A Daughter’s Emotional Journey to Edinburgh
By Sunidhi Thaman Bhatia
This Father’s Day feels different. A few weeks ago, I found myself walking through the quiet corridors of my father’s alma mater—Royal College of Physicians of Scotland. And suddenly, the ache of his absence grew louder.
Dr. Om Parkash Thaman wasn’t just my father—he was a healer, a teacher, and a man deeply rooted in his purpose. A distinguished pediatrician and academician, he served at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi and the Medical College in Srinagar before leading as Professor and Head of Pediatrics at Amritsar Medical College.
His presence was everywhere—in the lecture halls echoing with wisdom, in the eyes of his students who still speak of him with reverence, and in the quiet dignity of the institution he helped shape.
This is not just a tribute—it’s a daughter’s conversation with the memory of a father who continues to guide her in unseen ways.
Walking the Streets of Edinburgh Where My Father Once Dreamed
Some journeys are more than just travel — they are emotional homecomings. As I walked through the storied streets of Edinburgh, I wasn’t just visiting a historic city in the UK. I was retracing the footsteps of my father — a young Indian medical student who once dared to dream in a distant land, and who left behind more than just degrees and accolades. He left behind a legacy of love, resilience, and purpose.
Discovering My Father’s Legacy in Edinburgh
Edinburgh had always existed in my world as the elegant name on your certificates — framed on our walls, silently celebrating your academic brilliance. But the city itself had remained abstract, distant. Until I arrived.
Standing in front of the historic building where your journey began, I finally understood what those frames couldn’t tell me. This was not just the Royal College of Physicians of Scotland — this was the place where a small-town boy from India, dressed in a tweed overcoat, stepped forward with fire in his heart and the weight of dreams on his shoulders. The year was sometime in the 1950s, a time when studying abroad was a distant reality for many. But you made it happen.
The Past Felt Alive — And So Did You
As I climbed those regal staircases, touched the cool stone walls, and wandered through the echoing corridors, a stillness wrapped around me — not empty, but filled with presence. I could almost hear your voice, feel your breath in the Edinburgh air. I imagined your first day, your nerves, your hopes, and your unspoken promises to yourself.
This was more than just nostalgia — it was connection. A place alive with your energy, echoing with your determination, and glowing with the warmth of your legacy.
The Questions I Still Carry With Me
I wish I could ask you so many things.
Where did your strength come from? Was it your deep self-belief, your unshakable clarity, or that fire within that pushed you through every storm?
Who were the people who shaped you?
Was it your mother, who proudly called you “Doctor”? Even in her final years, when faces and names faded, she remembered you.
Was it your teacher — the one from senior school whose words stayed with you for life?
You always spoke of them with reverence. They must have seen in you what we all came to know — a healer with a heart of gold.
More Than a Doctor, You Were a Man of Grace
I am proud of your achievements — the titles, the medals, the honour. But I’m prouder still of the human being you were.
So full of compassion, so humble in greatness, so deeply rooted in love.
You showed us that it doesn’t matter where you begin — what matters is who you become. That a spirit, once set alight, can never be dimmed by circumstance. That even from the smallest of towns, you can rise to touch the world.
A Legacy That Lives On
Standing there in Edinburgh, I realised your story didn’t end when you left us. It lives in every life you healed, every value you instilled, every dream you inspired — including mine.
You remain with me… not just in memory, but in presence. In the strength I carry, in the choices I make, in the love that continues to guide me.
About the Author
Sunidhi Thaman Bhatia is a passionate educator with over two decades of experience shaping young minds. Known for her thoughtful teaching and empathetic approach, she has inspired generations of learners. Outside the classroom, she finds solace in books and often turns to reflective writing as a way to make sense of life’s quieter moments. This piece is a heartfelt tribute—a daughter remembering her father, not just as a doctor, but as her guiding light.
