As a highly eminent and decorated cardiologist on the one hand and revered priest and patriarch interpreting Vedic scriptures for a diaspora facing a cultural and spiritual disconnect on the other, he celebrates life in all its forms. He dons his surgeon’s coat and takes up his scalpel with the same zeal and commitment he shows when he puts on his priestly robes and solemnly intones Vedic verses at his weekly prayer meetings.
Budhendranauth is one of the most respected leaders and philanthropists in the South Asian community of the Greater Toronto Area and North America. As a medicine expert and a community leader, he has enriched the lives of many. He has gained the trust and respect of people through his various voluntary community service roles in Canada and other parts of the world.
As far back as Budhendranauth can remember, his ancestors have always been traditional priests, conducting prayers and religious ceremonies.
Rediscovering values: Generation-to-generation
Budhendra recalls, “My grandfather, Vishnudat, was the first from our family who travelled abroad from a small village of Bihar when he was around 24–26, to take up priestly duties in a temple in Guyana. Actually, I have never seen him; all that I know about him is from my father, Pandit Ramsahai Doobay”.
“My grandfather had six children, three of whom were initiated into the priestly duties and functions at an early age. My father was the eldest among the siblings. Following his father, my father too started teaching me everything rather early. By the time I was 11, I knew enough to competently assist him and by 13, I could handle some rituals and ceremonies all by myself for the Hindu community in Guyana.”
Budhendra’s life has been quite eventful. From a childhood in a poor family of eight, including his parents in an obscure village of Weldaad in Berbice, to his towering presence today in Toronto, he has achieved his milestones with courage, perseverance and dignity.
Talking about his parents, the learned doctor says, “My mother, Jasorda, was more or less immersed in her everyday chores without any household help, from which I deduce it wasn’t easy for her to bring up six children and still remain cheerful and smiling. But she did and with admiral courage”.
Back then, as there were no telephones or electricity supply in their village, they studied by the light of a kerosene lamp. Budhendra did his early schooling from Georgetown, which was some distance away. He loved playing cricket as a young lad.
At 25 in 1965, he entered the University of the West Indies and successfully completed his degree in medicine. He completed his college with honours and with distinction in surgery in London and then proceeded with an internship in Jamaica and later worked in a hospital in Georgetown.
Desire for knowledge
“But the desire for higher knowledge was strong within me. I obtained my FRCS qualification from London in general surgery in 1977. Then, I obtained an FRS in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery from Edinburgh. Later, I did another FRCS from England.” After clearing all these many specialisation examinations, he was elected a member of the International Society of Endovascular Specialists (ISES).
Until this time everything seemed to be moving along very smoothly. Budhendra was happy to get back to Guyana and start his practice. But there was still this nagging feeling to do something more, something bigger and better. Ultimately, it got the better of him and he decided to migrate to Toronto.
Migration throws its own set of challenges, no matter the accomplishments. Doobay had to go through all his specialisation exams once again. As a result, he soon held four FRCS degrees – the last one from Canada. Between 1980 and 1986, he worked at McMaster Medical Hospital, Consultant Hamilton Health Science Corporation (St. Joseph’s Medical Hospital, Hamilton, and the Oakville Trafalgar, Oakville) in various capacities.
He has often been recognised for his efforts in the field of medicine and towards society. The first South Asian to be awarded the Order of Ontario for his efforts towards Canadian society, he was awarded the Good Citizenship award by the Governor-General in 2006. Among some others are the Guyana Leadership Award, Lifetime Outstanding Achievement Award by the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, etc.
That which matters
Despite his busy schedule as a specialist surgeon, Budhendra noticed that the south Asian diaspora in Toronto was a disparate lot that lacked a sense of community, a common voice and a purpose or direction. To counter the prejudices against Hindus, he systematically began their integration into mainstream Canada.
It all started with holding monthly prayer meetings at the David and Mary Thomson Collegiate, Scarborough. Today, there’s a Vishnu Temple with weekly prayer meetings, where the attendance is in thousands. The temple at Richmond Hill was inaugurated in 1984. The temple complex also houses a sprawling Museum of Indian Civilisation commissioned in 2004, a Montessori Kindergarten, a set of 25 apartments for senior citizens and a women’s club. A 50-ft. statue of Lord Hanumana, the tallest in North America, also stands within the temple complex. A Peace Garden within the campus is a tribute to the memory of fallen Canadian soldiers. Unveiled in 2010 on World Peace Day, the park has been designed by Col. Gerry Nudds, a close friend of Budhendra. The crowning glory of the garden is the metallic Peace Wall where stands commemorative busts of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Guru Nanak Dev ji and the religious symbols of Judaism and Islam. It is a testimony to unity, peace and harmony. The temple also runs a women’s club and a Bal Vihaar programme which teaches kids the fundamentals of Swami Dayanand Saraswati. Preserving the Indian culture and tradition, it also offers classes in Indian classical and Bollywood music.
He has adopted a girls’ orphanage in India and helps support an IT school in Guyana, where he has also established Doobay Medical Centre, which provides free dialysis to the needy. With all that he does, he has truly become a vessel of humanity and awareness.