# G. Bakthavathsalam

Govindaswamy Bakthavathsalam (born 5 April 1942) is an Indian surgeon, chairman, and managing trustee of the Dharmaveera K. Govindaswamy Naidu Medical Trust, which operates the K.G. Hospital in Coimbatore, India. Bakthavathsalam was awarded the Padma Shri in 2005.

## Early life and education

Dr. Govindaswamy Bakthavathsalam, also known as Dr. G.B. was born on 5 April 1942 in the village of Annur, in the Coimbatore district. In 1964, he graduated with a Master of Science and MBBS from Madras Medical College. He then received his post-graduate training in surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

## Career

Dr. Govindaswamy Bakthavathsalam's father - Dharmaveera K. Govindaswamy - wished that his son return to India. To honor his father's wishes, Dr. Bakthavathsalam returned to India in 1973. A year later, in 1974, his father established KG Hospital.
KG Hospital began as a 10-bed facility with one doctor. Since then, it has grown into a 550-bed, multi-specialty postgraduate medical center.
He established the K.G. Eye Hospital, which has provided 85,000 free cataract surgeries for the poor, funded by the Lions Club. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the former president of India, mentioned KG Hospital's efforts in his book India 2020.
Under Bakthavathsalam's leadership, KG Hospital has performed 1,600 free heart surgeries and provided 1,500 free dialysis treatments. Through KG Hospital's Little Hearts scheme, 500 heart operations have been performed on children, and 35,000 children have been screened for heart diseases. Additionally, over 300,000 adults have been screened for blood pressure and 35,000 accident victims have been saved. KG Hospital routinely conducts rural medical camps, through which over 1.4 million people have been screened free of charge.
KG Hospital provided free treatment to 250 bomb blast victims in Coimbatore in 1998 and assisted victims of the Kargil War, Gujarat Earthquake, the Kumbakonam school fire tragedy, Tsunami, Cyclone Thane, and the Kerala floods.

## Positions held

Throughout his career, Bakthavathsalam has held positions such as: Professor of Surgery, Govt. Royapettah Hospital, Madras; Registrar of Surgery, Coimbatore Medical College, (1969–73); Surgical Registrar, Altoona Hospital, Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States, (1973); Fellow in GI Endoscopy at Tokyo University, Japan (1984); Consultant Surgeon, G. Kuppusamy Naidu Memorial Hospital, Coimbatore (1978); Recognized Guide for Ph.D. research students of Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore, (since 1985); and Honorary Professor of Surgery, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Coimbatore (1988).
He has served as president of the Uro Lithiasis Project Scheme (ICMR), Indian Medical Association (1986–87), Association of Surgeons of India—Coimbatore, Accident Care Association of Coimbatore, Coimbatore Hospitals' Association, and Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy of India (1991).

## Memberships

He has also been a member of national and regional committees in India, including the following:
Medical Council of India, New Delhi (1972–1990), Planning Board, Dr. M.G.R.Medical University, Chennai (1994), Planning Board, Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore (1990), Syndicate, Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore (1983–86), Senate, Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore (1990–93), Board of Governors—Indira Gandhi School of Management, Pondicherry University (1990), Executive Committee, Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Coimbatore, and Tamil Nadu State Telephone Advisory Committee.
He currently holds management positions in various KG Group ventures, including KG Hospital, The Kannapiran Mills, The Kadri Mills, KG Healthcare, and KG Information Systems Private Limited.

## Accolades

In 1984, he received the Dr. B. C. Roy Award from Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
In 1999, he received the Seva Ratna Award from the Centenarian Trust.
In 2001, he received the Vaidya Ratna Award from Sri Adichunchanagiri Maha Samsthana Math.
In 2003, he received the Life Time Achievement Award from Salem Gastro Centre.
In 2005, he received the Padma Shri (for his work in medicine) from the then President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The same year, he received The Jewel of Coimbatore Award and the PSG Distinguished Alumni Award.
In 2008, he received the Manithaneya Maruthuva Maadhava Maamani, and the Chandrayan of Doctors from the Indian Medical Association, Mettupalayam.
On 10 November 2009, he received the D.Sc.honoris causa from the MGR Medical University, Tamil Nadu, India. That same year, he received the Maruthuva Dharma Chemmal Award from the Indian Medical Association, Palani.
In 2010, he received the Sri Sakthi Amma Oration Award from Narayani Peedam, Vellore, and the Dr. Rajammal P. Devados Oration Award from Avinashilingam University for women, Coimbatore.
In 2011, he received the Pro-Life Award from Life for All and Life International USA; the Dr. K.P. Misra Endowment Oration Award from the Sri Jagannath Spiritual Educational Cultural Trust & The Utkal Association of Madras; and an Honorary Fellowship from the Quality Council of India, New Delhi.
In 2015, he received the Siksha Vibhushan - Educational Excellence the Highest Award, from the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University - Mount Abu.
In 2016, he received the Dharma Veera Award from the Medical Fraternity of Coimbatore Region.
In 2017, he received the TMPA LIMRA Excellence Award from the Tamil Nadu Medical Practitioners Association, and the Award of Appreciation - 2017, from the Tamil Nadu Government for outstanding performance in Organ Transplant related activities. He also received the Award for Excellence Teaching DNB Programmes.
In 2018, he received an Emeritus Teacher Award, the Vocational Excellence Award from the Rotary Club, and was named Legend of Coimbatore by Dr. Mohan's Diabetic Specialities Centre.
In 2019, he received the Great Divine Healer Award from the Coimbatore Multipurpose Social Service Society, the Eminent Educator Award from VGM Foundation in Coimbatore, the Jewel of India Award from Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya in Mount Abu, Rajasthan, and the Thought Leader Award from KG Hospital’s Postgraduates and CRRIs..
In 2021, he was named Healthcare Icon/Leader National 2021 by Economic Times.