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Dr. K. K. Aggarwal was a prominent Indian physician and cardiologist who served as President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). He was the recipient of Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour in India. Dr. Aggarwal died of the COVID-19 complications on 17 May 2021.
Wiki/Biography
Krishan Kumar Aggarwal was born on Friday, 5 September 1958 (age 62 years; at the time of death) in New Delhi. He grew up along with his eight siblings in Hauz Qazi, Old Delhi, where his family lived in a one-bedroom set. From 1st to 4th standard, he studied in a Muslim school in Delhi, and then he attended ASVJ Higher Secondary School in Daryaganj, Delhi. After completing his schooling, he enrolled at Deshbandhu College in New Delhi, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Zoology (Honours). In 1979, he completed his MBBS at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (MGIMS), Sevagram in Wardha, Maharashtra. In 1983, he completed his MD (Medicine) at the same college. In 1987, he did a fellowship in non-invasive cardiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States.
Physical Appearance
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Hair Colour: Salt & Pepper (Semi-bald)
Family
Parents & Siblings
Dr. K. K. Aggarwal was born to Qimat Rai Aggarwal (father) and Satya Wati Aggarwal (mother). He was the 7th child in a family of five brothers and four sisters.
Wife & Children
Dr. K. K. Aggarwal’s wife, Veena Aggarwal, is a gynaecologist.
Dr. K. K. Aggarwal with his wife, Veena Aggarwal
He is survived by his two children, a son, Nilesh Aggarwal, and a daughter, Naina Aggarwal, who is the founder of Talking Point Communications, a marketing agency in New Delhi.
Dr. K. K. Aggarwal with his daughter, Naina Aggarwal
Career
In 1983, he started working at Moolchand Hospital in New Delhi, where he joined Dr. K L Chopra as his junior. While working at Moolchand Hospital, after five months of residency, he was promoted to become a consultant. During his medical career, Dr. Aggarwal was trained under renowned medical professionals including Dr. A N Malviya who trained him in Immunology, Dr. Deepak Chopra who trained him in mind-body & medicine, and Dr. Navin C. Nanda who trained him in non-invasive cardiology. In 1986, Dr. Aggarwal started the Heart Care Foundation of India, and he served the foundation as its President till his death. Through this foundation, he supported heart surgeries for many people who could not afford these surgeries.
Dr. K. K. Aggarwal at an event of Heart Care Foundation of India
In 1987, he established Navin C Nanda National Institute of Echocardiography and Cardiac Research in New Delhi. From April 2005 to March 2006, he served as the President of the Delhi Medical Association. In September 2009, he became the Chairman of the Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council, a post that he held till November 2015. From December 2017 to December 2018, he held the post of President at the Indian Medical Association. From July 1991 till his death, he held the post of Chairman and Managing Director at IJCP Group, a leading medical communications group in New Delhi. From September 2019 till his death, Dr. Aggarwal held the post of President at the Confederation of Medical Associations of Asia and Oceania.
Awards & Honours
- Gold Medalist and Limca Book of Record Holder in CPR 10
- FICCI Health Care Personality of the Year Award (2016)
- Vishwa Hindi Samman (2015)
Dr. K. K. Aggarwal receiving the Hindi Samman
- National Science Communication Award
Dr. K. K. Aggarwal receiving the DST (National Science Communication) Award
- Dr. B. C. Roy Award
Dr. K. K. Aggarwal receiving the Dr. B. C. Roy Award
- Padma Shri (2010)
Dr. K. K. Aggarwal receiving Padma Shri
Death
On 17 May 2021, Dr. K. K. Aggarwal breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi after battling the COVID-19. Reportedly, he was on ventilator support for the past several days. After his demise, a statement posted on his Twitter profile read,
Even during the pandemic, he made constant efforts to educate the masses and was able to reach out to 100 million people through numerous videos and videos and educational programmes and saved countless lives. He wanted his life to be celebrated And not mourned.”
pic.twitter.com/uy7JzOyGWK
— Dr K K Aggarwal (@DrKKAggarwal) May 17, 2021
Facts/Trivia
- While studying in school, he earned the moniker ‘Jhepu’ as he was a very shy student.
- In 1984, he became the first one to start clot-dissolving therapy in an acute heart attack in India along with Dr. K. L. Chopra.
- In 1987, Dr. K. K. Aggarwal became the first one who introduced colour doppler echocardiography in India
- In 1991, the Government of India released national postal commemorative stamps when Dr. Aggarwal organized the first-ever “Perfect Health Mela” and “Run for your Heart” in India.
- In 1993, BBC News declared Perfect Health Mela at Talkatora Gardens, organized by Dr. Aggarwal with Delhi Administration, the best event in Asia. Later, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare adopted this module under the National Health Policy.
- Dr. Aggarwal was very passionate about teaching everyone how to revive after sudden death.
- Dr. Aggarwal would often co-relate Indian mythology with modern medicine, and he is very popular for his Aduait Ramayana.
- He is also known for conceptualizing the concept of Health Sutras like ‘Food of plant in origin contains no cholesterol,’ Cough with fever is viral & needs no antibiotic,’ ‘Any food which is bitter & green has anti-diabetic properties,’ ‘Keep your BP, fasting sugar, abdominal circumference, bad cholesterol level and heart rate all lower than 80,’ and ‘If any unusual symptoms appear for the first time or cannot be explained, do not ignore it.’
- Dr. Aggarwal worked extensively during the epidemics of dengue, plague, meningococcal meningitis, leptospirosis, and epidemic dropsy in India, and he guided many doctors and the general public through various seminars and conferences.
- He held the record for organizing eleven World Conferences on Cardiology, Medical CME Programs, and health events in India.
- Dr. Aggarwal was not only a physician, cardiologist, mind-body consultant, and world-class clinical echocardiographer but also a writer, anchor, orator, columnist, health communicator, social worker/activist, educator, conceptualizer, creator, preacher, administrator, advisor, researcher, and meditation teacher par excellence.
- He was also Editor-in-Chief, IJCP Group of publications that released many journals, newspapers, and health care educational products catering to the medical field.
- He wrote extensively on community health subjects, and there are over 400 articles in newspapers and magazines contributed by Dr. Aggarwal.
- Dr. K. K. Aggarwal was a regular face in many Radio & TV talks on health. He also produced and co-directed 52 episodes on “Body Mind and Soul” on DD News; coordinated 102 episodes of the live phone-in TV programme “Healthy India” for DD Bharti; and 32 programs for Lok Sabha TV.
- Throughout his medical career, Dr. Aggarwal actively advocated for introducing the subject of Spiritual Medicine in the MBBS curriculum.
- He introduced the idea of bringing together bureaucrats, politicians, and celebrities to discuss various health issues in India.
Dr. K. K. Aggarwal’s Instagram post about his programme Medtalks
- Dr. K. K. Aggarwal used various social media platforms to spread awareness about the COVID-19 related issues. He would often discuss a multitude of issues related to the COVID-19 and its vaccination drive in India on social media.
- When India was hit by the first wave of the COVID-19, he justified Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to light lamps by invoking pseudoscience and claimed that Modi’s call was based on the principle of “collective consciousness” listed in Yoga Vasistha.
- In January 2021, Dr. K. K. Aggarwal became popular on social media after a video of his live session went viral. In the video, his wife was heard scolding him for not accompanying her for the first jab of the COVID-19 vaccination.
Please don’t attend your wife’s call when you are going live on social media 😂
Dr KK Aggarwal , Senior Cardiologist and National President IMA 👇#MedTwitter pic.twitter.com/SP2naZqu8F— THE BONE DOCTOR OF J & K Dr Vikas Padha(Dogra)🇮🇳 (@DrVikasPadha) January 27, 2021