Reflections on Medicine and Life by Dr. S.P. Kalantri
๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ: (๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฐ) In my last post, I shared how Dr. Sushila Nayar secured approvals from the central and state governments to start MGIMS in 1969โand how, against all odds, she managed to get an unexpected โน2 crore grant from USAID. For a moment, it felt like the hardest part was over. But … Read more
How did students get into MGIMS five decades ago? I asked a senior professor of pharmacologyโan alumnus of the MGIMS Class of 1970โand he shared his story. Itโs a charming throwback to simpler times, full of serendipity, sincerity, and a touch of destiny. ๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃโ๐จ ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ฟ๐ค๐๐ฉ๐ค๐ง The year was 1969. … Read more
In my last post, I told you how deputy prime minister Morarji Desai in 1968 agreed to fund a medical college in rural India. But there was a catchโa formidable one. The hospital would need to raise 25% of the funds itself. Not just once, but every year. Forever. The formula was simple on paper: … Read more
Between 1966 and 1969, Indian politics was a storm in motion. Indira Gandhiโonce dismissed by Ram Manohar Lohia as a โgoongi gudiyaโ (dumb doll)โdefied expectations. Not only did she win the 1967 general election, but she also consolidated power and emerged as a formidable Prime Minister. The Congress party soon split: the old guard became … Read more
In May 1964, after Prime Minister Nehru died, Lal Bahadur Shastri assumed office. One day, during an informal conversation, Shastriji shared a concern with Union Health Minister Dr. Sushila Nayar: โWe produce thousands of doctors every year, yet our villages remain without care. These doctors are trained in cities. And stay there. Why canโt we … Read more