Dr Sulochana Krishnan, the legendary nurse sleeps in eternal peace! However, the nursing community
shall continue to derive inspiration, guidance and directions from her though not from her earthy
presence, yet surely from the legacy she bequeathed to us.
A nursing veteran, Dr Sulochana Krishnan passed away on 15 February 2010 due to sudden
cardiac problem around 10 am at her residence in Bangalore (Karnataka). Trained Nurses Association
of India (TNAI), to which Dr Krishnan was closely attached for several decades, held a condolence
meeting to pay tribute to the sterling nurse professional who had also been its Vice President from 1976
to 1981.
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Dr Sulochana Kirshnan’s illustrious career runs in volumes. Her sustained and progressive interest
and far-sighted vision about development of Nursing in the country would always remain indelible. One of the most senior and
eminent Nurse Leaders, she was the first Indian Nurse to complete her Doctorate in Nursing. In her active career (1958-2001),
she planned and conducted training on birth planning services and was instrumental in developing material on birth planning
methods and training curricula for para medical health workers. An active member of various Advisory Boards/Committee at
national and international levels, and several universities in India, she organised several workshops and seminars for Nurses on
Nursing Administration and Education. Recipient of honours including Sarojini Khosla Nightingale Award 1996-97 and Princess
Srinagarindhra Award in 2003, she presented scientific papers related to health and nursing at national and international levels.
She was Nursing Advisor WHO-SEARO and Chairman, Nursing Advisory Committee, Omayal Achi College of Nursing, Chennai
(TN), Professor of Nursing Research and Ph.D Guide for Nursing in MGR University, Chennai (TN). During Centenary
celebrations of TNAI in 2008 held at Mumbai, TNAI honoured her for her extraordinary contribution towards nursing and TNAI.
Reflection by the members
Fondly remembered as an accomplished professional, an impressive teacher, an epitome of human values, a great administrator
and a unique guiding spirit, persons from nursing and other fields unanimously felt that it was a big loss to the health purveyors
of the country and nursing community in particular and that they would be missing her for long.
Reminiscing of the tremendous contribution Dr Sulochana Krishnan made to the profession, Mrs Sheila Seda, Secretary
General, TNAI said that she was an Institution in herself. By temperament, Dr Krishnan was a caring personage with sympathy
and deep concern for human values. Eminent nurse professionals present at this occasion recalled the various outstanding
attributes of personality that Dr Krishnan was: versatile, extempore leader; role model to most youngsters; her unparalleled ways
of teaching, motivation and guidance had no parallel; an affectionate mother, true friend and a great teacher; the acumen to build
up the faculty, treating fledgling nurses as her children; a thorough professional and sincere friend; ability to bring out the best from
students and teachers; popularity among student; devising ways to overcome the challenges. The overall opinion was that she
a woman of substance who never wasted a single minute in her life till her last breath. She was also remembered as a great
visionary leader with total dedication, ever striving to provide the highest quality and standards in nursing care.
Those addressing the gathering, or having sent condolence included Mr AB Kulkarni, President TNAI, Sr Gilbert, Dr Mrs
Dean, Mrs Rose Thomas 1st 2nd and 3rd Vice President TNAI respectively, Mr T Dileep Kumar Nursing Advisor Govt of India, Dr
(Mrs) Bimla Kapoor, Director-Health Sciences, Dr Pity Koul, Professor, Ms Neerja Sood, Lecturer IGNOU, Mrs N Nagpal, Miss
JP Dhaulta and Mrs Sujana Chakravarty, former Secretary Generals TNAI, Mrs Sathish Chawla, former President, Lt Col (Ms)
Molly David, former Asst Secy General TNAI; Ms KK Gulani, former Treasurer, TNAI; Mrs RK Sood, former Nursing Advisor to
the Govt of India, Dr RG Mathur, Ms Rama Pandit, Mrs R Samuel, Dr Molly Babu - alumni of RAK College of Nursing, Mrs
Bandana Bhattacharya, former Principal, RAK College of Nursing, Mrs Usha Malik, Principal, Batra College of Nursing, Ms Jeya
Lakshmi, Principal Symbiosis College of Nursing; Mrs Ratni Thassu; Dr Harinder Goyal, Mrs Ramindra Kalra, Mrs Daisy, faculty
RAK College of Nursing; Mrs Anni Mac Mullen, Consultant Holy Family Hospital, Ms Pramda Bajaj and Mrs Brahmchari, retired
Suprintendents, Lady Reading Health School, Mr Kolapur, President TNAI, Maharastra Branch; Mrs Preeti Chanda, Natasha
Kampani; Mrs OK Kathuria; Mrs R Samuel; Mrs V Dewan; Ms Chaya Kapur; Ms Aneeta Handa, Ms Uma Handa; Mrs N
Subbiah, Dy Secy Gen TNAI. All the TNAI Hqrs staff paid tributes to Dr Sulochana Krishnan.
After the reflection, members observed two-minute silence and paid floral tributes to departed soul. The condolence meeting
ended with the prayer led by Mrs Evelyn P Kannan.
The entire nursing fraternity salutes the exemplary contribution of Dr Sulochana Krishnan. Let us all pray
together for the soul of departed Nurse leader to rest in peace and grant of courage and strength from the God
Almighty to the family members and entire nursing community to bear this unbridgeable gap. We can try to follow
her footsteps by imbibing the values she taught us.
