https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Ernest_BorgesErnest Borges - Revision history2026-07-30T15:51:03ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Ernest_Borges&diff=498629&oldid=prevViktorivmw at 18:04, 11 March 20262026-03-11T18:04:51Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian oncologist and surgeon (1909–1969)}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Ernest Borges<br />
| image = Ernest Joachim Joseph Borges.jpg<br />
| alt = <br />
| caption = Portrait of Ernest Borges<br />
| birth_name = Ernest Joachim Joseph Borges<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth year|1909}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Bombay]], [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British India]]<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1969|03|03|1909|df=y}} <br />
| death_place = [[Tata Memorial Hospital]], Mumbai, India<br />
| education = [[MBBS]], [[Master of Science|MS]], [[Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons|Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons]] (FRCS)<br />
| alma_mater = [[Grant Medical College and Sir Jamshedjee Jeejeebhoy Group of Hospitals|Grant Medical College]], [[University of Bombay]]<br />
| occupation = Oncologist, Cancer Surgeon<br />
| years_active= <br />
| known_for = Pioneering [[cancer treatment]] in India<br />
| notable_works= <br />
| title = <br />
| spouse = {{marriage|Gracie Soares|1946}}<br />
| children = {{hlist|[[Anita Borges|Anita]]| [[Renee Borges|Renee]]<br />
}}<br />
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (1966)<br>[[Order of St. Gregory the Great]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Ernest Joachim Joseph Borges''' [[FRCS]] (1909 - 3 March 1969) was an Indian oncologist and cancer surgeon known for his contributions to the field of [[oncology]] in India. He pioneered [[cancer treatment]] in India during a period when [[radiation therapy]] and [[chemotherapy]] were in their early stages of development, while surgery remained the predominant option for cancer patients.<ref name=midday/> He served as the Director and Superintendent of [[Tata Memorial Hospital]] from 1967 to 1969.<ref name=gov>{{cite web |last1=Cabral e Sa |first1=Mario |title=Eminent Goans |url=https://nri.goa.gov.in/eminent-goans/ |website=nri.goa.gov.in}}</ref> In 1966, he was honored with the [[Padma Shri]], the third highest civilian award, by the Government of India.<ref name=heraldgoa/><br />
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== Early life and education ==<br />
Ernest Joachim Joseph Borges was born in [[Bombay]] (now Mumbai) in 1909 to Cajetan Francis Borges and Inez de Nazaré.<ref name=midday>{{cite news |last1=Borges |first1=Jane |title=Daughter of Mumbai's renowned cancer surgeon Ernest Borges documents his legacy |url=https://www.mid-day.com/sunday-mid-day/article/the-wit-and-times-of-dr-ernest-borges-23268898 |publisher=[[Mid Day]] |date=February 5, 2023}}</ref> The family was from [[Ucassaim]], [[Goa]].<ref name="ErnestCancerMonteiroToI">{{Cite news |date=2017-04-27 |last=Monteiro |first=Lisa |title=An 'ernest' fight against cancer |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/an-ernest-fight-against-cancer/articleshow/58405064.cms |access-date=2025-02-03 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><br />
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Borges received his early education at [[St. Teresa's High School, Charni Road|St. Teresa's High School]] in [[Girgaon]] and later attended [[St. Xavier's High School, Fort|St. Xavier's High School]] and College in [[Dhobitalao]]. He pursued his medical degree (MBBS) from [[Grant Medical College and Sir Jamshedjee Jeejeebhoy Group of Hospitals|Grant Medical College]] and furthered his studies by obtaining an MS degree with distinction from the [[University of Bombay]]. He went on to pursue a [[Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons]] (FRCS) in [[England]]. He was trained at [[Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center|Memorial Hospital]] in [[New York (state)|New York]].<ref name=midday /><br />
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== Career ==<br />
Borges joined Tata Memorial Hospital in Bombay, where he served as a chief surgeon for nearly three decades. His expertise in esophageal cancer surgery, particularly noteworthy during a time when few dared to undertake such procedures, earned him acclaim both nationally and internationally. He was instrumental in establishing Tata Memorial Hospital as a premier institution for cancer treatment in India.{{cn|date=March 2024}}<br />
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He was closely associated with the [[Catholic Church]]. He served as president for three terms at the St. Luke's Medical Guild, an organization of Catholic medical professionals established by the then [[Archbishop of Bombay]].<ref name=midday/> He was the editor of the medical journal, the Catholic Medical Bulletin, which was published by the Archdiocese of Bombay.<ref name=heraldgoa>{{cite news |title=A quest to find the legend of Dr Ernest Borges |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Cafe/A-quest-to-find-the-legend-of-Dr-Ernest-Borges/200641 |publisher=[[O Heraldo]] |date=February 6, 2023}}</ref> He served as the President of the Indian Federation of Catholic Medical Guilds since 1964.<ref>{{cite book |author1=J. Clement Vaz |author1-link=J. Clement Vaz |title=Profiles of Eminent Goans, Past and Present |date=1997 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=9788170226192 |page=220 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7DJLxYBYA-YC&dq=Dr.+Ernest+Borges&pg=PA220}}</ref> He was also elected as the vice president of the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations in 1966.<ref name=gov/><br />
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== Personal life ==<br />
Borges married Gracie Soares on 27 April 1946. The couple had six children, however, one of their daughters survived for only one day.<ref name=midday/> He is the father of oncopathologist [[Anita Borges]] and evolutionary biologist [[Renee Borges]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-02-07 |title=A quest to find the legend of Dr Ernest Borges |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/cafe/a-quest-to-find-the-legend-of-dr-ernest-borges/200641 |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=Herald Goa |language=en}}</ref> In 1964, he and his wife had a private audience with [[Pope Paul VI]] when the Pope visited India for the [[Eucharistic congress]].<ref name=midday/><br />
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==Death==<br />
Borges died of cancer<ref name="ErnestCancerMonteiroToI" /> on 3 March 1969 at the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai.<ref name=goanobserver>{{cite news |title=Legendary Doctors!ERNEST BORGES, A CANCER SURGEON TO REMEMBER! |url=https://www.goanobserver.in/2023/01/27/legendary-doctorsernest-borges-a-cancer-surgeon-to-remember%EF%BB%BF/ |publisher=Goan Observer |date=January 27, 2023}}</ref><br />
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== Awards and recognition ==<br />
In 1966, he was honored with the [[Padma Shri]] by the [[President of India]], [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]], in recognition of his contributions to the field of medicine.<ref name=heraldgoa/><br />
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He received the [[Knight|Knighthood]] of the [[Order of St. Gregory the Great]] from the [[Pope]] and was also honored with the [[Papal gentleman|Order of the Privy Chamberlain, Cape, and Sword]] for his dedicated service to suffering humanity. He was the recipient of the Charles Morehead Prize in [[Clinical Medicine]].<ref name="ErnestCancerMonteiroToI" /><br />
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The Goa Branch of the [[Indian Cancer Society]] released cancer seals/stamps featuring his photo on September 7, 1971, commemorating Ernest's birth anniversary.<ref name=midday/><br />
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== Legacy ==<br />
Borges was also a philanthropist, and he established ''Ernest's Ark: The Dr. Ernest Borges Memorial Home'' in Mumbai, which provides care and support to cancer patients and their families.<ref name=goanobserver/><br />
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Borges' life and work are the subject of a biography book titled, ''In Ernest Quest: EJ Borges, Legendary and Revered Cancer Surgeon'', written by his daughter [[Renee Borges]]. The book was released in January 2023 and covers all aspects of Borges' life and lifestyle, including his personal and professional relationships, his research, and his contributions to the field of oncology. The book also includes eulogies and tributes from colleagues and patients who knew and worked with Borges.<ref name=goanobserver/><ref name=midday/><ref>{{cite news |title=Capturing the essence of Dr. Ernest Borges |url=https://www.navhindtimes.in/2023/01/14/magazines/zest/capturing-the-essence-of-dr-ernest-borges/ |publisher=[[The Navhind Times]] |date=January 14, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title="In Ernest Quest", a book released on the life of Oncologist Dr Ernest Borges |url=https://goanews.com/in-ernest-quest-a-book-released-on-the-life-of-oncologist-dr-ernest-borges/ |publisher=Goanews.com |date=January 21, 2023}}</ref><br />
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Roads named after him include Dr. Ernest Borges Road in front of [[Tata Memorial Hospital]] in [[Parel]], Mumbai,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pinto |first1=Jerry |title=Tapping into the many tales of Dr Ernest Borges Road |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/discovering-dr-ernest-borges-a-look-at-the-life-of-a-legendary-cancer-surgeon-and-mentor-drernestborges-cancersurgeon-mentor-indianinstituteofscience-behavioralecologist-inernestquest-tatamemorialhospital-legacy-kalanagar-memorialhome-101681587763954.html |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=April 17, 2023}}</ref> as well as roads in [[Dona Paula]] and [[Ucassaim]], [[Goa]].<ref name="ErnestCancerMonteiroToI" /><br />
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Tata Memorial Hospital paid tribute to Ernest Borges' centenary and his contributions to cancer surgery by releasing a handbook on 6 September 2009. The handbook documents his journey as a surgeon and mentor at the hospital.<ref name=indianexpress>{{cite news |last1=Madugula |first1=Monika |title=Dr Ernest Borges Road Tribute to man who spent his life fighting cancer |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/dr-ernest-borges-road-tribute-to-man-who-spent-his-life-fighting-cancer-4785531/ |publisher=[[Indian Express]] |date=August 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/dr-ernest-borges-road-tribute-to-man-who-spent-his-life-fighting-cancer-4785531/ |archive-date=August 6, 2017}}</ref><br />
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== See also ==<br />
* [[List of Padma Shri award recipients (1960–1969)]]<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* {{Commons category inline}}<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Borges, Ernest}}<br />
[[Category:1909 births]]<br />
[[Category:1969 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Indian oncologists]]<br />
[[Category:Cancer researchers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century medical doctors]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in medicine]]<br />
[[Category:Knights of St. Gregory the Great]]<br />
[[Category:University of Mumbai alumni]]</div>Viktorivmw