HISTORY OF MEDICAL SCHOOLS OF NAGPUR
Dr. Hemant Sane
INTRODUCTION
The western medicine came to India with the European merchants in the 16th century. The voyage form Europe to India took about six months as the slow sailing ships had to come around Cape of Good Hope at the extreme south tip of the Africa. The merchant companies employed 'ship surgeons' to look after the health of ship crew. However the western medicine had not much advanced then and it followed Galen's system. The surgeons were also more interested in trade than in medical profession. The science of medicine became modern and rational from 18th century with advances in all branches of science.
Initially the medical help was required in factory only and then in the colonies, towns and province. By the turn of 19th century British had occupied 1/3 India. The number of British citizens was increasing, both civil and military. British India was divided into three presidencies Bengal, Madras and Bombay. Hospitals were opened for military as well as civil populations in the cities of Madras, Calcutta, and Bombay. The Madras Military Hospital was opened in 1679 which was later converted into General Hospital. The Medical department of the Company was first created in 1740. By 1764 all three presidencies had organised medical services. These were merged into a single Indian Medical service after 1857 munity. As the wars and military work reduced the services of doctors were used for civil administration. The period to be spent in army before being shifted to the civil wore varied in different period but later was fixed as two years. These senior medical army officers would become civil surgeons and when medical schools were opened and civil hospital attached to them for practical training these civil surgeons became principals or superintendents by default and thus first medical teachers of western medicine in India. There was shortage of medical professionals. Getting doctors from England was expensive. The military surgeons trained Indian persons as assistant and employed them as 'Native Doctors', they were ranked at par with Havaldar from 1787. This was personal training and there was not any formal school.
In Bengal Presidency formal medical school was first opened in 1812 to train assistants to doctors. Initially orphan boys were trained. This orphanage was created in Calcutta to care for children of Indian women and British soldiers usually born out of wedlock. This scheme failed as it was found that the children were not interested in education and particularly rigorous medical education. This scheme was abandoned after few years.
The Charter Act of 1813 (Renewal of trade lease) provided for large sum for education to Indian subjects of the East India Company. On 19th May 1822 the officers of the Medical Board wrote to the Secretary of Government of India stressing need for a regular school of medicine to train Indian subjects as assistants to British doctors. This was approved on 24th May. The formal Government Order no. 41 of 21st June 1822 established medical school in Calcutta. It was school with combined syllabus of Western Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine. The classes were opened in October at Sanskrit College. Another medical school was opened in Arabic school where Western medicine was taught along with Unani system. These schools lasted for 15 years. They were called as Native Medical Institute. Dissection of human body was not performed and Anatomy was learnt from dissection of lower animals and by witnessing post-mortem examination at theGeneral Hospital.
Lord William Bentinck, the then Governor of India, appointed a Committee in 1833 to make a report on the existing and improvement in medical education in India. The committee recommended abolishing present medical schools and starting medical college teaching only western medicine in English medium, and the medical curriculum should be "ample, comprehensive, worthy of a great Government, not intended merely to supply the wants of a State, but of the people, and to become a moral engine of great utility and power".
The Government Order No.28 of 28th January 1835 established Medical College of Bengal. Initially Assistant Surgeon M.J. Bramley was appointed as Superintendent with Assistant Surgeon Dr. H. H. Goodeve as his only assistant. The designation of the Superintendent Dr. M.J. Bramley was changed to that of Principal and his assistant Dr. H. H. Goodeve to Professor of Medicine and Anatomy on 5thAugust 1835. Pandit Madhusudan Gupta, one of the teachers of the Native Medical Institute was transferred with two assistants from the Sanskrit College to the New Medical College. He was teacher of Ayurved (Baidya) but later joined as students also and obtained certificate in western medicine.
Other teachers were soon appointed namely -
2. Dr. W.B. Shaughnessy, Professor of Chemistry and Materia Medica.
(He also developed advances in telegraphy and was later incharge of establishing telegraphic network in India. Nagpur was connected to Calcutta telegraphically under his supervision in 1856.)
3. Dr. C.C. Egerton, Professor of Surgery and Clinical Surgery.
4. Dr. J. McCosh, Professor of Clinical Medicine
5. Dr. N. Wallich, Professor of Botany
6. Dr. R. Shaughnessy, Demonstrator of Anatomy and Chemistry.
On 10th January 1836 Pandit Madhusudan Gupta performed first dissection of human body by any Indian (High Caste Hindu), and he demonstrated the anatomical structure to four students. It broke the taboo of not touching dead body and opened door for modern anatomical knowledge for Indian students. The gate of the college was closed and soldiers posted to protect from expected disturbances from mob. The dissection was given so much importance that a 50 gun salute was given from fort William. In 1845 Dr. Goodeve took four graduates from this school to University College London for further study. They were S. C. Chakravarty, Dwarkanath Bose, Bhola Nath Bose and Gopal Chandra Sil.
In Madras the East India Company, opened the Military Medical School on 7th February 1835. It trained Medical subordinates for the army. The first batch of students of this School consisted of eleven Indians and eleven Eurasians who underwent a course of four years. The Qualified Eurasians were designated as Apothecaries and the natives as dressers. They were employed in the Company on different salaries. It was opened to civil students in the year 1838. The course of studies was five years leading to the diploma of G.M.M.C. (Graduate in Medicine, Midwifery and Chirurgery).
In 1852, the School was raised to the status of a College. In 1856, it was recognizes by the Royal College of Surgeons, London, and in 1857, by the Royal Colleges of Dublin and Edinburgh.
In 1826, a medical school was started with surgeon John McLennan as the superintendent of the Indian (native) medical school around Azad Maidan in southern Bombay. However, this school failed after six years. The Grant Medical College in Bombay was opened in 1845.
The University act was passed in 1857 and medical colleges were affiliated to the universities of Bengal, Madras and Bombay.
The first four Indian men to qualify in western medicine from the Calcutta Medical College in 1838 were Umacharan Set, Rajkrishna De, Dwarakanath Gupta and Nabin Chandra Mitra.
Similarly, the first batch of students admitted in the Grant Medical College, Mumbai in 1845, were Bhau Daji Lad Parsekar, Sebastian A D'Carvalho, Atmaram Pandurang Tarkhad, Paul Frances Gomes, Merwanjee Sorabji, Burjorji Dorabji, Anant Chundroba Dukle and J C Lisboa. Sarjoo Coomar Chauckerbutty was the first Indian to enter the Indian Medical Service as Assistant Surgeon on January 24, 1855.
THE FIRST MEDICAL SCHOOL OF NAGPUR
'NAGPORE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE'
1867-83
Nagpur was a Princely State till 1853; it became Nagpur Territory under Bengal Presidency in 1854 after annexation, and in 1862 it became Central Province when Narmada and Sagar Territories were merged with it.
Modern medical colleges were started in British India in the year 1835, first in Kolkata then in other places. Puduccheri had a French medical school since 1823 (Ecole de Médicine de Pondichéry, now JIPMER) and Panji had a Portuguese Medical School since 1842 (Escola Médico-Cirúrgica de (Nova) Goa, now Goa Medical College).
Sir Richard Temple, the first Chief Commissioner of Central Provinces, started a 'City Hospital' in Nagpur in 1862. (The Temple road in civil lines is named after him). It was located near Jumma tank. Land was acquired in the outskirts Nagpur city and a new building was constructed. It is the present District General Hospital. It was opened in the year 1867. It was a single story building.
A branch of this hospital was opened in old city (Mahal area) on recommendation of Surgeon Major William Wentworth Heude who was First Civil Surgeon of Nagpur. He also donated Rs. 2000 for it. It was later expanded when Kasturchand Daga donated Rs. 7000 in memory of his father Bansilal, and his family donated Rs. 500 and friends donated another Rs. 500; and the name of dispensary was changed to Heude-Bansilal Daga Charitable dispensary. Usually Sub Assistant Surgeons from Subordinate India Medical Service (Indian Doctors) were posted there on rotation from Mayo Memorial Hospital. Later this dispensary was handed over to Nagpur Municipal Council. It was situated near Kalyaneshwar temple. The old building was demolished and a new building was constructed in the year 19xx and it houses NMC Mahal Dispensary till now (2017).
(William Wentworth Heude, born 1821, only son of William Heude of Madras Military Service, obtained M. D. from Edinburgh, and joined Madras Army on 25th March 1844 as Asst. Surgeon. He was posted in Madras General Hospital. Then he was posted at army units in Nagpur and Kamthi. He married Emily Wood on February 8, 18xx at St. James Church, Paddington. He was promoted as Surgeon on 22nd February 1862, when the post became vacant on demise of Dr. Horak and later he was posted as Civil Surgeon at Nagpur. He became Surgeon Major in 1865. He left India in September 1867 on completion of 23 years of service and was awarded Small Annuity from Madras Medical Fund. He settled in Barrow-On-Soar (Leicestershire). He died in 1872 and was buried in The Church of the Holy Trinity. A Memorial Window was erected in his memory by his wife in that church. His father Lt. William Heude was an officer in Madras Army and travelled overland to England and wrote a book describing this journey in 1819 titled 'A VOYAGE UP THE PERSIAN GULF, AND A JOURNEY OVERLAND FROM INDIA TO ENGLAND, IN 1817.'
A second branch of city hospital was opened in new city in Sitaburdi area with generous donation from Buty family. It was started in 1863 in an annex building of the Buty wada. It was known as Buty dispensary. The building was enlarged in 1891 by Buty, and again in 2010 by Nagpur Municipal Corporation. It is now managed by NMC.
The third branch of this hospital was opened which was also in old city (Adityawari area) with donation from Deshmukh family of Mahal area. Dr. Daji Ramchandra a pupil of this school later gave generous donation of Rs.8000 and renovated and expanded it. He was also posted in this dispensary and worked here for many years. It is still known as Daji Dawakhana and is presently managed by Nagpur Municipal Corporation. Few years back the original building was demolished and a commercial complex was built and the dispensary was shifted to the back of this complex.
There were military hospitals before this for use of soldiers. These were of two types; one regular for all common diseases and the other, called 'Loch Hospital'*, for venereal diseases. The regular one was located in Mohan Nagar Tent Lines and Loch was located north of Jumma tank. (* see my article on Loch Hospital)
Richard Temple had proposed to open a medical school in Nagpur and had done all ground work. He was transferred and appointed as Resident at Hyderabad and joined his duties there in April 1867. John Henry Morris took charge on 6th June as officiating (Acting) Chief Commissioner; Sir George Campbell was Chief Commissioner from 27/11/1867 but went on leave to England on 15/4/1868 and never returned to Nagpur. John Henry Morris was confirmed as Chief Commissioner on 27 May 1970. So this Medical School was opened by Morris in October 1867. (The medical school in Patna which was started in the year 1874 was named after Sir Richard Temple; it was shifted to Darbhanga in 1925. The "Morris College' in Nagpur was started in the year 1884-85, it was an Arts College. There was a Morris College of Music in Lakhnow where many famous musicians were trained, including S. N. Tripathi, Hindi film music director.)
The Nagpur Medical School was opened in October 1867. It was 8th medical school in modern medicine in British India and 10th in India if French and Portuguese medical schools are considered.
(Calcutta 1835, Madras 1835, Bombay 1845, Hyderabad 1846, Travancore, 1846, Agra 1853 and Lahore 1860)
The classes were started on 1st October 1867. In the first batch 50 students were admitted. The students were given stipend of Rs. 10 per month. The Principal had authority to remove any undesirable student for laziness, dullness or irregularity. He removed more than half of the first batch.
The first Principal was Surgeon Major Stephen Chapman Townsend, Sanitary Commissioner of Central Provinces. The second Principal was Surgeon Brigadier William Burns Beatson from March 1868 to 1879; and finally from 1879 to 1883 it was Surgeon Major John Brake. Dr. Beatson was transferred to Lahore Medical School in 1879. Later Townsend and Beatson both became Surgeon General of India. John Brake retired as Deputy Surgeon General of India.
The Principal received salary of rupees 300 per month in addition to his military pay.
Students were selected by Inspector General of Hospital and Dispensaries from those persons who had worked at least one year as hospital assistants or dressers. They were examined for proficiency in Urdu, Hindustani and arithmetic. The subjects taught were Anatomy, Materia-Medica, Therapeutics, Medicine, Surgery, Physiology, Midwifery and Chemistry.
The certificate given was P.M.P. 'Passed Medical Pupil'. They were eligible to join government service as 3rd class hospital assistant or could practice independently in society. Those who received stipend were obliged to work in government hospital under Subordinate Indian Medical Service. The private students that is who did not receive any stipend were free to open private practice directly after passing final examination.
From 1870 there were complaints that the students sent by the IG were not adequately pre-educated for medical course and some of them had acquired bad habits (not specified); and the eligibility criteria should be changed and more educated younger students should be admitted directly.
Lord Mayo (Richard Southwell Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo) was attacked with a kitchen knife, and stabbed twice, by Shere Ali an Afridi Pathan on the evening of 8th February 1872 while he was returning from a visit to mount Harriet and walking on the pier before boarding launch-boat at port of Hopetown across the bay opposite Port Blair, Andaman island. He was taken to his ship 'Glasgow' and died there due to excessive bleeding. The City Hospital Nagpur was named in his memory as Mayo Memorial Hospital, when The New City Hospital with newly constructed building was opened in 1874. Mayo Memorial Hospital had 84 beds with separate arrangements for Europeans and Indians. Later the word Memorial was dropped or lost from usage.
In 1882 admission criteria for students was changed and minimum qualification was High School pass or equivalent. Some knowledge of English was necessary.
The (Central) Province had financial difficulties in running the school and the Centre, that is Bengal Government, refused to help financially. The annual expenses increased from Rs.12000 (1867) to 20000 (1882); and the school was closed in April 1883. It lasted 16 years.
PRIZES
Surgeon Brigadier Beatson addressed a public meeting in the year 1870-71 and urged people to donate money, and various public minded people donated generously to award many prizes to encourage students. The chief donors were Raje Janoji (second) Bhosale, Gond king Sulleman Shah, Nana Ahir rao, Rao Bahadur Abirchand Daga and R. B. Ramayya (Ramaih) Garu. The number of prizes increased from three at the beginning to about 25 in the last years. Some of them were:
A – First year
Anatomy – A book, later a silver Principal's medal
Materia-Medica – A book
B – Second year
Medicine – Raja Janoji Bhosale prize – A silver medal
Surgery – Gond Raja Sulleman Shah prize – A Silver medal
Anatomy – Nana Ahir rao prize – A silver medal
Materia-Medica – G. Ramayya Garu prize –A Silver medal
Good conduct and assistance in MM – A book
Dissection – A book
C – Third year
General proficiency – Raja Janoji Bhosale prize – A gold medal
Surgery – Gond Raja Sulleman Shah prize – A Gold medal
Medicine – Rai Bahadur Abirchand Daga prize – A Silver watch.
The first two gold medals instituted for final year student were awarded to Lal Mohammad for his distinct superiority in the year 1871.
In these 16 years the school trained about 150 students most of whom got the job of hospital assistant 3rd grade and then later promotion to 1st grade. Others started their private practice.
Rai Bahadur G. Ramayya Garu died in the year 1876 and hence Beatson send letters to some of the leading persons of Nagpur to subscribe for the prizes and following persons responded generously contributing rupees 100 each.
Mr. Bulwant Rao
Mr. Narrain Swamy
Mr. Gopal Hurree (Bhide)
Mr. Bipin Krishna Bose, M. A., B. L.
Mr. Sadasheo Rao
(Note – use of surname or family name was not very common then)
Sulaiman Shah Raje Janoji II Bhosale
The Certificate of Passed Medical Pupil (PMP) 1877
School Seal
"We the undersigned having fully and carefully examined
Daji Ramchandra of Boorhanpur in the month of 1877
do hereby certify that he sufficiently versed in Chemistry, Materia medica, Medicine, Anatomy & Surgery to qualify him for holding
public employment as Hospital Assistant.
We have further received satisfactory proof of his diligence and good
conduct during his education at the Nagpur School of Medicine.
In Urdu
In Hindi
Kali Krishna Ghose LMS for teacher of Medicine & Hygiene
Judoo naath Ghose LMS teacher of Anatomy & Surgery
Kali Krishna Ghose LMS teacher of Materia medica & Chemistry
Sd/-
W. B. Beatson, IMS, Col.
Principal"
TEACHERS
DR. NANDLAL GHOSH was appointed teacher from the beginning in 1867 and was transferred to Patna Medical School in 1874 when a new medical school was started there at Bankipur.
BABU DURGADAS ROY was appointed teacher from the beginning in 1867.
GOPAL CHANDER ROY was born on16th May 1844 at Calcutta, he obtained L.M.S. in 1865 and was lecturer in 1867, obtained M.R.C.S. and F.R.C.S. in 1870, M.D. Glasgow in 1871, Asst. Surgeon on 30 March 1872, S.M. on 30 March 1884, took part in Burma war, awarded Burma Medal, died on 4th February 1887 at age of 43 years. He wrote a book 'Causes, Symptoms and treatment of Bardwan Fever' in 1874 and revised it in 1876.
DR. JADUB KISHEN GHOSE was born in 1838, graduated from Calcutta Medical College, declared for Government Service, 13th May 1865, and entered it as Sub Assistant Surgeon, 3rd grade, and appointed Home Physician, Medical College Hospital, Calcutta, in charge of the Jounpore Dispensary, 4th July 1867, placed in charge of the Civil medical duties, Jounpore, 15th December 1867, in charge of the medical duties of the Buxar Civil Station, 1st May 1868, reverted to the charge of the Jounpore Dispensary, 19th March 1869, joined on temporary charge of the duties of Teacher of Anatomy and Surgery of the Medical School, Nagpur, Central Provinces, 20th September 1869, confirmed in the appointment of Teacher of Anatomy and Surgery, Nagpur Medical School, 25th November 1870, promoted to the rank of 2nd grade, Assistant Surgeon, 13th May 1872, placed in charge of the Nagpur City Hospital, in addition to his own duties as Teacher in the Medical School, 1st April 1874, appointed Teacher of Medicine, Nagpur Medical School, 4th June 1875. He became very popular in the citizens of Nagpur an expert surgeon.
He was transferred from Medical School in February 1882 for duties as Honorary Assistant Surgeon to the Viceroy. He retired from service after few months and received pension.
DILAWAR KHAN who was 3rd class hospital assistant was appointed in the year 1870 as a voluntary teacher who contributed in teaching anatomy. He was transferred to Raipur in 1875.
ABDUL KAREEM KHAN was appointed as demonstrator in Anatomy and librarian 1875.
DR. KALI KISHEN GHOSE was born in 1843, appointed permanent Assistant Surgeon, 3rd grade, and placed in charge of the Civil Station of Rajmahal, 26th November 1869, Deputy Superintendent of Vaccination, Santhal Pargana, 12th October 1870, appointed Teacher of Materia Medica and Chemistry in the Nagpur School of Medicine, Central Provinces, 2nd September 1874, promoted to the rank of Assistant Surgeon, 2nd grade, 1st November 1877, Acting Civil Surgeon, Wardha, 19th November 1878.
After closure of school he was posted as incharge of Mayo Hospital Nagpur.
JUDOO NATH GHOSE was born 1840, graduated from Calcutta Medical College, appointed 3rd grade, Sub-Assistant Surgeon, Supernumerary, 27th May 1863, placed in charge of the Azimgarh Charitable Dispensary, North-West Provinces, 30th July 1863, temporarily placed in medical charge of the Azimgarh District, North West Provinces, 1st February 1869, in charge of the Ruth Gora Bazar Charitable Dispensary in the District of Midnapur, Bengal, 27th May 1869, Secretary to the Managing Committee of the Ruth Gora Bazar Dispensary, 23rd August 1869, in charge of the Satkhira Charitable Dispensary and Sub-Division, Bengal, 12th March 1871, leave on medical certificate, 6th June to 5th December 1871, promoted to the rank of Assistant Surgeon, 2nd grade, 1st May 1871, was on leave without pay for one and half month, and subsequently was appointed Teacher of Surgery and Anatomy on 6th June 1875 in the Nagpur School of Medicine, Central Provinces, 6th June 1875, Acting Civil Surgeon, Seoni on 6th April 1877, and was promoted to the rank of 1st grade, Assistant Surgeon on 1st November 1878. After closure of school he was posted as Civil Medical Officer Chhindwada.
AMULYA CHANDRA CHAMPATI was born in 1854, appointed Supernumerary Assistant Surgeon, 18th July 1877, and attached to the Campbell Hospital, Calcutta, services temporarily placed at the disposal of the Government of India, in the Home Department for special Famine duty, Mysore, 27th September 1877 to 12th January 1878, appointed to do duty under the Acting Surgeon to the Mysore Commission, to take charge of the Devantalli Famine Relief Hospital, 10th October 1877, Supernumerary Assistant Surgeon, Medical College Hospital, Calcutta, 29th January 1878, appointed Resident Assistant Surgeon in the Campbell Hospital, Calcutta, 1st April 1878, Teacher of Materia Medica and Chemistry in the Nagpur Medical School, Central Provinces, 9th January 1879.
The teachers received salary of rupees 200 per month.
Quarters were constructed for teaching staff. These were transferred to Normal School for their teaching staff when Medical School was closed in 1883.
Other interesting information
A. The Asiatic Society of Bengal was founded in 1784 at Calcutta and in 1804 at Bombay. One of the aims was to promote meteorological studies. One observatory was constructed in the premises of Mayo Hospital Nagpur in the year 1869. The Civil Surgeon was responsible for making weather observations, and then to report it to appropriate authorities.
B. In the year 1880 the 2nd and 3rd year students formed a common fund. The attendance register was maintained by chaprasis. This fund was utilized to bribe all chaprasis so that no one suffered from inadequate attendance. This was mentioned by the Principal in his annual report to the Chief Commissioner. However he also remarked that the year was routine and there was no untoward incident. The secretary to CC made a rather sarcastic comment about it in his reply.
C. Mrs. Mary Scharlieb wife of a Barrister in Madras applied for admission to medical college in Madras in 1874 and was successful in persuading the authorities, Medical Board, to grant her permission to enter the college. So in the academic term starting from July 1875 four women, all Europeans or Anglo-Indians, were admitted to Madras Medical College for three year course leading to the Licentiate in Medicine. Later she obtained Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, in 1888 London degree of M.D. and in1897 Master of Surgery. She was also awarded D.B.E and LL. D. She was first woman to get training in modern medicine in India.
D. Ellen Barbara d'Abreu (A Goanese born in Calcutta; her ancestor General d'Abreu came with the flotilla of Afonso de Albuquerque, Duke of Goa, her cousin/uncle was first full time curator of Central Museum Nagpur) after passing First Arts and Entrance examination applied for admission in Calcutta Medical College in 1882 but admission was refused by the Medical Board though Richard Temple, Lt. Governor of Bengal, who had started medical school in Nagpur was in favour of admission. He sponsored her (B.M.) and one more Indian student Abala Das (L.M.S.) to Madras Medical College. So one can say one of the earliest Indian Born Indian women to get modern medical degree was connected with Nagpur.
E. However the college was opened to women next year and Kadambini Ganguly was admitted to Calcutta Medical College in 1883. In 1886, she was awarded a GBMC (Graduate of Bengal Medical College) degree.
F. Mr. Abercrombie was the first recorded apothecary of Nagpur. He also practiced medicine. He was private physician to Raghuji III in 1853.
F. A new building for female ward with 35 beds was constructed with help from Duffrin Fund in 1888, in the premises of Mayo Hospital. Later government granted separate land near Gandhi Bagh and Daga gave generous donation of rupees 2,30,000=00 for the building and Duffrin ward for female was shifted there under new name of Daga Memorial Hospital.
2016-17 is the sesquicentennial year of Nagpur Medical School.
Photograph of a group posed in front of medical school buildings at Nagpur in Maharashtra;
In the centre Surgeon Brigadier W. B. Beatson (or Townsend?), on both sides teachers and behind students; from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections: India Office Series (Volume 46), taken by an unknown photographer in c. 1870.
THE PRINCIPALS
STEPHEN CHAPMAN TOWNSEND
Dr. S. C. Townsend joined Indian Medical Service in Bengal Presidency as Assist Surgeon after his medical graduation.
Sanitary board was established in Central Province in 1864 and Townsend was appointed as Inspector General; the post was later designated as Commissioner. When the Medical School was opened in Nagpur in 1867 he was appointed first Principal. He prepared a report on cholera epidemic in 1868 and suggested improving sanitation, ensuring proper management of festivals, and developing hygienic conditions in institutions like hospitals, jails, and military cantonments. Later he was transferred from Nagpur. He took part in Second Anglo-Afghan war. He was Chief Medical Officer for Kuram Division under Major General F. C. Roberts of Kabul Expeditionary Force. He was at Zarghan Shahr in the beginning of October 1879. Townsend was tall and well built and liked to dress well. He was always in full dress and accompanied Roberts everywhere. Roberts said 'I let him ride beside me not especially for his company to but to draw enemy fire'. He was severely wounded in the action at Jagi Thana (November 1879) and was mentioned in dispatches in 1879.
Later he went to South Africa and took part in Boer war in 1880. He was Brigade Major and in-charge of 10th Brigade Medical Company.
He died on 14th February 1901 and was buried on 15th at Heaviitree churchyard, Devon England.
He had many children and his eldest son Stephen Frank was born on 2nd January 1857 at Peshawar. He was a civil engineer and settled in South Africa. He was interested in botany and ornithology.
His youngest son Lieutenant Henry Bernard died of typhoid fever at Faisabad, Awadh aged 19 yrs.
His grandson Group Captain Peter Townsend DSO DFC (hero of the Battle of Britain) became an Equerry to King George VI and was once engaged to Princess Margaret, younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II; but as he was a divorcee he was found to be unqualified for marriage into Royal Family by Church of England.
His great granddaughter Isabel Townsend was a fashion model.
WILLIAN BURNS BEATSON
The Beatson family was original from England which was driven to Scottish border in 11th century. It was later settled in Fife, a county of Scotland. Several Beatsons were in HEIC (Honorable East India Company) service.
Dr. William B. Beatson was born on 11th April 1825 in Peckham, a district of South East London. He graduated from Guy's Hospital London in 1846. He took appointment as Ships Surgeon in East India Company's passenger ship and made three voyages around Cape of Good Hope. He received Guy's nomination for commission and joined Bengal Medical Service in 1852 at Calcutta. He married in 1852 to Mart Augusta, eldest daughter of Edward Bevan, Esq. of Clifton. He took part in the Second Anglo Burmese war in 1853. He received the Burma medal for his services.
(Circular silver medal with ornate scrolled swivel ribbon; the face with the crowned head of Queen Victoria facing left, circumscribed 'VICTORIA REGINA'; the reverse with a standing Victory to the left crowning with laurel a seated classical warrior, a short sword in his right hand, its scabbard in his left, his helmet on the ground, lotus flower and leaves below, signed 'L.C. WYON.' (For Leonard Charles Wyon, 1826-1891, chief engraver at the Royal Mint); the medal was instituted on 22 December 1853 after the Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1852 to 1853.)
He served in Nagpur first as Superintendent of Lunatic Asylum, then as Medical Officer of Central Jail and lastly as Principal of Medical School. He was transferred to Lahore as Deputy Surgeon General in Army and Inspector General of Hospitals. He was then promoted as Surgeon General and retired in 1883. After retirement he first settled in Bath and then in Eastbourne where he died on 26th April 1911.
He had one daughter Isabel and one son William Michael.
He was MRCP (England), FRCS (England), MRCP (London) and MD (St. Andrew Uni.).
William Burns Beatson has written several articles in medical journals and also penned two books viz. 'Indian Medical Service – past and present' and 'Story of the Surname of Beatson'.
He was buried at Ocklynge cemetery, Eastbourne.
JOHN BRAKE
Dr. John Brake was born in 1828 and joined Indian Medical Service in Bengal Presidency after medical graduation and was appointed as Assistant Surgeon on 14th January 1855. He took part in suppression of Mutiny of the Indian soldiers of the HEIC and was present at the siege of Delhi, actions in Awadh, action at Biswah, pursuit of Feroz shah, and operation in Bundelkhand. He received mention in dispatches, thanks from Government of India and Mutiny Medal.
He was appointed Principal of Nagpur Medical School in 1879 when he was Surgeon Major. He was later promoted as Surgeon General on 2nd September 1886. He retired after few months in same year 1886.
He died on 14th February 1903 at the age of 75 years.
J. P. Kelleher has written a small book about him published by Barnes and Noble.
His only son HERBERT EDWARD was born at Melksham, Wiltshire, on 9th February 1866. He joined Royal artillery and was promoted to Brigadier General of Heavy artillery during First World War in 1918. Later he was promoted as Major general and was commandant of Heavy Artillery Training Centre in England.
LIST OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
WHO RECEIVED CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA OF
'PASSED MEDICAL PUPIL'.
YEAR
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
ADMISSIONS
55
16
16
15
15
FROM C P
53
8
10
5
14
MOHAMEDANS
34
8
10
7
9
APPEARED IN October 1970, BUT EXTENDED TILL February 1871
TEN STUDENTS (NAMES NOT KNOWN)
PASSED IN
1871
MAY, AKBARUDEEN KHAN, SAYEED GAFOOR, KASIM KHAN, SAYAID SAALAR, SHAMSHER KHAN , SHAIKH MOYUDEEN, ABDUL GAFOOR KHAN, MASELLAMONEY, MOHD. ABDUL KARIM, RAGHAVAYYA, LAL MOHD., DIN MOHD., JAHANGIR KHAN, GHASI RAM, RAJJAB ALI, SHALIGRAM, MOHD. AKBAR, SAYAID IBRAHIM , PRAN CHARAN, ABDULLAH KHAN , SHAHBUDDIN KHAN,
MAY 1872
MOHS. SYED YOUSOOF ALLY, HERNATH, MAHA NARAEN, MOHD. HUSSAIN, BEHARI LAL, ABDUL REHMAN, ABDUR GAFOOR, PRAKASH CHANDRA SEN,
APRIL 1873
MOHD. YACUB, MOHAN LAL, RAMCHANDRA VISHNU, IMAM KHAN, RAFI UDEEN, JAGANNATH TEEWAREE, HOOSAIN MOHD. KHAN,
JULY 1975
ABDOOL KAREEM, ABDOOL KAREEN KHAN, MOHD. HANEEF, SHEIK KUTUB OODEEN, FATEH MOHD. , RAJA RAM, SHAID ABDUL KAREEN, JEWLA PERSHAD, SURJ RAO, BEHARI LAL, SHEO PERSHAD, ANWAR ALLY,
APRIL 1876
JAHANGEER BUX, AZEEZ MOHD. KHAN, SAYEED MOHD. SOFEE, PURRUN LAL, BHONDO LAL, PURAN SINGH, SUKH NANDAN, HASHMAT ALI, ABDUL REHMAN, ABDUL WAHAB,
APRIL 1877
DAJI RAM CHANDRA, HAFFIJ SYED ABDUL VADOODH, ABID HUSAIN, ABDOOL HOSAIN, MAGHAN RAGHOBA, ROSHAN LAL, MUNNA KHAN, BEHARI LAL, ABDUL FATHA KHAN, EMAN KHAN, JOHN MATHEW,
JULY 1878
RAM DEEN TIWARI, RAM LUGAN SING, ABDUL BAREE, AJOODIA PRASAD, SOORAJ BALLEE ACHARJI , SHAIK WALEE MOHD., GANGA PRASAD SING, RAM DEEN, MOHD. ABDUL RYMAN, PRAN SUKH, RAM DUTT, MEHANDI HOOSAIN , NARAYAN LAL, VISHNU, RAM PRASAD, MOHD. HANIF, SHEW RAM, ZYNOOL ABDEEN, GIRADHAREE PRASAD,
APRIL 1979
MOHD. HABIBULLAH, RAM BAHADOOR, HAR PRASAD, RAGHOONATH TAKEARAM, MOHD. AMIR, RAM SAHAI, KALI KRISHNA, JAYARAM DAULAT K.
APRIL 1880
ABDUL KADIR, MOHAN LAL, RAM CHARAN, RAM LAL, LAL KHAN, ASHFAK HUSAIN, MOHD. BEG, GOPAL SHESHADRI, KABIL AHMED, MAHA NARAIN, SOBHA RAM, L.
APRIL 1881
ALLAH BUKSH, RAM PRASAD, CHUJJO MAL, HYDER HUSSAIN, JOTEE RAM TIWARI, LUTCHMAN PRASAD, SOHAN LAL
APRIL 1882
BALAWANT SHEORAM, RAMKRISHNA APAJI, BENI PRASAD,
THE PUPIL
Daji Ramchandra Deshmukh was from a middle class Brahman family. He was born on 24 July (another date is 11 December) 1854 at Burhanpur and had his schooling there. After matriculation he became a school teacher for some time. He was not satisfied and came to Nagpur. He was admitted to the Nagpur Medical School in July 1874. He was a hostel boarder during his studies. In the first year examination he received prizes (books) in Anatomy and Materia Medica. In the second year he received first prizes in Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy and one prize in proficiency in Pharmacy. In the third (Final) year he received first prize, a gold medal, in Medicine, and first prize, a silver watch, in Surgery. He passed out in April 1877 and went to Burhanpur to meet his parents whom he had not seen in four years. He joined government service at Sub Assistant Surgeon at Mayo Hospital Nagpur. He was deputed to Madras for Famine duty in 1778. He was ordered to join the forces mobilized for Afghan war. However he cured the wife of commissioner whom other doctors had declared as hopeless case. And as gratitude his order to join forces in Afghanistan was cancelled (he did not want to cross Sindhu river for religious reason) and he returned to Nagpur. He worked for next six years in Mayo hospital. In 1783 he was posted to Adityawari (now corrupted to Itwari) dispensary near Bharat Mata/Shahid chowk, old Bhandara road, Itwari. In 1884 he was deputed to investigate some epidemic cattle disease in Central Provinces. He was awarded with Service Gold Medal for his excellence in this work. He rejoined Adityawari dispensary after returning and worked there continuously for next twenty five years. Once he was transferred to some other place but the local people agitated so strongly that he was permanently placed there by Chief Commissioner. In 1895 he was made Rai Saheb. In 1897 he donated eight thousand rupees for renovating and enlarging the Charitable Dispensary, and it was named after him as 'Daji Ramchandra' dispensary. It is still managed by Nagpur Municipal Corporation. The old building was demolished in first decade of 21st century and a commercial complex was constructed in that place. The 'Daji Dawakhana' was shifted in new building at the back (south) side. In 1912 he was awarded with Kaiser-I-Hind silver medal and he received it at the hands at of Lord Hardinge. (Mahatma Gandhi was awarded in 1915)
He retired as Sub Assistant Surgeon. He started private practice after retirement and became very successful. He was personal physician to Raghuji IV. He constructed a school with his own funds in Itwari (Daji School) and donated it to Nagpur Municipal Committee. He also donated one thousand rupees to construct a beautiful fountain at Cradock Garden Maj. Deo Park Dhantoli). He was a successful farmer and advised modern method of farming at his farms in Turakmari village. He had a modern orchard at Pachpaoli where he produced newer vegetable brought from out of India.
His eldest son Dr. Sakharam Deshmukh was educated at Robertson Medical School, which was reopened in the same building in the year 1914, and obtained diploma of L. M. P. He was one the most successful medical practitioners of Nagpur.
THE ROBERTSON SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, NAGPUR
The (British) Government of India had taken public health as a responsibility of the government. In the provinces which were governed directly by the British public hospitals and dispensaries were opened. It has also taken a massive programme of vaccination against infectious diseases. There were few medical colleges in India and none in Central Provinces of which Nagpur was capital. There was acute shortage of medical and para-medical professionals in the Central Province. The lady doctors particularly were very few.
The Robertson School of Medicine was opened in Nagpur in July 1914. It was located in Mayo Hospital where an old medical school had existed till 1883. RMS was the only medical school in C. P. & Berar Province till India became independent in 1947.
It was named after Sir Benjamin Robertson, Chief Commissioner of Central Province and Berar.
* ROBERTSON, Sir Benjamin, K.C.S.I., K.C.M.G., CIE., LL.D.
[Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India
Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire
Legum Doctor (Doctor of Laws)]
Robertson was educated at Elgin Educational Institute, at Aberdeen Univ., and at Balliol Coll., Oxford, and entered the Indian Civil Service 1885. He was superintendent of Census, Central Provinces, 1890-2; Deputy Commissioner and Magistrate C. P. 1892-1902; Chief Secretary to the Chief Commissioner 1902-6 ; Secretary to the Government of India, Commerce and Industry Department, 1907-11 ; an Additional Member of the Council of the Governor-Gen. 1910; Chief Commissioner of C. P. from 1912 to 1920 and on special duty in S. Africa in connection with enquiry into Indian grievances 1914; His efforts as official mediator between Mahatma Gandhi (leader of Indian community in South Africa) and Jan Smut, Interior Minister of South Africa, successfully brought about The Indians Relief bill in 1914. This, along with his efforts to start medical school, was the main reason for the local Indians to propose that the medical school should be named after him.
(There was one Dr. John Robertson working in Medical Department about this time and was posted as Civil Surgeon in Nagpur, Narsinghpur and Akola; but he is not connected with the name of the school)
The medical school was under medical department and not under education department as were all other schools. The Inspector General of Civil Hospital was incharge of the school.
The Civil Surgeon was ex-officio Superintendant of the school. He received special pay of rupees 150 per month. The IGCH and Civil Surgeon belonged to the Indian Medical Service which was branch of the Indian Army. They generally held the rank of Lt. Colonel or Colonel. The management of school was vested in the Superintendant, assisted by a school committee under general supervision of the Inspector General of Civil Hospital. The school committee consisted of two lecturers elected every year by all lecturers.
After medical education, both in colleges and schools, was started by the government some people started issuing bogus degrees and certificates. To curb these fake doctors the Govt. of India proposed in 1913 an Act to penalise issue of bogus degrees. This act was to be supported, supplemented and made more effective by legislation about registration of medical degrees by provincial medical boards. So Central Province Medical Registration Bill was passed in 1916 and in the same year received assent by Governor General. This Act was modified in 1917 and it was made applicable to the province of Berar also.
In 1920 there were only 7 lady doctors in government service in whole of C. P. & B. province, one each at Nagpur, Raipur, Wardha, Khandwa, Narsinghpur, Harda and Burhanpur.
In 1920 at Nagpur there were 1civil surgeon, 1 assistant to CS, 8 assistant surgeons (MBBS) and many sub assistant surgeons (licentiates) in government service and 15 private medical practitioners (MBBS).
PRINCIPALS
PHILIP FRANCIS CHAPMAN
The first Principal of RMS was Major Philip Francis Chapman. He was born on 11th February 1870 and graduated from Edinburgh University (M.B. C. M.) in the year 1894. He passed commission examination for Indian Medical Service from Netley Military School in 1995 and joined Indian Army as Lieutenant on 29th July 1895. He was shifted to civil service in 1897. He was promoted as Captain in 1898 and as Major in 1907. He was posted as Civil Surgeon of Nagpur in C. P. & Berar in 1913. He was appointed as Principal of the newly opened RMS in 1914. He participated in the WWI and was promoted as Lt. Col. in 1915. He was awarded CIE (Companion of the Indian Empire) in 1919 New Years Honours. He was promoted to Senior List in March 1921 and became a full Colonel on 24th September 1922. He retired on 27th October 1923. After retirement he settled at Fanans, Tenuilt, Argyllshire UK. He died on 14 September 1956 at Bexhill, Sussex aged 86.
TEACHERS
Initially the IGCH appointed Civil or Military Assistant Surgeons as Lecturers at Mayo Hospital with additional duty and pay as lecturers. The Sub Assistant Surgeons were generally posted as Demonstrators. The Assistant Surgeons were M.B.B.S. degree holders and the Sub Asst. Surgeons were Licentiate (Medical School certificate). The Lecturers were posted for a period of five years and then transferred to other posts. The Demonstrators were posted for a period of three years and then they were transferred to other places. The reason for this arrangement was that the IGCH was of the opinion that the teachers were not only teaching to students but were also learning themselves and becoming better trained; and this expertise and proficiency should be available to citizens of other districts and provincial places. Also more Sub Asst. Surgeons should get benefit of the Medical School to better their knowledge; the advantages of additional pay should also be fairly distributed. In 1933 the period of posting of SAS as demonstrators was reduced from 3 years to 2 years.
Initially the teachers were few but later their number increased.
The strength of teaching staff reached up to of ten full time lecturers (provincial medical service cadre class II), three part time lecturers, two tutors (PMS cadre AMO) and seven demonstrators (AMO cadre).
In 1922 the teaching staff was
One full time (Civil Asst. Surgeon) Lecturer Surgery with additional pay of 120/-
One part time (Civil Asst. Surgeon) Lecturer Minor Surgery with additional pay of 50/-.
One full time (Civil Asst. Surgeon) Lecturer Medicine with additional pay of 100/-
One full time (Civil Asst. Surgeon) Lecturer Chemistry with additional pay of 100/- plus 20/- for X-ray plus 30 as curator of museum.
One part time (Civil Asst. Surgeon) Lecturer Hygiene with additional pay of 50/-
One part time (Civil Asst. Surgeon) Lecturer Midwifery with additional pay of 50/-
One part time (Civil Asst. Surgeon) Lecturer Physiology and Pathology with additional pay of 100/-
One full time (Sub Asst. Surgeon) Demonstrator in Materia Medica with additional pay of 50/-
One full time (Sub Asst. Surgeon) Demonstrator in Anatomy with additional pay of 50/-
Initially the post of teacher was a 'non vacation' post. But from 1922 they were allowed half vacation of 45 days. But the 'privilege leave' to which they were entitled was stopped.
On 9th August 1922 a meeting was held which was attended by IGCH, CS, staff of RMS and some private medical practitioners. It was agreed in this meeting that whenever post of a teacher will fall vacant it should be advertised and most suitable candidate should be appointed after an interview. It should also be open or available to medical persons not in government service.
So the government started appointed teachers in various subjects after scrutinizing their application and interview on recommendation of IGCH for a period of five years, the first year being probationary. The teachers not in regular government service were found to harbor apprehension about their future after completing five years. In 1930 five lecturers were from government cadre and five were from private or non government quota. In 1931 government reconsidered the policy of teachers' appointment but the proposal of appointing teachers on permanent basis was not approved.
Some of the teachers were –
N. H. Bharucha – 1919-23 Chemistry and Physics
1924- 29 Pathology and Physiology
1929- went of UK for DTM and DMRE
S. C. Roy - 1929-34 Pathology
K. N. Pradhan - 1922-27 Eye and ENT (Hon.)
1927-32 ENT (Hon.)
K. D. Bhave - 1927-32 Eye (Hon.)
B. R. Khisty - 1924-29 Surgery
1929 - Transferred to Seoni as Civil Surgeon
Padmanabha Chari - 1929-34 Surgery
1934- Transferred to Chandrapur as Civil Surgeon
His post was not immediately filled, but CS was asked to give lectures in Surgery.
Bali Ram Dubey 1926 – 31 Medicine
1932 - ? Medicine
Miss Lobo 1927 – 32 Midwifery
1932 resigned and went to UK
Abdul Gaffar 1926 – 31 Physiology and Biology
S. C. Das 1926-31 Materia Medica
N. S. Sahastrabudhe1925 – 30 Anatomy
K. G. Nerurkar 1926-31- 44 Chemistry, Physics, Medical Jurisprudence
S. S. Apte 1932- ? Chemistry, Physics
Miss Golla Lal 1932 – 37 Midwifery
Ms. A. M. Glover 1938 - ? Midwifery
Ramnarayan Kayasth 1932 - ? Chemistry Hon. (Agriculture College)
V. D. Kale 1932 - ? Physics Hon. (Hislop College)
R. S. Dixit 1932 - ? Tuberculosis, X ray Hon.
R. M. Golwalkar ?
N. D. Kane ?
V. A. Khare ?
Rangi Lal 1936 – 1947 Surgery
Narmada Prasad 1937 - ?
D. John 1937 - ?
M. S. Das 1937 - ?
K. P. Sengupta 1937 - ?
D. M. Thergaonkar 1937 -42 Anaesthesia, First Full Time
S. L. Roberts 1944 - ? Pharmacology, Medical Jurisprudence
R. L. Tuli 1944- ? Hygiene
R. N. Banerjee 1944 Demonstrator Physiology
M. D. Bhave 1944 Demonstrator Physiology
G. C. Kapoor 1944 Demonstrator Physiology
S. C. Mitra 1944 - ? Pharmacology
M. V. Tungar 1944 - ? Physics, Chemistry
G. L. Sharma 1944 - ? ?
Miss Nerulkar 1944 - ? Midwifery
G. D. Kale 1945 - ? Dermatology
Y. K. Subramanyam 1945 - ? Hygiene
N. R. Pande 1945 - ? Dermatology
(Introduction to anatomy. By N. S. Sahasrabudhe, M.S., Lecturer in Anatomy, R.M. School, Nagpur; Prince of Wales Fellow and Medallist, Bombay University (1926–7), etc. With Foreword by Dr. Y. G. Nadgir, M.S., F.C.P.S., Professor of Anatomy and Embryology, Grant Medical College, Bombay. Crown 8vo. Pp. 229 + vii. Illustrated. 1929. Nagpur: R. T. Deshmukh)
1
LICENTIATE MEDICAL PRACTITIONER
Initially the object of the school was to train persons for Subordinate Indian Medical Service. Certificate of Matriculation was the minimum qualification required for admission for male students. However students, who have passed Inter Science (I. Sc.), after two years in college/university, or B. Sc. could also apply and were preferred. Admissions were limited to 40 per annum, 20 per cent of the vacancies being reserved for women candidates.
Medical profession was not very popular career amongst students then. Good jobs were available after completing B. A. or B. Sc. Hence to attract students, stipend and freeship was offered. The amount of stipend was rupees sixteen for boys and rupees ten for girls.
Hostel accommodation was offered at very low rates. There were two hostels for boys accommodating 80 students, and girls were incommoded in three separate places. Hostel fee was one rupee and eight annas per month to be paid at the end of month. It was collected by warden. Some students did not pay even this low fee and went way at the end of course with our paying it. This amount was recovered from the salary of warden. So the rules were changed. Hostel fee was increased to rupees two per month to be paid at the beginning of every month from 1922. It was again increased in the year 1942.
Initially the hostel mess charges were also low. Some students left the hostel without paying mess bill. The hostel mess was also running in loss. So rules were changed the security deposit of rupees twenty five was started to mess.
Still it was difficult to fill all seats in the first few years. Twenty percent quota for female students was never completed. Those who were given stipend had to give a bond to serve government for a period of five years and fine of rupees four hundred if he did not join government service. Later the period of service was increased to ten years and fine to rupees one thousand.
In the year 1923 stipend and bond were abolished and stipend was replaced by scholarship which was offered depending score in a competitive examination.
In the first year, 1914, only 25 students were admitted. In the later years students realized that medical profession is good, with social status and quite lucrative and hence it attracted more applicants than the available seats. The number of admission was gradually increased to 50 per year. The number sometimes varied due number of state sponsored candidates. As the course was new in C P & B all seats could not be filled with candidates from C P & B and some students from out side provinces were admitted. The numbers of out side students were 1917 -2, 1918 – 6, 1919 – 12, 1920 – 33, 1921 -10. From the year 1922 continuous residence of at least three years was made mandatory for admission.
Private students, those who did not want stipend, were willing to pay fees and hence were not asked to give bond to serve government, increased in significant numbers. The school started a competitive entrance examination from 1922 for all male candidates except graduates and Government sponsored candidates. The subjects were English, Mathematics, Science, History and Geography. There was not fee for this entrance examination. In 1936 the subjects of History and Geography were dropped and stress on Math and Science was increased. The expenses on examination increased as more persons started to appear for examination. So in 1936 test fee of rupees three was started. Candidates, in order of merit, from amongst the successful ones were selected for interview and if found suitable were admitted. Women applicants were called for interview after they have passed a test conducted by the Director of Public Instruction, Central Provinces, which was of the matriculation standard, and if found suitable were admitted.
The admission fee was rupees two and tuition fee was rupees four per month. The government was giving rupees eight per student per year as capitation fee.
The four year course led to the Licentiate in Medical Practice, Central Province (LMP, CP); also called as Licensed Medical Practitioner. The examination was conducted by C. P. Medical Examination Board. The Central Province and Berar Medical Council was established under The Central Province and Berar Medical Registration Act, 1916 (No. 1 of 1916) and the degree of LMP was recognised as registrable degree.
The subjects taught are listed in the chapter 'Prizes'. A subject of First Aid and Stretcher Drill was started due the contingencies of First World War. It was discontinued in 1932.
In the year 1931 there were 212 students of all years including 8 female students. The record of the first female student is not available. Every year 20 students were awarded scholarship of rupees 15 which was increased to 17 in the final year.
In a report published in 1937following information is given –
'Applications received during 1935, 1936 and 1937 were 175, 235 and 223 respectively. 5, 11 and 20 candidates with I. Sc. qualifications applied in 1935, 1936 and 1937 respectively.
First and second year students are given 4 chances to reappear at the examination in which they fail. Afterwards their names are removed from the rolls of the school.'
In October 1941 examination G. M. Mairal and R. D. Jha were caught copying for Midwifery and Medicine papers. They were expelled from the school.
Another report for the year 1937-38 gives following information –
'223 students applied for admission out of which only 20 had passed Inter Science exam others were matriculate.
No. student 237 (m 196, f 41), annual admission 40, Male 37, female 5, passed in 1937 exam m 33, f 4.
Beds for teaching were 220, no. of microscope for physiology 26 and for pathology 18.
Government grant was Rs. 92348, fees Rs.21900 total expenses Rs. 65750/-, fees for C P & B student for whole course was Rs. 370/- and for foreign that is out of state was Rs. 146/- per annum; 26 students were given scholarship amounting to Rs. 4050/-
There was one lecturer, one assistant lecturer and one lab assistant for chemistry and physics.
There was one lecturer, one assistant lecturer and one lab assistant for biology and physiology
There was one lecturer and one lab assistant for pharmacy.
There was one lecturer, two assistant lecturers and four lab assistants for anatomy.
There was one lecturer, one assistant lecturer and one lab assistant for pathology.
For midwifery there were 6 beds and only female students conducted delivery; they had to conduct 10-15 delivery, total number of confinements being 137, hence each delivery was shared with other students and total number of lectures was 60 per year.
The annual cost of teaching per student was 920/- and annual cost of bed was 357/-Another report gives following information –
'It has 2 lecture halls, a physical and chemical laboratory, a physiological and pathological laboratory: X-ray and electric treatment room, a pathological, anatomical and Materia Medica museum, a library containing about 2,000 volumes, a dissection hall and attached buildings. It has attached to it 2 good hostels, which can accommodate over 150 boarders, with attached bath rooms and dining halls, and large grounds for tennis, hockey, football, volley ball, etc. A medical troop of boy scouts, under a scout master was started in 1926. The school started with 25 students in 1914, at present there are over 200 students, male and female. The number of admissions every year is limited to 40-50, owing to want of accommodation in lecture hall and laboratories which it is proposed to enlarge by adding top stories. Clinical material for teaching purposes is drawn from the Mayo Hospital situated in the same grounds, with a total indoor accommodation for 73 medical and 99 surgical beds. The outdoor department has a daily attendance of 187-202, consists of medical, surgical, eye, 'ear, nose, throat, women and children's dental, anti-rabic and venereal departments. There is a good operation theatre. All buildings have electricity installed.'
In 1942 there were 29 microscopes in the Physiology department. Out of these three were useless and eight were bad, and proposal was sent from school for purchase of more microscopes. However, only one microscope was sanctioned due strained war economy.
Students from other provinces were also admitted in this school and residents from Central Province were given scholarship (10-15rupees) if they could secure admission in other medical school.
Women were given scholarship (10 rupees) if they could get admission in Female Medical School, Agra.
Students after successfully completing LMP course could get admission for post graduation in other provinces and were given scholarships of rupees 14-20.
The admission eligibility criteria was changed in 1944 and minimum qualification of I. Sc. was made mandatory for admission to L. M. P. course.
The Bhore Committee constituted in 1946 to suggest Public Health Improvement Strategies recommended closure of LMP course and to have uniform MBBS course in all places in India. Accordingly the admission to this course was closed in 1947. The course was working till the last student of 1946 batch passed out in 1954. (It would have been closed in 1952 but some students could not complete the course in 4 years)
The book prescribed in syllabus were –
Anatomy by Gray, and this book was found to be insufficient for the course and it was replaced by Anatomy by Cunningham,
Materia Medica by Ghosh,
General Dispenser by Agnihotri,
Materia Medica by Hale White
Along with many others.
Prizes –
The Superintendant of the R M S and Inspector General of Civil Hospital were keen to encourage the students to study diligently and assiduously. Several prizes were instituted to be awarded to meritorious students of various years. The first prize instituted was given from the fund donated by Col. Mathew Denis Moriarty*, IMS, Inspector General of Civil Hospital (Rtd.), Central Provinces. Its value was rupees fifty to be awarded for general proficiency to the student of fourth or final year student in the form of books and surgical instruments. It was converted to cash award since 1922. The Superintend created a fund from the finances available and instituted silver medals worth rupees eighteen each for following subjects –
I year – Chemistry & Physics, Anatomy, Physiology, Materia medica & Pharmacology
II year – Anatomy, Physiology, Materia medica & Pharmacology
III year – Medicine, Surgery, Midwifery, Medical Jurisprudence, Pathology, Hygiene & Vaccination
IV year – Medicine, Surgery, Midwifery, Medical Jurisprudence, Hygiene & Vaccination
Total 18 silver medals.
Dr. Sakharam Ganesh Paranjpe, who was Civil Surgeon at Bilaspur, proposed in 1922 to donate rupees one thousand Promissory Note yielding interest at 3.5% to create a fund, to commemorate the visit of Prince of Wales. The interest was to be utilized to make a gold medal. At that time the then civil surgeon said that most of the prizes were claimed by few students only and there should be more even distribution of prizes and marks scored in examination should not be the only criterion. As example he said that G. P. Nankherkar students took all five prizes and two students of third year, namely Abnashiram and K. G. Pradhan took all five prizes between them. His proposal was rejected. Paranjpe's proposal was accepted and approval was requested from Prince of Wales to institute a Gold Medal in his name to be awarded to the student who would present best case summaries of three medical and three surgical patients from Mayo Hospital. Dr. Santosh Lal Robert who passed L.M.P. in 1927 claimed 1Gold and 10 Silver Medals.
In 1936 Dr. Chintaman Vinayak Sahastrabudhe, an ex LMP student of RMS, Prize was instituted. It consisted of capital fund of rupees 500 and the annual interest was to be awarded to the student who would score highest number of marks in final year.
(* Colonel Matthew Denis Moriarty, Bengal Medical Service (ret.), died at Guildford on May 24th, aged 76. He was born on January 26th, 1849, the third son of the late Very Rev. Thomas Moriarty, M.A., D.D., Dean of Ardfert; he was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he had a brilliant career, gaining a medical scholarship on entrance as an undergraduate, and taking first place in the examination for the medical degrees, thereby gaining the university medical travelling prize. He graduated as B.A. in 1869, as M.B. in 1872, and subsequently M.D. in 1891, also taking the F.R.C.S.I. diploma in 1883. Entering the I.M.S. as assistant surgeon on October 1st, 1872, he reached the rank of colonel on October 25th, 1902, and retired on October 25th, 1905. Most of his service was passed in civil employment in the North-West (now the United) Provinces; on promotion to administrative rank he was appointed Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals in the Central Provinces. After his retirement he settled at Guildford where he occupied himself chiefly in his favourite pursuit of gardening. In 1878 he married Janet Elizabeth, second daughter of the late Surgeon General James Irving, I.M.S. She died in India in 1887. He had two sons, the elder of whom was a member of the medical profession, and two daughters.)
18th meeting of the Indian Science Congress was held from January 2nd to 8th 1931 in Nagpur. The inaugural function was held in Tata Hall of Nagpur University. The session on Medical and Veterinary research was held at Robertson Medical School, Mayo Hospital.
Hospital, School and College -
Initially in the Mayo hospital there were only two wards; one for British and one for Indians. The beds were divided as medical and surgical. In 1888 one women ward was built with support from Lady Duffrin Fund. It was decided to build a separate (Duffrin) hospital for women and shift Duffrin ward there. Government allotted land in Gandhibag which was about one kilometer east of Mayo hospital on the same road. Mr. Daga donated large amount in memory of his mother and Lady Amrutabai Daga Hospital for women and children was opened in 1923. In 1939 three more wards were built. Lady Dhunbai Mehta w/o Mehta built 'Parsi ward' where only Parsi patients were admitted. She also built one general ward where other patients were admitted. Seth Gopikisan Agrawal also built one general ward. (In 1944 Major D. Kelly the Civil Surgeon of Nagpur admitted one nonparsi patient in Parsi ward. There was lot of hue and cry from Parsi community and he had to apologize to Lady Mehta and Parsi community.
Governor of CP&B, M. Butler, visited Mayo hospital on 12 August 1928. He found a dilapidated hut on left and buffalos wallowing in muddy pond near entrance. He was unhappy about the bad condition of the hospital. He formed a standing committee to improve its structure. The committee studied the problem and put up proposals and plans. Over the periods more committees were formed but no concrete steps were taken.
In 1923 Nagpur University was established. It had no affiliated medical college. In meeting of Nagpur University Court on 6/12/1935 Mr. N. K. Behere raised interpellation that
There is no Medical College in C P & Berar province
No Medical College is affiliated to Nagpur University
Medical colleges from Bombay, Madras, Lukhnow and Calcutta are refusing admission to our students.
He demanded that NU should take initiative to start Medical College.
A committee was appointed by Nagpur University to look into the feasibility of starting a Medical College.
Government of India Act 1935 was passed and Mr. Khare and Mr. Shukla became Premier of C P & B successively. The government of CP&B also looked into the possibility of expanding the Mayo Hospital and upgrading RMS into a medical college. Tentatively some funds (7 lakhs) were also allotted for it. The elected government resigned in March 1939 and the province was directly ruled by the Governor.
However due to the Second World War this scheme were put on hold. Again in 1941 fresh estimate and proposal was prepared for expansion of hospital and starting a college.
Three schemes were considered namely –
A. build a new hospital without demolishing old hospital and college,
B. demolish old hospital and build new buildings on the same site, and
c. build new buildings at a completely new site.
For the first and second option it was considered that more land could be acquired at the north of existing Mayo hospital. For the third option five sites were considered a. North Ambazari road (28.22 acres), b. Wardha road (oppo Hitwada 30.10 acres), c. Golf course (near Masonic lodge civil lines), d. Kamthi road (north of old road) and e. Rajabaxa temple road (present medical college, large land available, private and municipal nazul land).
Mr. Walter George ARCA, FRI, BA, Architect from New Delhi was contacted. He was member of the team of Lutyen and Baker who had designed New Delhi. He had specialised in college and hospital architecture. He visited Nagpur in November 1941. He submitted his report giving good and negative points of all proposed schemes. The decision was again postponed due to exigencies of war.
In 1943 Burma was occupied by Japanese forces and British Indian government feared air raids on Calcutta and Bengal/Assam. It prepared a plan for expanding medical facilities in the central India for the expected casualties. 900 extra beds were sanctioned at Mayo Hospital and RMS. Building fund was sanctioned and purchase of equipments was started. Later it was found that it is difficult to create such large facility in Mayo hospital Nagpur at such short notice. Hence 300 beds with accompanying facilities were shifted to Jabalpur. However before the scheme could be implemented Japan was defeated in the Burma theatre and the threat of air raids vanished. It was decided to further reduce the extra beds at Mayo and 300 beds should be distributed to various District Hospitals, and bed strength at Mayo should be expanded by 300 only.
After the war was over government started planning post war reconstruction scheme. It was decided that a New Mayo Hospital and Medical College should be built.
Three architectural firms were considered –
Walter George: 8% fee and he was very busy and not having enough time,
Gregson, Battley & King, Bombay: 5 – 7.5 % fee, hospital experience poor,
Master, Sathe & Bhutta, Bombay: 5 – 7.55 fee, some experience of hospital.
The Finance and the Engineering departments opined that the fees of all firms is very high and instead a government architect should be employed on regular full time basis; and his services could be utilised for other hospitals in province also. The cost of fresh land acquisition was high and therefore possibility of expanding present land of Mayo hospital was considered.
In 1944 – 45 the land of Mayo hospital and RMS was 46.69 acres, of which 1.71 was in Mauza Nagpur and the rest was in Mauza Bhankheda. Not all land was enclosed in compound and some land though allotted on paper was not occupied. About 6.46 acres were under encroachment.
The Bhore committee (Sir Joseph Bhore KCSI, KCIE, and CBE) submitted its report in 1945 and it recommended abolishing medical schools and replacing them with colleges offering MBBS degree courses.
In the budget of financial year 1946 – 47 rupees 11 lakhs were provided for expansion of Mayo Hospital and starting Medical College. Of these rupees 3 lakh were for acquisition of additional land (north of Mayo hospital) and rupees 7 lakh were for building and rupees 1 lakh were for staff and equipment.
Dr. D. Kelly, who was Civil Surgeon and Principal/ Superintendent of RMS, was appointed first Principal of the new medical college.
In April 1946 the elected government took over charge and Pt. R. S. Shukla again became Premier/Chief Minister. He discarded the scheme to upgrade RMS into a medical college and decided to start a new medical college and hospital. This was eventually developed as Government Medical College Nagpur.
The first medical college was thus aborted and first principal D. Kelly went back to UK. Mayo hospital lost its name after independence and it was renamed as District General Hospital. It had to wait another 20 years to be affiliated to a Medical College.
In the old Nagpur Medical School there used to be a unit of meteorological observatory under Asiatic Society. Later Meteorological department was established and observatory was shifted to Morris College. It was again shifted back to Mayo hospital and RMS in 1937.
LIST OF STUDENTS OF LMP (INCOMPLETE)
Agrawal B.M., Akre R.S., Ali Hasan, Amte, Arajo D., Banerji N.C., Baptiwale G.B., Barat S.K., Bhalerao K.D., Bharade M. S. , Bharadwaj Sukhdev (1929), Bhargava, Bhate D.B., Bhave C.B., Biharilal, Bobde T.R., Bose S.K., Bowry Dilbag rai (1951), L M P, D O P, (Dublin) 1959, D P H (Toronto) , Brises Mrs., Chaudhuri D.R., Chitale S. N., Cholkar W. R., Chopra Gangaram, Daga R.N., Dalvi B.P., Dani L.C., Daoo G.V., Das S. C., Daulat Jairam, Dave D.D., Deo G. R., Deoras D.D., Deoskar S.J., Deshkar G.R., Deshkar V.D., Deshmukh S. D., Deshmukh S.B., Deshpande D.G., Deshpande D.J., Deshpande G.L., Deshpande K. G. 1923, , Deshpande L.V., Deshpande P.N., Devidayal, Dixit J.P., Dongare G. R., Dua B.D., Dubey G.P., Dubey L.N., Durugkar W.T., Fernadez Ms., Fulbandhe V. K., Gajbhiye R.G., Gandhe G.B., Ganeshlal, Ghate M. L., Ghosh , Goswami G.S., Gupta B.B., Hariharan R.R., Hariharrao R.K., Hunka A.L., Indolikar B. V., Ingole V. B., Ishwarchandra, Jabbar Abdul, Jacob S., Jaiswal S. L., ENT, Jaltare P.G., Joshi M.B., Joshi Ms. C.Y., Joshi S. U. ophthalmologist, Joshi S.K., Kale D.G., Kale G. S., Kalwit R. N., Kane G.V., Kanikdale P. D., Kapare M. G. , Karandikar , Kashyap B.P., Khalik Abdul, Khan A.B., Khan M.R., Khurshid Ali, Kolarkar Shantaram, Kolwadkar, Kshirsagar N.T., Kulkarni S.R., Lahiri J.N., Latif M.A., Londhe K. K., M.H. Jafri, Mardan Singh, Mardikar S.V., Mishra H.R., Mishra K.R., Mudholkar Mrs., Mudliar K.G., Mujumdar L.R., Mukewar V. W., Mukherji Ms. N.B., Mute K.N., Nagraj N.K., Nakade G.S., Namjoshi N.K., Nande Durgashankar, Narkhedkar, Neyoji, Nigam S.L., Nigam S.P., Novle S.N., Pande B.G., Paranjpe M.V., Patki A.N., Pawade E.N., Phansikar, Phansikar Mrs., Pillai T.M., Pitale O. M., Powar L. R. S., Pradhan B. V., Pradhan K.G., Pradhan N. K., Pulwala B.R., Qurshi S.B., R.N. Joshi, Rai B.B., Rajanna K., Rajapurkar, Ramadwar, Rao Raja, Rashid S.A., Raut S.N., Sagdeo N.A., Sahastrabudhe P.G., Sahu G., Salpekar K.G., Salpekar S.D., Sant H.P., Sanyal N.N., Saoji V.G., Sardeshpande J. H., Sen A.K., Sen S.K., Sengupta S.K., Sheodin Ram, Shingnapurkar V.G., Shitul G.N., Shrivastava R.P., Shrivastava Ramanand, Shrivastava S.G., Shukla B., Shukla N.R., Shukla R.L., Siddiqui A.Q., Soman, Sonak K. L., Subhedar W.G., Suryawanshi S., Tankhiwale R.L., Thakur Hari Sigh, Tiwari B.R., Ujawane K. V. , Upasani A. M., Vaidya N.P., Vaidya S.K., Vanjari Mulchand, Varma D.N., Vishard Ms. A.L., Wadegaonkar W.N., Wawoo,
2
DIPLOMA IN MEDICAL PRACTICE
India became independent in August 1947 and a new state called Madhya Pradesh was formed which incorporated previous C. P. & Berar Province.
A Medical College was started in July 1947 and it was attached to Nagpur University which was already established in 1923. In the first batch 50 students were admitted who had successfully passed Inter Science (I. Sc) exam after two years in a B. Sc. course.
The last batch admitted to LMP course in 1947 was transferred in newly opened Government Medical College, Nagpur as a special extra batch. The students supported by teachers and superintendant had to struggle and agitate to convert their admission from LMP to MBBS course. It started and finished its MBBS course six months later than the regular July 1947 batch. Since this batch was referred from LMP course it was called as 'Referred batch'. This name was stuck to those subsequent students who cleared their first MBBS examination 6 months late and started their clinical subjects 6 months later.
The government of Madhya Pradesh felt that it requires more doctors for health care of its citizens and the intake capacity of newly established Medical College of Nagpur of 50 students each year was inadequate to fulfill this requirement. Hence it decided to start a short term course at Robertson Medical School from 1948. It was a three year course. The name of the school was changed to 'Nagpur Medical School' in the enthusiasm of recently gained freedom in August 1947. However this name never became popular and was quietly dropped sometime later. The course was initially called as Medical and Health Assistants Course (M.H.A.C.), then Rural Medical Practitioner/ Registered Medical Practitioner (R.M.P.) but was later known as Diploma in Medical Practice (D.M.P.). The subject of Medical Jurisprudence was not included in the syllabus for first three batches. These doctors were employed as Assistant Medical Officer (A.M.O.) in rural health centers and had to give evidence in medico legal cases. There were objections raised about their being adequately qualified as expert witness and hence the subject of Medical Jurisprudence was added in the syllabus of the fourth batch and the length of the course was increased to three and half years. Those who had completed the course earlier had to undergo another additional course of six months at RMS.
The Civil Surgeon of the Mayo Hospital was ex-officio Superintendant of the Medical School. Some of the teachers for D.M.P. course were Drs. N. M. Ingale (Anatomy), Mujumdar (Physiology), Rangilal (Surgery) and Uddhanwadikar (Medicine) and some honorary consultants attached to Mayo Hospital. Dr. Mokadam was honorary teacher of Surgery.
The minimum qualification for admission to MAHC was matriculation (11th board examination). However some students had cleared Inter Science or even B. Sc examination before joining this course. The subjects of Botany and Zoology were added to the syllabus of first year along with Anatomy and Physiology. The classes of Botany and Zoology were conducted at Science College in Civil Lines. The classes of Anatomy and Physiology were conducted at Nagpur Engineer School and classes of Clinical subjects were conducted at Mayo Hospital.
Initially the building of Medical College was under construction and MBBS classes were also conducted in the same places as DMP classes. Some of the teachers appointed in Medical College gave lectures to DMP students also.
Initially only 50 students were admitted to this DMP course each year. However clear and nonambiguous rules were not drawn for admission. The school was under Department of Health and not under Department of Education. Admissions were made on recommendations of Ministers and MLAs also. The numbers of students getting admissions increased every year till in one year 250 students were admitted though there were not enough facilities to teach so many students.
This course of DMP was not recognised by Medical Council of India which was established in 1934. The M. P. government constituted Vidarbha Medical Council as a statutory body under section 5 of the C. P. & Berar Medical Registration Act 1916 read with M. P. Statutory Bodies (Regional Constitution) Act 1956 which recognised this course for practice in M. P. Its office was located near the office of the Director of Health Services in the Old Secretariat premises.
A new Indian Medical Council Act was passed in 1956 replacing act of 1934 with more powers regarding recognizing medical courses and degrees. The Madhya Pradesh government started a condensed course for LMP diploma holders as reserved seats in Government Medical College. Ten seats were reserved for LMP students out of 150 seats every year. The last batch was admitted in 1959. They were admitted to second MBBS (they were not required to appear for Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Basic Sciences, examination again) and for these students one year's internship was condoned, as they already had acquired adequate clinical experience. Nagpur University passed a special ordinance condoning one year compulsory internship for those students who had two or more year's clinical experience. The duration of total course was thus three years.
The medical personnel who had obtained the diploma of D.M.P. were also anxious to improve their own qualifications and formed an Association; and it approached the State Government for giving facilities of higher education to enable them to become eligible for registrable qualifications by making arrangements for a condensed course of education leading to the registrable degree. The government in the mean time was desirous of restarting LMP course in RMS and approached MCI for the same. The MCI responded by communicating that the DMP diploma holder may be admitted to a course of two years leading to the qualification equal to LMP provided
The candidate is already in possession of I. Sc. qualification,
Successfully pass an examination at the end of two years training, and,
The government closes the present DMP course.
The diploma of L.M.P. was included as a recognised diploma in Part I of the 3rd Schedule to the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.
There was reorganization of states in 1956 and Nagpur Division was transferred to the Bombay State. The Bombay State decided to stop the DMP course from 1958 and there were no admission in session starting from July 1959. The Robertson Medical School was closed in 1961 when the last batch of DMP passed out.
The bilingual Bombay state was bifurcated into Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960 and Vidarbha including Nagpur division was included in Maharashtra. The Government of Maharashtra felt need for more qualified doctors particularly after India's China war in 1961. Therefore it started a condensed course for D.M.P. diploma holders leading to L.M.P. which was I.M.C. registrable qualification. The D.M.P. diploma holders formed an association, ADMP and requested government to admit them to condensed MBBS course. The government informed the DMP association that after getting LMP qualification those having I. Sc. qualification will be eligible for condense MBBS course and others will have to undergo one year Pre-Medical/Pre-Professional or equivalent course before admission to condense MBBS course. (The Nagpur University had stopped the I. Sc. examination in the mean time). Later government decided that those D.M.P. diploma holders having taken admission in D.M.P. course after passing Inter Science examination of university were eligible to join M.B.B.S. course.
Then I.M.C. objected that the ratio of students/teacher for D.M.P. was not as per recommendations for Basic Science, and hence these students will have to repeat these subjects. Therefore these students were admitted to First year of M.B.B.S. course of four and half years. Every year 10 students were admitted in addition to usual 150 students. One year clinical internship was condoned for those students who had worked for two or more year after qualifying D.M.P.
The school lasted for 15years from 1948 to 1962 and admitted 11 batches. About 930 students obtained the certificate of DMP. 95 students successfully obtained university qualification of M.B.B.S. And out of these 29 students further completed post graduation diplomas and degrees in various specialties. One person Dr. Abdul Quadir was awarded the highest degree of Ph. D. in Medicine in 1966.
M.B.B.S. degree of a post D.M.P. student
The first batch of D.M.P. qualification holders was admitted to M.B.B.S. Course of four and half years in the year 1962 and the last batch was admitted in the year 1968.
LIST OF DMP STUDENTS (INCOMPLETE)
Aampuri R, Abbassi A A, Agalawe S N, Agnihotri A, Agrawal K H, Agrawal M B, Agrawal M B' Akkewar M S, Ahuja B S, Akkewar M M, Ali S K, Aloni R B, Alsi V N, Ampur R K, Amraot D S, Ande K G, Angihotri A K, Apte N (Mrs), Badhiye C B, Bahade S G, Bahe H S, Baichwal S P ( Mrs), Balapure K M, Band T N, Banergis D K, Bankar K L (Mrs), Bapat S R, Barapatre P B, Battuwar M S, Bawane G B, Belokar V P, Bhalerao S K, Bharade M S, Bhartiya A K, Bhonsale N S, Bhusari M T, Bobde R B, Borikar Y M, Chahande S V, Chincholkar M M, Dabhade M B, Dahake N Z, Daniel C W, Daoo S (Mrs), Dehadrai, Dehale S P, Deshmukh D B, Deshmukh R N, Deshmukh V S, Dhawad A N, Dhote R R, Dongare S S, Dubey F.B, Dubey J P, Duddulwar R G, Dudhe P B, Faye L S, Fursule V M, Gaddamwar P V, Gadewar N N (Mrs), Gaikwad S D, Gandhewar R N, Gandhewar S N, Garge V G, Gawai S T (Mrs), Gawande S U, Ghawade P V, Golawar H N, Gop N, Gupta B, Gupta B V, Gupta R K, Guru M G, Gwal K G, Hanfee A G, Hedao H I, Indolikar D V, Ingole C B, Issac P V, Jain K J, Jain N, Jain S S, Jaiswal J R, Jaswani J T, Jikar N S, Jugade V H, Junankar L (Mrs), Kadawe G S, Kadu K (Mrs), Kalbande D N, Kambalo M R (Mrs), Karahale A W, Karwat K T, Katare S (Mrs), Katare S, Kathale P R, Kedarpawar P S, Khadase K N, Khapare B M, Khapre M G, Khetal B S, Khonde S P (Mrs), Korranne V D, Kotewar B N, Kshirsagar B S, Kujjur E, Kujjur E, Kukadapwar N L, Kulkarni Y D (Mrs), Kunnawar S K, Kurumkar S J, Lad R L, Lal P N, Lal P N, Lalwani B H, Lambodari M M, Laswani B H, Londhe K K, Madeshwar D M, Maheshwari J M, Mahurle J J, Malewar K K, Marotkar B M, Mayee R K, Meshram M J, Mishra P S, Mishra S, Mishra S C, Mishra S P, Mohgaonkar A D, Mudgal D B, Mujwar J P, Mukewar V W, Mulak B G, Mulmule S K, Mungate U N, Mustafa M, Nafedey D C, Nawab S K M, Ningade S N (Ms), Pande A W, Pande B A, Pande K, Pande P P (Mrs), Pande S K, Pande S M, Pandharpure K S, Paranjpe V S, Pasarkar M V, Pashile R D, Pathan N N, Patil G N, Patil H N, Patil M E, Patil S G, Patole B K, Pawar R S, Pensane K, Phatak K (Ms), Phate P B, Pise N R (Mrs), Pitale A O, Poddar M V, Quadir A N, Rahate M P (Mrs), Raj S, Rajput S S, Ramteke H P, Rathod B R, Rathore S, Rawekar T J, Rekawar P H, Sabane A V, Sakharkar B S, Sarde R V, Sardeshpande J H, Sawarbandhe V I, Sawarkar G R, Sawarkar S G (Mrs), Sawlani S C, Shegokar S C, Sheikh M N, Shewalkar N R, Shivhare S, Shukla G P, Siddiqui Z A, Tagalpalliwar K G, Tehalani T M, Tewari G B, Thakare S M, Thakare V D, Thakur U S, Trivedi H S, Trivedi R L, Turaskar D U, Tury R N, Ujawane K V, Umarlar S U, Umathe K G, Urkude V M, Vaidya M D, Waghe P J, Waragantiwar M N, Watane Y N, Yawale N M, Yemsanwar M S, Yerawar V Y,
3
LICENTIATE OF COLLEGE OF PHYSIAN AND SURGEON, BOMBAY
There was great need of doctors in Maharashtra particularly in the rural areas. The course of D.M.P. was closed in 1962. There were not enough seats in MBBS courses in medical colleges. All medical schools were closed as national policy. The certificates (some) given by College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bombay (which is only a examination conducting body) were recognised by IMC. Only some post graduate examinations were recognised by IMC but not graduate LCPS.
The Government of Maharashtra was either unaware of this fact or decided to ignore it in its wisdom. And in an agreement with College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bombay started L.C.P.S. (Licentiate of College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bombay) course at Mayo Hospital, and Robertson Medical School (Nagpur Medical School) was reopened in 1965. Three teachers (Dr. Bondre – Anatomy, Dr. Khandare – Physiology and Dr. Rajwade –Biochemistry) were appointed for first year course. Fifty students, 10 each from five universities in Maharashtra, were admitted on 26th August 1965. This course of L.C.P.S. was already derecognized by I.M.C. Another batch was admitted in July 1966. When the students became aware that their qualification would not be recognised by IMC they were worried. The government (Health Minister Mr. X) tried to assure them that they could practice in rural area, but students were not satisfied and started non violent agitation. Many students left the course half way seeing no future in continuing it. Students decided to boycott examination; not a single student appeared for first examination in April 1966. Then Mr. Rafiq Zakaria became Health Minister and he assured students that if they would withdraw agitation and appear for examination he would help them. So students appeared later in November 1967. These were given admission as additional seats in various government medical colleges in respective universities. Eight students were admitted in G.M.C Nagpur in the second MBBS along with regular 1966 batch. The students who were admitted in July 1966 were transferred to regular batch of July 1967 in various medical colleges of respective universities. Four (or Seven?) students were admitted in regular batch of 1967 at GMC Nagpur.
The ADMP approached MCI to remove/relax the condition of I. Sc. qualification for admission to M.B.B.S., but the favourable reply not being received approached the High Court.
The judgment was delivered on 23rd July 1968 allowing these students to seek admission in MBBS condensed course and those who had completed more than two years of experience were exempted from internship. These students were admitted and accommodated in 1968 batch.
The Vidarbha Medical Council was abolished under section 33 of Maharashtra Medical Council Act of 1965. All the medical practitioners registered and recognised by VMC were recognised by MMC under schedule I.
It was the only batch who obtained M.B.B.S. degree without clearing pre-profession examination.
There was need for more medical colleges in Vidarbha region and the Municipal Corporation of Nagpur decided to start a medical college like the one in Mumbai. Permission was obtained from the government and Nagpur University and The Corporation Medical College was started on 13th August 1967 in place of RMS.
The teachers of the RMS were transferred to this new college.
Old photograph of Robertson Medical School, Nagpur.
L.C.P.S. students who were admitted to MBBS course G M C Nagpur
1st batch – 1966 2nd batch – 1967
L. Khandekar, A.K. Chopade
Ingle (Mrs. Patil), B. G. Tumane
R. Baheti, T. Khatib
P.M. Bhutada, Parshuramkar
Sarala Agrawal,
P.K. Sahare,
P. S. Malsure,
R. Gupta
There are not any medical schools in India as per government policy, as all modern medical education is to be given at college level only.
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Selected)
A History of Indian Medical Service
Alphabetical List of Indian Army
Ancestry.Com
Army Lists for year 1905 – 1945
Autobiography of an Indian Surgeon
Bhore Committee Report
British Medical Journal
Central Provinces Gazetteers
History of Medical Education in India
History of services of Gazetted Officers civil department serving in the Central Provinces.
India List and India Office Lists
Indian Medical Degree Act 1916
Indian Medical Gazette
Introduction of Western Sciences in India
Medical Education and Emergence of Women Medics in Colonial Bengal
Medical History of Bengal
Medical Manual
Obituary Dr. Daji Deshmukh
Report of Drug Inquiry Commission
Reports on the Nagpur School of Medicine, Central Provinces, for the year 1870 – 1883
Roll of Indian Medical Service
The History of Medical Service in India
The Indian Biographical Dictionary
The Indian Medical Service
Vidarbha Archives Medical Department Files
Who is who in India
Women Medical Pioneers of India
Report "HISTORY OF MEDICAL SCHOOLS OF NAGPUR.docx"