Ask him something that had happened 50 years ago, and DrDamodar B Bhounsule will fill you in on the details. He has documented each andevery happening in his life and pulls out the exact file or set of papers toprove what had happened and when. As astudent he and his brother had established Ravindra Vachanalaya at Kalapur(today’s Santa Cruz) on April 16, 1945. “The aim was to inculcate the readinghabit in the public and provide a platform to exchange ideas to encourage thefreedom movement in Goa. This library was founded and managed by students,”says Dr Bhounsule.
Having passed out fourth class in Marathi in 1940 and 20Grau of Portuguese in 1943 and did Terceiro Ciclo do Liceu at National Lyciumin Panjim which was a pre-degree Portuguese science course. He then gave hisSSC exam at People’s High School in 1953 and joined Medico-Circurgiao at EscolaMedico-Cirurgica de Goa for a degree course in Medicine and Surgery. Passingout in 1960, Dr Bhounsule joined the public health services under the Goa governmentin 1963.
Spreading knowledge is his passion and he delivers talks onimportant health subjects, especially on communicable diseases. With writingremaining an important hobby for him, Dr Bhounsule has to his credit numerouspapers published in medical journals. He has broadcast talks, discussions andinterviews on All India Radio and Goa Doordarshan and TV channels. “I wasprivileged to meet dignitaries like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Ram Manohar Lohia,Krishna Menon,” he shares proudly.
A fellow of the World Health Organisation (Geneva), Indian Society for Malaria and otherCommunicable Diseases, Indian Public Health Association, Institute MenezesBraganza etc, Dr Bhounsule carries on his activities in the same old fashion.His curiosity and enthusiasm matches that of a child and his excitementsurpasses that of a youth in twenties.
His medical career spans over 50 years, which started withhis being a private practitioner, before moving on to being a professor,medical and chief medical officer, entomologist, epidemiologist, TB officer andassistant director (so far). Today, he offers his services voluntarily to manyorganisations.
Being a globe trotter the good doctor has participated inmedical conferences all over the world. He has no intentions of calling time onhis illustrious career, and says, “I am only 82 and I still have a long way togo.”
