During the Japanese invasion of China, a young Indian doctor from Maharashtra Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis joins the Chinese resistance, meets and courts a Chinese girl, cures a virulent plague, and is captured by a Japanese platoon… A nice film by V. Shantaram. Hu Jintao is visiting his family in Mumbao
Re: Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani
Hu to meet Mumbai doctor’s family
By Monica Chadha
BBC News, Mumbai
Manorama Kotnis is used to the Chinese attention
Manorama Kotnis, 85, is used to meeting Chinese leaders who visit Mumbai (Bombay) - and President Hu Jintao is no different.
She and her family will catch up with the Chinese head of state on Thursday morning during his trip to India’s financial capital.
Ms Kotnis is the sister of Dr Dwarkanath S Kotnis, a little known figure in India but a hero in China.
He died while treating wounded Chinese soldiers in the 1937-1945 conflict with Japan.
In his honour, stamps have been printed bearing his picture in China and there is a memorial to him in the city of Shijiazhuang in Hebei province.
Of course I have a gift for him [President Hu] but I can’t tell you what it is, it would be inappropriate
Manorama Kotnis
Ms Kotnis says most Chinese dignitaries visiting Mumbai usually make a point of inviting the family over to meet them or drop in to their small flat in south Mumbai.
She, her two sisters and five other relatives will be calling on Mr Hu on Thursday morning.
Dr Kotnis’ nephew, Anil Khot, says: "We received a call asking us to come over to the Taj hotel to meet the Chinese president.
“Some dignitaries come over to our house, but due to tight security arrangements here it is easier for us to go there.”
Saved lives
Dwarkanath S Kotnis and four other doctors were sent to China as part of an Indian humanitarian medical mission after China was invaded by Japan.
Born in 1910 in Sholapur district in the western state of Maharashtra, Dr Kotnis studied medicine in what was then Bombay before heading to China.
He served on the frontline and saved many Chinese soldiers’ lives before succumbing to illness. He died in 1942 at the age of 32.
Dr Kotnis is a renowned figure in China
“I was very young when he left for China,” recalls Ms Kotnis. “From what I remember of him, he was a very jovial person. We had good times whenever he was around.”
Ms Kotnis says they received letters from Dr Kotnis regularly and he would write to each of his seven siblings in turn, always describing the situation there, the places he had been to, what he had seen and the work he was doing.
While in China, Dr Kotnis fell in love and married Quo Qinglan - a Chinese nurse who worked with him. They had a son, Ing Hwa, who was studying to become a doctor but fell sick and died when he was 24.
Ms Qinglan is still alive and lives in Dalin in China. Ms Kotnis says they remain in touch with her and regularly write letters to each other.
“She has visited India and it was wonderful to meet and interact with her,” she says.
Mementoes
Ms Kotnis’ small flat, where she stays with her sister, Dr Vatsala Kotnis, is filled with pictures of Dwarkanath and his family.
Old albums with photographs of his time in China have been well maintained with details written over each of them.
A bust of Dr Kotnis is also kept in the hall along with mementoes presented to them by various visiting Chinese dignitaries. They include a ceramic plate with Dr Kotnis’ picture on it and an exquisite flower vase.
Ms Kotnis says Chinese leaders always speak well of her brother.
“It is very gratifying to know they still remember him and the work he did there. They express admiration and respect for him and we feel very proud of our brother,” she says.
She is looking forward to meeting President Hu Jintao and has a memento of her own to present to him.
“He is our guest. Of course I have a gift for him but I can’t tell you what it is, it would be inappropriate,” she says.