A recipient of 14 major recognitions, including the Dr BC Roy Award, and a leading expert in respiratory medicine , Prof Rajendra Prasad has completed 60 years of his association with the City of Nawabs. In an interview with Vivek Singh Chauhan, Prof Prasad spoke about his journey from Basti to Lucknow, his key contributions to pulmonary care at KGMU , and the evolution and challenges of medical education and healthcare in India. Edited excerpts:
Tell us about your journey from Basti to Lucknow, and how it shaped your academic and professional life?
After completing my high school about 60 years ago, I was living in my native place Basti and studying at HR Inter College in Khalilabad. Honestly, I didn’t plan to continue my studies, but my father was firm that I should. My elder brother, who was pursuing MS in surgery in 1966 at the then King George’s Medical College (now KGMU), brought me to Lucknow and got me admitted to the Lucknow Christian College — one of the best intermediate colleges of the time. That decision changed everything. It laid the foundation for my academic and professional life in medicine.
What were your first impression of Lucknow, and how did you adapt to the ways of the city?
Initially, I didn’t want to leave home. I came from a conservative family and had little exposure to the outside world. Lucknow felt unfamiliar and overwhelming. Lucknow Christian College had outstanding teachers, and the city gradually grew on me. Its academic culture and social warmth helped me settle in and thrive.
What changes do you find in the education system of Lucknow today as compared to your student years?
Everyone was far more disciplined back then. Christian College had iconic teachers like Dr VP Saxena (chemistry), and principal CM Thakur who was so strict even teachers were cautious when he was around. Today, things have become more relaxed. Students and teachers enjoy greater freedom, which has its pros and cons.
What have been the major cultural and infrastructural changes in Lucknow over the years?
Lucknow was a city of grace and etiquette. Aliganj hadn’t developed yet. Hazratganj and Aminabad were the city’s main commercial hubs. The railway station has now undergone a complete transformation. The biggest change, however, is in the way people interact. Back then, people were full of respect for each other while interacting. I remember I went to Meerut for my pre-medical examination in 1969 and was struck by how informal people were in Meerut as compared to Lucknow’s polite mannerisms.
Tell us about the memorable moments from your student days that you still cherish?
One that stands out is when our college mess shut down, and we had to find food outside. We often went to Sindh Hotel in Aminabad — a favourite among students. The warmth and respect we received there truly reflected the cultural elegance of old Lucknow.
How has respiratory medicine evolved over the last 50 years, and what was your role in this journey?
The transformation was extraordinary. When I started my MD in 1976, the department was known as TB & Chest Diseases. In 2005, I led the initiative to rename it the Department of Respiratory Medicine, the first such change in India. Today, the specialty includes critical care, sleep medicine, and much more. The scope has expanded and so has the technology.
What motivated you to rename the department from TB & Chest Diseases to Respiratory Medicine?
Initially, the department’s focus was largely on tuberculosis and pneumonia. But as the spectrum of respiratory diseases widened, we needed a broader, more inclusive identity. The renaming signalled a shift in focus and helped inspire similar changes across medical institutions in India.
What major advancements in respiratory care did you introduce at KGMU?
In 1999, I introduced Uttar Pradesh’s first video bronchoscopy unit at KGMU. Then, in 2006, we set up the state’s first sleep lab. These were milestones in improving diagnosis and treatment. My WHO fellowship in Japan in 1989 exposed me to cutting-edge respiratory care, and I brought many of those practices to India.
What are the key challenges in respiratory healthcare in India, especially in Uttar Pradesh?
Respiratory illnesses account for nearly 40-50% of OPD cases at primary healthcare centres. While the govt is investing in new medical colleges, many still lack trained faculty and modern equipment. There is a pressing need to ensure uniform infrastructure and expertise across the country.
How can India improve its respiratory healthcare to meet global standards? What can we learn from developed nations?
India is expanding horizontally — opening more colleges and hospitals. But Japan focused on vertical growth, deepening specialisation. When I visited Japan in 1989, they already had separate departments for small-cell and non-small-cell lung cancer. Even today, such specialisation is rare in India. We need to shift our focus from just increasing numbers to improving quality, ensuring that every institution has the capability and trained personnel to deliver specialised care.
Tell us about your journey from Basti to Lucknow, and how it shaped your academic and professional life?
After completing my high school about 60 years ago, I was living in my native place Basti and studying at HR Inter College in Khalilabad. Honestly, I didn’t plan to continue my studies, but my father was firm that I should. My elder brother, who was pursuing MS in surgery in 1966 at the then King George’s Medical College (now KGMU), brought me to Lucknow and got me admitted to the Lucknow Christian College — one of the best intermediate colleges of the time. That decision changed everything. It laid the foundation for my academic and professional life in medicine.
What were your first impression of Lucknow, and how did you adapt to the ways of the city?
Initially, I didn’t want to leave home. I came from a conservative family and had little exposure to the outside world. Lucknow felt unfamiliar and overwhelming. Lucknow Christian College had outstanding teachers, and the city gradually grew on me. Its academic culture and social warmth helped me settle in and thrive.
What changes do you find in the education system of Lucknow today as compared to your student years?
Everyone was far more disciplined back then. Christian College had iconic teachers like Dr VP Saxena (chemistry), and principal CM Thakur who was so strict even teachers were cautious when he was around. Today, things have become more relaxed. Students and teachers enjoy greater freedom, which has its pros and cons.
What have been the major cultural and infrastructural changes in Lucknow over the years?
Lucknow was a city of grace and etiquette. Aliganj hadn’t developed yet. Hazratganj and Aminabad were the city’s main commercial hubs. The railway station has now undergone a complete transformation. The biggest change, however, is in the way people interact. Back then, people were full of respect for each other while interacting. I remember I went to Meerut for my pre-medical examination in 1969 and was struck by how informal people were in Meerut as compared to Lucknow’s polite mannerisms.
Tell us about the memorable moments from your student days that you still cherish?
One that stands out is when our college mess shut down, and we had to find food outside. We often went to Sindh Hotel in Aminabad — a favourite among students. The warmth and respect we received there truly reflected the cultural elegance of old Lucknow.
How has respiratory medicine evolved over the last 50 years, and what was your role in this journey?
The transformation was extraordinary. When I started my MD in 1976, the department was known as TB & Chest Diseases. In 2005, I led the initiative to rename it the Department of Respiratory Medicine, the first such change in India. Today, the specialty includes critical care, sleep medicine, and much more. The scope has expanded and so has the technology.
What motivated you to rename the department from TB & Chest Diseases to Respiratory Medicine?
Initially, the department’s focus was largely on tuberculosis and pneumonia. But as the spectrum of respiratory diseases widened, we needed a broader, more inclusive identity. The renaming signalled a shift in focus and helped inspire similar changes across medical institutions in India.
What major advancements in respiratory care did you introduce at KGMU?
In 1999, I introduced Uttar Pradesh’s first video bronchoscopy unit at KGMU. Then, in 2006, we set up the state’s first sleep lab. These were milestones in improving diagnosis and treatment. My WHO fellowship in Japan in 1989 exposed me to cutting-edge respiratory care, and I brought many of those practices to India.
What are the key challenges in respiratory healthcare in India, especially in Uttar Pradesh?
Respiratory illnesses account for nearly 40-50% of OPD cases at primary healthcare centres. While the govt is investing in new medical colleges, many still lack trained faculty and modern equipment. There is a pressing need to ensure uniform infrastructure and expertise across the country.
How can India improve its respiratory healthcare to meet global standards? What can we learn from developed nations?
India is expanding horizontally — opening more colleges and hospitals. But Japan focused on vertical growth, deepening specialisation. When I visited Japan in 1989, they already had separate departments for small-cell and non-small-cell lung cancer. Even today, such specialisation is rare in India. We need to shift our focus from just increasing numbers to improving quality, ensuring that every institution has the capability and trained personnel to deliver specialised care.
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