today with a wish that he continues to smile from the peaceful place where he is resting. With fond memories of yours deep in my heart and brain I bid you goodbye.
āRest in peace Sandip Daā
Suchanda Bhattacharjee
Professor of Neurosurgery
NIMS, Hyderabad
Lost for words – We cherish the memory of Sandip Chatterjee (1960-2024). A personal compilation by Suchanda Bhattacharjee
Rome, September 30th, 2024
Dear Uttara,
It actually took me a while to recover from the news today: the loss of one of my āinner circleā friends.
When I started to wake up from the shock, I tried to write something original, but it was not even easy to collect all the tense of sad, truly brotherly expressed comments I did find on the web, in the chats, everywhere: āwiseā, āhumbleā, ābrilliantā, āa fatherā, āa brotherā, āa teacherā, āa mentorā, āa true gentlemanā, āa smiling peaceful mindā – A unanimous never ending story of positive feelings Sandip inspired in our Community.
Beyond all, I do feel that this was one of his unforgettable warmest human features: he had the key to enter in every soul, the widest open, the closest ones, the happy, the sad, the shy, the bright, the sparkling ones, embracing all and leading all of them to a common harmony.
You made it āMr. Princeā I thought, calling him as I enjoyed to do in the moments of jokes, all around a crowd of crying punches against the almost unknown enemy that stole him from us.
Our closest family embraces to you, to your son, and to your father-in-law from all the ISPN family which I have been privileged to represent with this message. We all stand beside the infinite number of joys we shared, under the fallen dreams as the one to have him among our next Presidents, in front of the dreams to realize, maintaining his memory through his pillar scientific contributions.
On behalf of the entire ISPN family,
Gianpiero Tamburrini
President Elect, International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (ISPN)
