Dr.

Dwarkanath Kotnis and India-China Colonial Interactions

In the landscape of India-China historical connections, one of the most poignant and
enduring symbols of solidarity is Dr. Dwarkanath Shantaram Kotnis (1910–1942), an
Indian physician whose service during the Second Sino-Japanese War left a deep imprint
on the collective memory of the Chinese people. His life not only exemplifies personal
courage and humanitarianism but also reflects the broader framework of anti-imperialist
unity and cultural diplomacy between the Indian and Chinese peoples during the colonial
era. As both countries navigated the complexities of foreign occupation, internal strife, and
the search for national identity, Dr. Kotnis emerged as a living embodiment of Asian
solidarity and transnational commitment.

Born on October 10, 1910, in Sholapur, Maharashtra (then part of the Bombay
Presidency under British rule), Dwarkanath Kotnis came from a modest Marathi family.
He pursued his medical degree (MBBS) from the Seth G.S. Medical College in Mumbai
(then Bombay). Kotnis was deeply influenced by the freedom movement in India and was
aware of the wider anti-imperialist struggles in Asia. His intellectual outlook was shaped
by a spirit of internationalism, humanitarian concern, and solidarity with oppressed peoples
— values that would later define his journey to China.

During the late 1930s, both India and China were under severe duress. China was
grappling with Japanese invasion during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945),
while India was struggling against British colonial rule. The nationalist movements in both
countries were in full swing, and a sense of shared destiny began to form among leaders
and intellectuals on both sides. Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose were
particularly vocal about the need for Indo-Chinese solidarity in resisting imperialist
aggression. In 1938, the Indian National Congress, as part of its gesture of Asian unity,
decided to send a medical mission to China to assist the Chinese resistance against Japanese
imperialism. This mission, organized with the support of the Chinese Communist Party

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and welcomed by the Eighth Route Army, was a rare but powerful example of people-to-
people diplomacy during the colonial period.

The Indian Medical Mission to China (1938)

Dr. Kotnis was one of the five doctors chosen for the Indian Medical Mission to China, led
by Dr. M. Atal. The other members included Dr. M. Cholkar, Dr. B.K. Basu, and Dr. D.
Mukerji. They arrived in China in 1938, traveling first to Hankou (Wuhan) and then
through different parts of war-torn China to provide medical relief to wounded soldiers and
civilians. Eventually, Dr. Kotnis was assigned to the Eighth Route Army, under the
leadership of General Zhu De (朱德), in the Shanxi province, where he worked under

extremely difficult conditions. He performed surgeries in makeshift hospitals, often

Unlike some members of the mission who later returned to India, Dr. Kotnis chose to stay
in China permanently, fully committing himself to the Chinese cause. Over time, Dr.
Kotnis became deeply integrated into Chinese society. He joined the Communist Party of
China (CPC) in 1940 and was appointed as the Director of the Bethune International Peace
Hospital (named after Canadian doctor Norman Bethune, another international medical
volunteer in China). In doing so, he carried on the legacy of internationalism and medical
service in the context of revolutionary struggle.

Kotnis also developed personal ties with the Chinese people. He married a Chinese nurse,
Guo Qinglan (郭庆兰), in 1941, and they had a son named Yinhua (印华) — meaning-

“India and China” — who unfortunately died young. His marriage further symbolized the
bond between the two cultures.

Despite working tirelessly, Kotnis suffered from health problems due to overwork and lack
of rest. He died on December 9, 1942, of epilepsy, at the young age of 32. His death was

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deeply mourned in China, with Chairman Mao Zedong (毛泽东) writing a eulogy in his

honor, calling him “a symbol of Sino-Indian friendship.”

Dr. Kotnis’s contribution transcended his medical work — he became a cultural and
political symbol of what a meaningful India-China relationship could look like, even during
the darkest periods of colonial oppression and warfare. His legacy was institutionalized in
multiple forms:

➢ Statues and memorials were erected in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, and other places
in China.
➢ A Chinese feature film, "Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani" (1946) directed and acted by V.
Shantaram, was made in India to commemorate his life.
➢ Schools, hospitals, and cultural centers in both countries have invoked his name to
promote bilateral goodwill. China continues to honor him during diplomatic visits and
anniversaries. Indian delegations and ambassadors to China often visit his memorial as
a mark of historical and emotional continuity in India-China relations.

In the broader context of India-China colonial connections, Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis’s life
reflects not just a medical mission, but an ideological and emotional commitment to Asian
solidarity, anti-imperialism, and humanitarian internationalism. His contributions offer a
counter-narrative to colonial divisions, highlighting how people from oppressed nations
could come together in mutual aid and revolutionary spirit. In today’s era of geopolitical
rivalry and strategic ambiguity between India and China, the memory of Dr. Kotnis remains
a rare and powerful reminder of what is possible when compassion transcends borders. His
life continues to be an inspiration for students, diplomats, and policymakers striving for a
more peaceful and collaborative Asia.