In memory of a very faithful IMANE member who attended most of the meetings & was such a humble soul. RIP. OM SHANTI

Dr. Dhansukhlal C. Mandalaywala, commonly known as “Dr. Lal,” is an internist from Dudley, Massachusetts.

He passed away on May 18, 2020 and was cremated on May 21, 2020 at Phaneuf Crematorium in Manchester, New Hampshire. He is survived by his son, Amol Mandalaywala, his daughter-in-law, Thea Ghandy Mandalaywala, and their son Kaian Mandalaywala, as well as his daughter, Anjali Kaul, her husband, Eric Kaul, and their children Arianna and Andrew Kaul. During the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Mandalaywala, aged 81, continued to practice medicine and treat patients. In spite of following all precautions, he contracted Covid-19 from seeing patients. He is a true hero of our community and will always be remembered as the physician who continued to serve the needy in spite of the risks. Due to the restrictions and social distancing practices resulting from COVID-19, his funeral was attended only by his immediate family and was live streamed for family, friends and associates who could not attend.

Dr. Mandalaywala was born and raised in Mandalay, Burma and attended the Institute of Medicine 1 in Rangoon (Yangon), Burma (Myanmar) and thereafter became a Professor at his alma mater. After immigrating to the US in 1973, he completed his residency at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester, MA. He later served as an Assistant Professor at UMass Medical School and attending physician for the mentally challenged and physically handicapped for nearly two decades. Since 2005, he volunteered as an attending physician at India Society of Worcester and Indian Medical Association of New England’s Free Health Stop to help provide health care for the underserved and uninsured. At the Free Health Stop, he also served as a clinical instructor for UMass medical school students who volunteered at the free clinic. In addition, he provided diligent medical care for survivors of domestic violence who sought help from India Society of Worcester’s Crisis Group. Moreover, with the emergence of the opioid epidemic, Dr. Mandalaywala focused his attention to Addiction Medicine to help promote the recovery of persons with addiction.

Dr. Mandalaywala (Dr. Lal) will always be remembered for his volunteerism, and his dedication to his patients and the profession of medicine. He was a clinician who inspired other colleagues to also espouse the highest standards of care for every patient. He will be missed by his patients at the Free Health Stop for his compassionate care and interest in their well-being. His associates and colleagues will not only miss his professionalism and advocacy in promoting the welfare of others but also his smile and stories about his experiences in Burma and medical school. When asked about his ethics or principles and religion, he often replied: “I was born in a Hindu family, went to Catholic school and raised in a Buddhist country.” He exemplified the maxim of his medical school: “upaṭhānaṃ, anukammā, dayā” (in Pali) which translates into “service, sympathy, humanity.” It would have also led him to reject the notion that he is a hero as he believed that patients need to be seen regardless of the risk of coronavirus.

For his friends and family who knew him well, Dr. Mandalaywala will be missed for his humor, infectious smile and his love of good food ranging from ragda patties to the South Indian idli and sambhar or the Burmese favorites khao swè and mohinga. His family will always remember him for his generous spirit and willingness to help whenever anyone needed it.