K. B. Desai

K. B. Desai
Born	Khandubhai Bhimbhai Desai (1897-09-03)3 September 1897 Sarbhan, Bombay Presidency, British India (now Gujarat, India)
Died	5 November 1979(1979-11-05) (aged 82) Navsari, Gujarat, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Medical doctor
Title	President of Navsari Municipal Council
Political party	Congress
Spouse	Lilavati Desai

K. B. Desai (3 September 1897 – 5 November 1979) was an Indian medical doctor, a local leader of Congress from Navsari during the Indian independence movement, and a social reformer. He was a Gandhian.[1][2][3][4][5]

Freedom struggle

Vallabhbhai Patel was imprisoned in the wake of the Salt March in 1930. Desai acted as a spokesperson for Mahatma Gandhi in Navsari, organizing the local police as a strategy to help release Patel. He was imprisoned on multiple occasions for his role in the freedom struggle.[1][2][3]

President of Navsari Municipal Council

After independence in 1947, he served as President of Navsari Municipal Council (Nagarpalika Pramukh).[4]

Medical career

Desai graduated with an M.B.B.S. from Bombay (Mumbai) in 1922. He obtained further medical training from Dublin and Vienna. Desai provided surgical, obstetric, dental and non-surgical care. He built and ran K. B. Desai Hospital in Navsari.[5][6][7]

Social reform

Desai was actively involved in social reform movements. He opposed the caste system, admitting patients of all castes to his hospital and serving them food from a single kitchen using one set of utensils.[8]

References

1. Patel, Vallabhbhai (1994). The Collected Works of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: 1932-1934 : Civil Disobedience Movement and Sardar Patel's Second Incarceration Death of Mother and Brother Vithalbhai. Konark Publishers. ISBN 978-81-220-0343-7.
2. Source Material for a History of the Freedom Movement in India: Mahatma Gandhi. pts. 1-7. Printed at the Government Central Press. 1969.
3. Svātantrya saṅgrāmanā laḍavaiyā: Gujarāta Rājya (in Gujarati). Māhitī Khātuṃ, Gujarāta Sarakāra. 1969.
4. Gandhi, Chiman N. (16 May 2018). I Did It My Ways: An Autobiography with Controversies. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64249-776-2.
5. The Maharashtra Medical Register. Maharashtra Medical Council. 1968.
6. The Medical Directory ...: London, Provinces, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Abroad, Navy, Army & Air Force. J. & A. Churchill, Limited. 1961.
7. Kaura, Ajīta; Caur, Arpana (1976). Directory of Indian Women Today, 1976. India International Publications.
8. Jīvana Tathā Saṃskr̥ti: Śrī Paṃ. Ānandapriya Abhinandana-grantha (in Hindi). Śrī. Paṃ. Ānandapriya Abhinandana Grantha Samiti. 1976.