Dr Kamakhya Prasad Chakravarty, a renowned Assam doctor, passed away on Tuesday. Dr Chakravarty was widely recognized for his courageous role in evacuating wounded Indian soldiers following the 1962 India-China War.
His family has announced that his cremation will take place on Wednesday, July 8, at 12 noon at the Lodhi Road Cremation Ground in Pragati Vihar, New Delhi. Dr Chakravarty’s selfless actions during the war have left a lasting impact on the history of India’s eastern Himalayas.
As the Sub-divisional Medical and Health Officer in Tezpur during the 1962 war, Dr Chakravarty volunteered with the Red Cross after the ceasefire. He, along with two other doctors, traveled through the war-ravaged Bomdila-Dirang sector in December 1962 to receive wounded Indian prisoners of war from Chinese authorities and escort them back to India.
Dr Chakravarty’s firsthand account of the mission provides a rare and deeply human perspective on one of the most difficult chapters in the history of India’s eastern Himalayas. He recalled driving past destroyed military vehicles and the bodies of Indian soldiers that still lay scattered across the mountains weeks after the fighting had ended. He also brought nearly 460 wounded Indian soldiers safely to Tezpur for medical treatment.
Dr Chakravarty’s memories have preserved stories of sacrifice, resilience, and compassion that might otherwise have been lost. He is survived by his family and is mourned not only as a dedicated physician but also as a custodian of an extraordinary chapter in the history of the 1962 war.
