In an era where medical care is often synonymous with rising costs, one senior professional at India’s premier veterinary institute is quietly rewriting the meaning of service.
Dr. Abhijit M. Pawde, Principal Scientist at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, has emerged as a beacon of compassion in veterinary clinical practice—offering free professional advice to fellow veterinarians, pro bono treatment to poor livestock owners, and completely cost-free care to stray, feral, and community animals.
Dr. Pawde’s clinic doors remain
open not just for elite referrals, but for the voiceless and the vulnerable, animals that otherwise have no access to specialized veterinary care.
Healing Without a Price Tag
As the Coordinator of the Referral Veterinary Polyclinic and in charge of the Centre for Wildlife Conservation, Management & Disease Surveillance at IVRI, Dr. Pawde routinely treats animals with complex surgical, dental, orthopaedic, and soft tissue conditions, many of them without charging a single penny.
Stray dogs with fractures, community animals with chronic wounds, wildlife rescued from distress, and livestock owned by economically marginal farmers find a rare ally in him.
“Treatment should depend on need, not on affordability,” Dr. Pawde is known to say, reflecting a philosophy that places ethics above economics.
A Silent Support System for Veterinarians
Beyond animals, Dr. Pawde has become an informal national helpline for veterinarians. Young field veterinarians, private practitioners, and government doctors frequently seek his guidance for complicated cases, guidance he provides freely, without consultation fees, even outside working hours.
In a profession where isolation and decision pressure are common, his mentorship has quietly saved countless animal lives across the country.
Science with a Soul
With over 175 research articles, 55 clinical papers, 40 technical articles, and multiple patents to his credit, Dr. Pawde is internationally recognized for his work in soft tissue surgery, regenerative medicine, acupuncture, and veterinary dentistry. Yet, despite his towering academic stature and numerous national awards, humility defines his daily practice.
His work perfectly embodies the One Health philosophy, where animal welfare, human livelihoods, environmental ethics, and professional solidarity intersect.
An Example Beyond Awards
While accolades such as the Dr. C.M. Singh-Salihotra Samman (2025) and fellowship in national academies recognize his scientific excellence, it is his unadvertised charity and lifelong commitment to service that truly set him apart.
In times when compassion is often institutionalized, Dr. Abhijit M. Pawde practices it personally—one animal, one farmer, one veterinarian at a time.
(Dr. Ashok Kumar Sahni – Joint Director (Retired), Animal Husbandry Department, Govt. of Rajasthan, Jaipur)