Chandigarh, August 28:- The 6th Prof. B. L. Talwar Oration, organised by the Department of GI Surgery, HPB & Liver Transplantation, PGIMER, Chandigarh, brought together faculty, former professors, surgeons, students and delegates to honour the legacy of Prof. B. L. Talwar and discuss the changing landscape of surgical education.
The oration was delivered by Dr. R. A. Shastri, KIMS Hospitals, Hyderabad, on “The Teacher Lives On: Surgical Wisdom from Prof. B. L. Talwar in the Digital Era of AI and Simulation.”
Reflecting on his nearly five-decade association with PGIMER, Dr. Shastri described his return as “not merely an honour, but a kind of homecoming.” Recalling his training under Prof. Talwar, he said, “This institution shaped me. It shaped my worldview, my craft and my character.”
Dr. Shastri highlighted Prof. Talwar’s demanding yet supportive mentorship and emphasised the enduring relevance of the Guru-Shishya Parampara in surgical training. “These were not instructions. They were insights. This is tacit knowledge—the kind only a guru can transmit,” he said.
Discussing artificial intelligence, Dr. Shastri acknowledged its potential in simulation, literature synthesis, conceptual learning and skill development, but cautioned that technology cannot replace human mentorship. “AI can teach technique. It can simulate complexity. It can predict outcomes. But AI cannot teach judgement, courage, compassion, ethics and humility.” He added, “Technology should not replace the teacher. It should liberate the teacher.”
Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, paid tribute to the Institute’s founding generation, particularly Prof. Talwar. “The glory that we have and that we bask in today is because of these founding fathers,” he said, stressing their commitment to patients and students. Recalling Prof. Talwar’s humility even after retirement, Prof. Lal said his legacy must continue through institutional values and action.
Prof. Rajesh Gupta, Head, Department of GI Surgery, HPB & Liver Transplantation, introduced Dr. Shastri as a pioneer of gastrointestinal and hepatopancreatobiliary surgery in India and highlighted his academic and professional contributions.
Prof. Sanjay Jain, Dean Academics, said the oration reflected PGIMER’s strong academic tradition and noted the significance of distinguished alumni returning as leaders and teachers.
The event reaffirmed PGIMER’s commitment to surgical excellence, mentorship, humility, ethical practice and patient-centred care while embracing modern technology and AI.