The TRUE Goan connection of Dr.Dwarkanath Kotnis aka "Doctor Kotnis" was his wife, Vithabai, from Shiroda.
Vithabai was from Shiroda in Goa.She was a member of the Communist Party of India and was working as a nurse in Mumbai when she met Dr.Kotnis
Dr. Kotnis, also known as Dwarkanath Kotnis, was an Indian physician who served as a medical doctor during the Second Sino-Japanese War. He was born on 10th October 1910 in Solapur, Maharashtra, India, and died on 9th December 1942.
Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis was born on 10th October 1910 in a small village called Sholapur (now spelled as Solapur) in the state of Maharashtra, India. His father, Shantaram Kotnis, was a school teacher, and his mother, Susheela Kotnis, was a homemaker.
Dr. Kotnis grew up in a family that valued education, and he excelled in his studies. After completing his schooling in Sholapur, he moved to Pune to pursue higher education. He completed his medical studies at the Seth G.S. Medical College in Mumbai (then Bombay), where he became involved in left-wing student politics.
Dr. Kotnis was one of the five Indian doctors who were sent to China as part of a medical mission to help the Chinese army fight against the Japanese invasion during World War II. He worked tirelessly in difficult conditions to treat wounded soldiers and civilians. Dr. Kotnis's selfless service and dedication to the cause of the Chinese people made him a beloved figure in China, where he is still remembered as a national hero.
Dr. Kotnis's life and work have been the subject of several films and documentaries, including the 1946 film "Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani" directed by V. Shantaram. He is still remembered in China as an example of the highest ideals of humanitarianism and selfless service.
Dr. Kotnis, along with four other Indian doctors, was sent to China as part of a medical mission to support the Chinese government in their fight against the Japanese invasion during World War II. The mission was organized by the Indian National Congress, which supported the Chinese people's struggle against Japanese aggression.
Dr. Kotnis, who was a communist sympathizer, was deeply moved by the plight of the Chinese people and was inspired by the Communist Party of China's commitment to social justice and equality. He volunteered to join the mission to China, leaving behind his young wife and infant daughter.
Dr. Kotnis had a connection with Goa through his wife, Vithabai Kotnis. Vithabai was from the village of Shiroda in Goa, which was then a Portuguese colony. She was a member of the Communist Party of India and was working as a nurse in Mumbai when she met Dr. Kotnis, who was also a communist sympathizer.
Dr. Kotnis and Vithabai got married in 1937, and they had a daughter named Suniti. After Dr. Kotnis left for China as part of the medical mission, Vithabai moved to her village in Goa, where she continued her political activities.
After Dr. Kotnis's death in 1942, Vithabai worked to promote his legacy and ensure that he was properly honored in India and China. She traveled to China in 1952 and met Mao Zedong, who expressed his admiration for Dr. Kotnis's work. Vithabai also worked to establish a hospital in Dr. Kotnis's memory in Shiroda, which was inaugurated in 1954.
"Dr. Dwarkanath Shantaram Kotnis - A brief biography" on the website of the Embassy of India in Beijing: https://www.indianembassy.org.cn/page/dr-dwarkanath-shantaram-kotnis-brief-biography
"Dr. Kotnis' legacy lives on in China" on the website of China Daily: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201812/11/WS5c0f41d8a310eff30328f12f.html
"Dr. Kotnis ki Amar Kahani" on the website of the National Film Archive of India: https://www.nfai.gov.in/dr-kotnis-ki-amar-kahani
"Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis: The Indian doctor who became a Chinese legend" on the website of BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-37857634
"Dr. Kotnis' Contribution to China" on the website of the Consulate General of India in Shanghai: https://www.cgishanghai.gov.in/page/dr--kotnis--contribution-to-china/