"Souvenir may be perishable unfortunately memories are not"

Year 1998 - 40th. Batch of Maulanian has already entered. Hard to believe but it looks realistic now that in just a decade time we would be celebrating Golden Jubilee year of MAMC.

Being a student of Maulana Azad Medical College and having spent nearly two decades in this campus, I am rather deeply touched and fascinated to review the birth and growth of this 30 acre campus. In what was a previous jail complex, are associated memories of several historical events including Harding bomb case.

Lok nayak Hospital christened in 1989 from Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital (LNJP) was originally popular and still continues to be known as Irwin Hospital. Lord Irwin laid down the foundation stone of this old hospital on 10 January 1930, Initial hospital had 350 bed, which was big enough to cater the small population of Delhi during that era. In November 1977 name of Irwin Hospital was changed to LNJP Hospital following central rule of Janta Dal.

It was in 1936 Lt. Col. Curickshank IMS then Medical Superintendent and Chief Medical Officer of Irwin Hospital saw the dream of building a medical college complex near Ramlila Ground Unfortunately due to the start of Second world war in 1939, this plan was dropped. During Second World War some barracks were rapidly constructed near safdarjung tomb to establish a medical center for American Troops fighting in this region. This hospital was well equipped with x-ray machine, laboratory and other facilities for various emergency procedures. After the Second World War was over American handed over this place to Government of India. This place, where the present Safdarjung Hospital exists was to be taken over as an extension of Irwin Hospital Later CGHS took over this place directly to be run by Central Health Ministry.

Foundation stone of AIIMS was initially laid in this campus near abandoned jail area but was later shifted to present site for AIIMS, after it was decided to make later an autonomous institution.

Recognizing the need for medical college in this area Government of India recommended in Second Five Year Plan for opening of a "Composite Medical College" in August 1957, Irwin Hospital was obviously chosen to be the venue for this college with provision of teaching Gynecology at Lady Harding Medical College. This composite medical college was started with 50 male and 50 female students without any entrance test. The governing body of LHMC then an autonomous institution of only medical college for Girls in the world filed a suit against starting of this medical college. Court decision favoured LHMC. The classes of this composite medical college were stopped merely two days after the start. Girls were then shifted to LHMC and Boys to AIIMS as a supplementary batch. Government sanction was finally granted in Feb. 1958. The Medical College attached to Irwin Hospital was named as "Delhi Medical College". Col. B.L. Taneja (Bashi Lal Taneja) was appointed as first Principal in April 1958. College was housed in new three-storey block designated at Anatomical Block (present Burns & Plastic Surgery Ward). Anatomy block of that time was in ground floor. Principal room and administrative block were also in ground floor just near old lift area. First and second floor were occupied by dept. of physiology & biochemistry respectively. There was a small lecture theater, library and laboratory in second floor.

Dr. I. D. Bajaj was first reader of anatomy dept. He later worked as Director General of Health Services, Dr. S. N. Chowdhry headed biochemistry, Dr. B P Sinha physiology, Dr. R K Sanyal was the head of pharmacology dept. Dr. R. Nigham joined as first professor of surgery.

In 1958, two new buildings were constructed to run OPD and emergency services. Department of obstetrics and gynecology was soon started with the help of Sher Singh Trust. During Second World War a prefabricated building was commissioned as Reema Block for trauma victims. This was the first trauma wing of this hospital. Later this block became children and male orthopedics ward.

The college was aptly renamed as Maulana Azad Memorial Medical College and later the word memorial was dropped. Maulana Azad was incidentally first Union Minister of Education and Scientific Research. First batch had 60 students. Male students were allocated two barracks of central jail and females were grouped in Jailers quarters - how appropriate! Pt. Govind Bhallabh Pant, the Union Home Minister, laid foundation stone of first proper medical college block on 24th Oct. 1959. Shri J D Shastri (Senior Architect, Ministry of Health) drew up the architectural plan of the college complex.

to be contd ....

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