Dr Erel Diaz was a renowned general surgeon, with whom I had first contacted as a medical student at Father Muller Medical College. During the MBBS years, particularly when I was in final year of medicine, Dr Erel Anil Isidore Diaz was the Professor and Head of the Department of Surgery. 

I remember, distinctly during the viva voce for general surgery, conducted by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Dr Diaz was an internal examiner for our batch. While the external examiner kept bombarding us with questions, dr Erel silently looked through the entire process without passing any comments. His silence was a subtle confidence that we were on the right track. 

Inside the Operation theatre, Dr Erel Diaz, was a highly skilled surgeon in his glorious years. As a student of medicine, we came to remember him as an expert in liver resection surgeries and to his patients, he was a kind and noble soul who promoted well-being and care. 

I also recall having travelled to some health camps for community out-reach and also to a friendly function with wonderful people back in those days along with Prof Erel. 

Life is but a bunch of memories after all. Death is a certain destiny of a human journey and with the passing of Dr Erel Diaz, earth received an honoured guest, as his mortal remains are laid to rest.