Dr Jack Preger is a British physician who spent decades providing free medical care to the poorest and most marginalised people on the streets of Calcutta. Born in Manchester in 1930, he trained as a doctor after a career in agriculture and a period of deep personal spiritual reflection.
He began working in Calcutta in the 1970s and continued for decades, treating patients on the streets and in makeshift clinics. He founded Calcutta Rescue, which provides healthcare, education and skills training to the urban poor of Kolkata. Despite constant obstacles from authorities, he persevered with extraordinary dedication and compassion.
He received the OBE for his humanitarian work in India. His story is one of extraordinary commitment — a man who gave up a comfortable life in Britain to dedicate himself to those at the very margins of society in one of the world's most challenging urban environments.