The personality of Prof. Dr. K. T. Dholakia was indeed towering and majestic, both literally and metaphorically. A teacher to all the finest teachers we have in contemporary Orthopaedics, a doctor to doctors and a 'God' to his patients. Dr. K. T. D. was worshipped by his fraternity and the families of patients, in whose life he made a profound and positive difference.

Dr. K. T. Dholakia can aptly be described as the Father of Indian Orthopaedics. Dr. Dholakia was born on the 12th of August 1920. He completed his FCPS in 1945, MS in 1946 and then went to England to acquire his FRCS and M. Ch. in Orthopaedics.

He came back to India and joined the K. E. M. Hospital and the Seth Dhrumal Bajaj Orthopaedic Centre where he worked during 1951 to 1974, before moving over and establishing the Department of Orthopaedics at the Bombay Hospital.

Dr. Dholakia was the Past President of the B. O. S., the l. O. A., the SICOT, the Association of Surgeons of India, the Indian Arthroplasty Association, the Indian Arthroscopy Society, the Indian Foot Society and the Association of Spine Surgeons of India.

Dr. Dholakia was the guest orator for The McMurray's lecture in Liverpool, The Kini Oration, The Borges Oration, The Katrak Oration, The Dr. Ginde Oration and the Dr. Mukopadhya Oration, along with a number of other orations and lectures.

He was awarded the Padmashree (1973), Dhanwantari Award (1982), the Purkyne Medal of Czech (1988), International Master Surgeons Award of the International College of Surgeons and the Orthopaedic Surgeon of the Millennium' Award (Orthopaedic Association of SAARC countries).

His legacy is being carried forward by two of his Associates, Dr. H. R. Jhunjhunwala, who is Past-President of the Indian Orthopaedic Association (2015) and Dr. J. A. Pachore, who has been the Founder President of the Indian Society of Hip & Knee Surgeons.