Sudhendra Desai was the son of two Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh who were thought to be still practising in India at the time of his death. He qualified MB BS Osmania in 1966 and held a post at St Catharine's Hospital, Birkenhead when he became a Fellow of the College in 1974. He was then, for a number of years, registrar to R B Crosbie at Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral. He died on 15 January 1984 survived by his wife Jayshari, a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and his only son who had just graduated in medicine in Madras. After her huksband's death Jayshari returned to India to practise obstetrics.