Renowned neurologist Dr N.C. Borah honoured with two prestigious national awards

By Nava Thakuria*

Renowned physician and healthcare visionary Dr Nomal Chandra Borah, founder of the GNRC Universal Health Mission and the GNRC Group of Hospitals, has been conferred with two prestigious national Lifetime Achievement Awards in recognition of his transformative contributions to neurology, nursing leadership, and community healthcare over the past five decades.

Dr Borah was recently honoured by the Indian Academy of Neurology (IAN), the apex national body of neurologists, and the Association of Nurse Executive–India (ANEI), the country’s premier organisation representing senior nursing professionals, educators, and administrators.

Commending his extensive research, prolific publications, and role as a mentor and social entrepreneur, the IAN described Dr Borah’s life journey as “monumental for Assam and the nation.” The citation highlighted his integrity, perseverance, and self-belief, noting his pioneering role in establishing the region’s first comprehensive neuroscience centre and in expanding neurological services to previously unreached populations. From humble beginnings, Dr Borah rose to become one of India’s most respected neurologists, contributing significantly to the advancement of neurology and to the growth of the IAN itself.

The ANEI Lifetime Achievement Award, among the highest honours in Indian nursing leadership, recognised Dr Borah as a visionary neurologist and committed social reformer. The citation lauded his initiatives such as GNRC Medireach, Swasthya Mitra, and the GNRC Universal Health Mission, which have focused on delivering affordable healthcare to underserved rural communities. It also acknowledged his role in establishing the Asian Institute of Nursing Education in 2004, which has since emerged as a nationally acclaimed centre for nursing education and leadership.

Dedicating the honours to his patients and their families, as well as to his colleagues, mentors, students, and the entire GNRC family, Dr Borah said, “I remain committed to making healthcare more ethical, equitable, and accessible for all.”

Founded by Dr Borah in 1985 as the Guwahati Neurological Research Centre, GNRC has grown into a leading chain of tertiary care super-specialty hospitals across Assam and West Bengal. Earlier, Dr Borah received several other major honours, including the Mitali Bhuyan Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award (2023), the Lakshminarayan Award (2022), and the Double Helical National Health Award (2017), in recognition of his enduring contributions to affordable healthcare in eastern India.

---

*Senior journalist based in Guwahati

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Concerns raised over move to rename MGNREGA, critics call it politically motivated

By A Representative Concerns have been raised over the Union government’s reported move to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), with critics describing it as a politically motivated step rather than an administrative reform. They argue that the proposed change undermines the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and seeks to appropriate credit for a programme whose relevance has been repeatedly demonstrated, particularly during times of crisis.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

School job scam and the future of university degree holders in West Bengal

By Harasankar Adhikari The school recruitment controversy in West Bengal has emerged as one of the most serious governance challenges in recent years, raising concerns about transparency, institutional accountability, and the broader impact on society. Allegations that school jobs were obtained through irregular means have led to prolonged legal scrutiny, involving both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India. In one instance, a panel for high school teacher recruitment was ultimately cancelled after several years of service, following extended judicial proceedings and debate.

India’s Halal economy 'faces an uncertain future' under the new food Bill

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The proposed Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2025 marks a decisive shift in India’s food regulation landscape by seeking to place Halal certification exclusively under government control while criminalising all private Halal certification bodies. Although the Bill claims to promote “transparency” and “standardisation,” its structure and implications raise serious concerns about religious freedom, economic marginalisation, and the systematic dismantling of a long-established, Muslim-led Halal ecosystem in India.

MG-NREGA: A global model still waiting to be fully implemented

By Bharat Dogra When the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MG-NREGA) was introduced in India nearly two decades ago, it drew worldwide attention. The reason was evident. At a time when states across much of the world were retreating from responsibility for livelihoods and welfare, the world’s second most populous country—with nearly two-thirds of its people living in rural or semi-rural areas—committed itself to guaranteeing 100 days of employment a year to its rural population.

Women’s rights alliance seeks NCW action against Nitish Kumar over public veil incident

By A Representative An alliance of women’s rights activists has urged the National Commission for Women (NCW) to initiate legal action against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over an incident at a public function in Patna that they allege amounted to a grave violation of a Muslim woman’s dignity and constitutional rights. In a detailed complaint dated December 18, the All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA), part of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), sought the NCW’s immediate intervention following an episode on December 15 during the distribution of appointment letters to newly recruited AYUSH doctors in Patna.

Search This Blog