Satya Ranjan Chandra was born on 11 June 1909 in Bengal, the first son of Fakir Chandra, a medical practitioner, and his wife Usha. He attended schools in Calcutta and proceeded to the Calcutta Medical College where he was awarded a scholarship and honours in pathology and hygiene. He qualified in 1933. He came to England to study orthopaedics at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, and Liverpool University where he was greatly influenced by Professor T P McMurray. After passing the FRCS and the MCh Orth he returned to Calcutta where he became surgeon-in-charge of the orthopaedic and fracture department at Calcutta Medical College and subsequently Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery in the Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research. He died on 6 June 1986 and was survived by his wife Alaka, three sons, two of whom became surgeons, and two daughters.