Dr. Siddharth Lakhotia MBBS, M.S, M.Ch, FIACS Professor and Ex-Head in the Dept. of Cardio-Thoracic & Vascular Surgery at Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, has been pioneer in establishing Open Heart Surgery programme at IMS, BHU. His main professional interests are heart surgery for children, lung surgery and trauma surgeries, and teaching UG and PG students. He has been instrumental in establishing Open Heart surgery and Thoracic surgery ICU, M.Ch degree in CTVS, ECPT diploma & PDCC Thoracic Surgery in BHU and modern OT complex of his department. He loves making educational videos of different cardiothoracic surgical procedures. Apart from his clinical and operative duties, he is also actively involved in teaching of under & postgraduate students along with other administrative activities.

After finishing his medical student life of 15 years with MBBS in 1998, MS in 2003 and M.Ch in 2007 from Kolkata, Rewa and Kanpur medical colleges respectively, he gave his services in cardio thoracic surgery at B. M. Birla Heart Research Centre, Kolkata, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, Delhi and Shree Satya Sai Heart Hospital, Rajkot before joining BHU, Varanasi in 2011. 

He strongly believes in work life balance. Traveling, Trekking, long road journeys, music, photography, antiques collection, phillumeny, numismatics and philately have been his passion. He is also involved in bio-farming, planting trees and social activities in surrounding areas of Varanasi. Till now he has planted more than 1000 trees in his bio farming projects called Amrit Vatika, where he also grows crops, fruits and other vegetables. He is now working on making a Goshala for elderly cows. Follower of principles of Sanatan Dharma, he considers Nature as reflection of God. 

Siddharth has done seven exhibitions of his photographs titled ‘Sun and ts Reflections’ , ‘Dreams on Wings‘ , ‘The Reflections’ , ‘Drops of Life’ , ‘Rays of Love’, ‘Rhythms of Happiness’ and ‘Eternal Happiness of Life’ in prestigious art galleries of India including Pondicherry and Varanasi.

Winner of mini marathon, he actively plays table tennis, badminton and enjoys swimming, cycling and walking. A strong follower and believer of Yog, he encourages same to his patients and students. He believes that health is the greatest wealth and biggest blessing of God.

Some of his long solo car drives include Varanasi-Somnath-Varanasi (4500 kms, 2011), Varanasi– Nainital-Delhi-Varanasi (2013), Varanasi-Patiala-Chandigarh-Kasauli-Varanasi (2013), Varanasi- Gangtok-Varanasi (2014), Varanasi-Kolkata-Varanasi (2017), Varanasi Jaipur- Sikar- Varanasi ( 2019 ). 

His favorite cities are Varanasi, Kolkata, Pondicherry, Chandigarh and Tezpur.

In 2015 he published a coffee table book titled ‘Eternal Reflections’ consisting of more than 600 of his selected photographs taken across India. In 2020 he published his second coffee table book titled  ‘A legendary dream IMS BHU’ which showcases the beautiful journey of a medico and life inside a medical college and hospital through more than 3000 photos and many articles. In 2021, his book Eternal Happiness with 3000 plus Beautiful Photos from all over India reflecting her magnificent diversity along with powerful quotes of wisdom was published, He has also published other books like Beyond Syllabus, Indian Journeys, Frescoes of Life, Beating Hearts, Empyema, The Journey etc. They are available  on  Amazon  and  Kindle.  He  is currently  working  on  books  titled  Kolkata:  A  walk,  Golden  Rules  for  Happy  Heart  and  History  of Cardiac Surgery in India. His books can be ordered by mailing @ eternalseriesbooks@gmail.com or at https://www.amazon.in/Siddharth-Lakhotia/e/B087RSPT1M/ref=dp_byline_cont...

More than 50 academic publications in various national and international journals and magazines are to his credit. https://scholar.google.com/citations?authuser=1&user=YkB2TnEAAAAJ

He  hosts  regular  musical  programmes  'Triveni  Kala  Sangam'  at  his  residence in traditional 'baithiki' style.

Siddharth  established  a book and music library comprising  more  than  5000  books & 1000 plus music albums and records  on various subjects and genre  from  collections  of  four  generations  in  his  family. Library has large colection of stamps, match boxes and coins from around the world. His  favorite  books  are Ramayan,  Mahabharat,  Bhagvad  Geeta,  Premchand  stories,  Kalyan,  Lost  Art  of Healing  and Professional. His favorite movies are Motorcycle Diaries, Saint Guisipo Moscatti, Three Idiots, Anand, Colours of Paradise, Poorna, Waiting, Tu Hai Mera Sunday, Lunana, October, Lunch Box and Photograph.

He  has  always  fought  for  his  rights  and  has  fought  three  cases  in  High  court  and  Supreme  court against government  policies  and  decisions,  related  to  different  service  matters  ranging  from  pay protection  to appointments and promotion anomalies of system, and achieved success.

Strong supporter of ancient culture and heritage, he is actively involved in conservation of his maternal ancestors place ‘Kabra Badi Haweli’ in Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. In 2020 he was instrumental in donating his paternal family ancestor's place for making a children school in Churu, Rajasthan.

He has made more than 1000 small movies/documentaries on different topics including educational videos on  heart and lung surgeries, very popular series on Pregnancy , weekend drives from Varanasi & many travelogues and musical videos. One of his surgical video on Penetrating injury Thorax with iron rod is the most watched medical video on You Tube from India. They can be seen on his you tube channel Explore Learn & Share @ www.youtube.com/drslakhotia

He writes on various topics on his blog www.drslakhotia.blogspot.com

Siddharth  has  established  a  trust  along  with  his  colleagues  called  DAKSH  to  promote extracurricular activities amongst students of Health Sciences and takes them to heritage and nature tours, organize  painting,  dance and music classes,  debates,  lectures  etc.  Along  with  his  team  he  has  made hundreds of small videos depicting life in IMS and hospitals. They are uploaded on Happy Medicos you tube channel @ www.youtube.com/dakshtrust

Along with his family, he has established Triveni Arts Foundation ; A Confluence of Music, Art and Culture which is a place for Art Exhibitions ( Photographs/Pantings), Musical Concerts, Art Lectures and Workshops and Hobby Classes with aim to promote, preserve and support various forms of performing and visual arts, to spread peace and positive vibrations in society through various art forms, to research effects of music and art in healing and its role in various life style diseases and chronic health disorders, to support those practicing and learning art and culture . You Tube : https://youtube.com/@triveniarts?si=OlVTk8W2Eh1TA0wG

Member of ASI, IACTVS, IMA, Asian Association of Cardiothoracic surgeons, INTACH and FIP, he believes in “We all will be stories one day, let's make it a beautiful one”. He is associated with many NGOs.

He loves enjoying vegetarian dishes from all around the world and is a strong supporter of live and let live. 

Strongly shaped by his grandparents, mother Sarita, well know artist cum art supporter and father Prof. S.C Lakhotia PhD, FNA, FASc, FNASc , Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar recipient , now a Distinguished Professor in BHU , he is married to Major Dr. Anjali Rani MBBS, MD, DNB, DHA, MBA , FMAS, PhD, Professor of Gynecology at IMS, BHU who herself is a dancer , marathon runner , black belt in Karate, nature lover, explorer and painter. His son Atharv too loves bird photography, traveling, music, painting and sports and is black belt in Karate.

For him Nature and Traveling are two biggest teachers.

Author says "Photography is a beautiful combination of Art and Science, It freezes the moment forever and shows the intricate details of that particular moment, which otherwise could have been missed in this ever moving and changing world. It lets you explore the world and allows you to express yourself. In fact we all are artists, every life form existing in this word is an artist, we all practice art in one form or another in every act we  do. 

For me timing, composition and love for the subject being clicked are most important ingredients to get a good shot. One does not need to have the most advanced, best of expensive cameras to take good photos. Everything around us can be a subject, can be photographed. We just need a loving sensitive eye to observe our surroundings. Technical knowledge in great depth is not essential to take good photos, one should have an eye for beauty, imagination in heart for what looks beautiful and love and respect for your subject."

Life is nothing but a combination of memories, dreams and experiences as they shape your present , he says. 

Contact : drslakhotia@gmail.com & www.ctsnet.org/home/slakhotia