A DOCTOR who moved to England in search of a better life and dedicated himself to improving the lives of others has died.
Bipul Nandi, who worked at the North Chingford Medical Practice in The Ridgeway after qualifying as a GP in 1979, died of heart failure, aged 68, last week.
His family have now paid tribute to Dr Nandi, who retired in 2008 due to poor health.
His widow, Sila Nandi, 59, of Wyemead Crescent in Chingford, said despite his health problems, his death had come as a shock.
She said: "It was very sudden. We were a very close family and we all miss him very much.
"His patients were his first priority. Dozens and dozens of people relied upon him.
"Every Christmas Day my son and I were left to sit in the car while he was visiting the old patients who had no families.
"We'd get very cold because he'd have been gone for a long time, then he used to come back and laugh because he would have had a cup of tea and a mince pie with them and had forgotten we were waiting."
The GP studied medicine in Calcutta, where he met his wife.
He emigrated to England in 1976 and worked at various hospitals before training as a GP at Seven Kings Health Centre. He joined North Chingford Medical Practice in 1983.
His only son, Bilab Nandi, said: "I am very proud of him. He came from very humble beginnings but came over on his own in search of a better life, it's a massive achievement.
"He was a complete workaholic and he really devoted himself to helping his patients. Even when we went back home [to India] there were ridiculous queues outside the house, literally hundreds of people, all waiting for his medical services."
And the 37-year-old said his father inspired him to become a doctor himself and he is now a paediatric surgeon working in Malawi.
He said: "He wanted an easier life for me but I didn't listen. Without a doubt he was my inspiration. "It's very difficult for me to live up to him. He was one of the last doctors who was on call 24/7. That kind of dedication doesn't exist anymore."
His funeral will take place at Forest Park Crematorium in Hainault at 3.45pm on Wednesday, July 18. People are welcome to attend.
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