By Kavita Bajeli-Datt, IANS,
Beijing : Vatsala Kotnis, sister of Dwarkanath Kotnis, an Indian who provided medical assistance during the Sino-Japanese war in the 1930s, Friday met President Pratibha Patil here and invited her to open a memorial to her brother in their home state Maharashtra.
Vatsala Kotnis, a gynaecologist, said she asked the president to inaugurate a museum to her illustrious brother at Sholapur Oct 10 on his 100th birth anniversary.
Dr. Kotnis, as he is still remembered with admiration in China today, is one of five Indian physicians who went to China to provide medical assistance during the Sino-Japanese war.
Besides being known for his dedication and perseverance, Kotnis has been seen as a symbol of Sino-Indian friendship.
“I met the president and invited her to come to Sholapur to inaugurate the museum. The president asked me a lot about Dr. Kotnis and I gave her a photo album,” Vatsala Kotnis, 83, told IANS.
Vatsala Kotnis is here to attend a meeting organised by the Friends of India in China and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. She is accompanied by her sister’s daughter Sarita Hattangadi, also a gynaecologist.
“We are very happy… We hope the president will inaugurate the museum,” she said.