Behind the Mask, Who is Our Hero: Honouring India’s Lifesavers this Doctor’s Day
New Delhi, July 2, 2025 – On the occasion of National Doctor’s Day, India unites in gratitude to honour the real-life heroes who carry the weight of humanity’s hopes on their shoulders — our doctors. This year’s theme, “Behind the Mask, Who is Our Hero”, offers a poignant lens into the lives of these tireless professionals, who stand at the intersection of science, service, and sacrifice.
Behind every surgical mask is a story—of long nights, impossible choices, quiet victories, and sometimes, silent grief. Whether in rural clinics or tertiary hospitals, in ICUs or in outreach camps, doctors are the constant, the steady hands and compassionate hearts that hold together families, communities, and often, life itself.
As we celebrate Doctor’s Day, we look beyond the stethoscope and into the soul of the profession. Here’s what some of India’s most respected medical leaders shared in reflection:
Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder-Director, Ujala Cygnus Healthcare Services, added, “Leading a healthcare organisation means seeing both the frontlines and the framework that supports it. What doctors carry with them isn’t just medical expertise—it’s emotional courage, unshakable ethics, and relentless purpose. On Doctor’s Day, we reflect on this deep responsibility. Behind every white coat is someone quietly holding another person’s world together. Their work is sacred, their impact immeasurable.”
Dr Sunil Khetrapal, Director, Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), reflected, “Being a doctor is not about perfection, but presence—with steady hands and an open heart, even in exhaustion. Doctor’s Day is a reminder to honour the quiet strength and daily courage that define this calling.”
Dr Rishi Raj Borah, Country Director, Orbis(India), shared, “In public health, we see healthcare not just as treatment, but as dignity restored, vision regained, lives reimagined. Our doctors are not only healers — they are changemakers, often in the most underserved corners. Doctor’s Day is a moment to honour not just their knowledge, but their empathy. Behind the mask is someone who listens, who comforts, and who makes sure no one is left behind. That, to me, is the true spirit of medicine.”
As India expresses collective gratitude today, let us remember: behind every recovery is a doctor who refused to give up. Behind every life saved is a human who has dedicated theirs to the service of others. On National Doctor’s Day 2025, we celebrate not only their healing hands—but the hearts, minds, and resilience behind them.
Let this day be more than a tribute. Let it be a reaffirmation of our respect, our support, and our commitment to standing beside those who stand for us every single day.