In medicine, doctors are regarded as next only to God, if not God themselves, as they have the power of saving someone’s precious lives. Among this renowned community, a brilliant and dedicated Indian military doctor made unparalleled contributions during the Korean War. One such legendary Indian military doctor that got his named inscribed in golden letter in history was Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Arcot G. Rangaraj. This is his story, the story of courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the welfare of soldiers caught in the throes of conflict.
Dr. Rangaraj was born in 1916 in Arcot, Tamil Nadu. His early life was marked by education and service. In the 1930s he graduated in medicine from Madras Medical College in Chennai. It was in 1941 that he joined the Indian Medical Services, which emerged as part of the military of Britain (British Army) in India. Within a year, he also completed his basic military training in Meerut and proceeded to the Indian General Hospital Meerut.
Dr. Rangaraj’s enthusiasm for adventure and pursuit for perfection soon led him to enroll himself in the Indian Parachute Unit, earning him the distinction of the first military parachutists in India. After training under the British troops in the Middle East, he landed successfully in the annals of national headlines as “Lieut-Col Dr. Rangaraj, the First Paratrooper of India.” It was World War II that presented to him the toughest test of his mettle in Burma where he treated wounded soldiers and got invaluable experience in battlefield medicine.
When the Korean War broke out in 1950, all over the world was wringing with tension as North Korea, supported by Russia and China, clashed with South Korea, backed by a United Nations coalition of 21 countries. The Indian government decided not to dispatch combat troops but committed a medical team as a humane gesture to support the effort of the UN in Korea. In response to this, the Indian Army deputed the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance Unit for this mission, thus making it India’s first overseas mission after gaining independence.
As the commanding officer of this unit, Dr. Rangaraj moved a team of 346 personnel, which included four surgeons, two anesthetists, and a dentist, to the war-torn region. The unit was described as a MASH, and it rapidly became essential in treating thousands of wounded soldiers who required emergency medical attention. The unit parachuted behind enemy lines during critical operations, like Operation Tomahawk-an extensive airborne infiltration by U.S. forces.
The worst weather was no deterrent to Dr. Rangaraj and his team. Conflict was always the lurking specter in the back of their minds. His devotion to the soldiers did not even waver in the Korean War (1950-53), in which they attended more than 200,000 casualties and carried out over 2,300 field medical operations. One of the more significant things the Indian medical team did was to train local Korean doctors and nurses; in the post-war scenario, the region was much better equipped in terms of medical infrastructure.
The professionalism and a non-partisan attitude showed by the Dr. Rangaraj and his staff impressed everyone from the forces of the UN to Korean civilian populace. The 60th Parachute Field Ambulance Unit concluded three years of dedicated services and returned to India. For their outstanding service, the team was awarded President’s Trophy in 1955 by Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
For his gallantry, Dr. Rangaraj was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra or MVC, India’s second-highest military honor in recognition of his remarkable contribution during Operation Tomahawk. In addition, he and three others of his unit were further rewarded with the Chungmu Distinguished Military Service Award from the Korean military as well.
(1/4) Honoured as a hero by Korea Lieutenant Colonel Dr Arcot G (AG) Rangaraj led a medical mission to the Korean peninsula in November 1950 that is remembered to this day for its bravery and professionalism under trying circumstances. pic.twitter.com/QOJUGGNQMF
— The Better India (@thebetterindia) July 1, 2022
Dr. Rangaraj retired in 1966 from his military career and continued to stay active in the public health sector, actively participating with UNICEF, WHO, and UNHCR in the global programs undertaken to eradicate smallpox and other health-related objectives. All these clearly exhibit the commitment of saving humankind throughout his life.
On July 2020, during the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, the South Korean government displayed his photograph at the war memorial and in public spaces throughout Korea as a “Korean War Hero.” This gesture reflects the gratitude and respect that the Korean people have maintained towards him for his efforts.
The legacy of Dr. Rangaraj is not in the number of lives saved but in the deep relationships he made with those he treated. He was the very definition of what it means to be a healer, showing compassion and human connection are paramount in the practice of medicine. Lt Col Dr. Arcot G. Rangaraj proved through his unrelenting effort that even in the bleakest of times, hope and healing can prevail.
