MANGALURU: Dr Belle Monappa Hegde, 83, popularly known as Dr B M Hegde, cardiologist, Professor of Medicine, scientist, author, was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award by President of India Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday.
He was chosen for the Padma Vibhushan award, under the medical category, given for exceptional and distinguished service.
Known to most as the ‘people’s doctor,’ Dr Hegde is a physician with a humane approach, stress on holistic medicine and giving importance to minimum use of medicines. Presently, he resides at Chilimbi Gudde in Mangaluru. Hegde, former Vice Chancellor of Manipal University, was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2010. He is also the recipient of Dr BC Roy Award in 1999.
Dr Hegde studied up to SSLC at Hiriyadka in Udupi and later completed his intermediate from MGM College, Udupi. He completed his MBBS from Stanley Medical College, Madras in 1960. He received a gold medal from Madras University for MBBS.
Dr Hegde, who was the Dean of Kasturba Medical College from July 13, 1992, served as the Vice Chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Deemed University) from June 18, 1999 to August 30, 2003. A recipient of Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 1997, he authored `What Doctors Don't Get to Study in a Medical School Board book,’ a book that provides part of the important and formative reading a medical student must do outside the prescribed requirements for a degree.
