𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗚𝗜𝗠𝗦: (𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟰)
In my last post, I shared how Dr. Sushila Nayar secured approvals from the central and state governments to start MGIMS in 1969—and how, against all odds, she managed to get an unexpected ₹2 crore grant from USAID.
For a moment, it felt like the hardest part was over.
But the truth?
Yes, the money had come through. But where were the buildings? The classrooms, lecture halls, seminar rooms? Where was the dissection hall or the labs for anatomy and physiology? The library? And before long, she would need a fully equipped hospital too.
Not a single teacher had been appointed in anatomy, physiology, or biochemistry. And yet, the first batch of MGIMS students was about to arrive.
Her troubles were far from over.
Her calm face was often clouded with worry. Sleepless nights. Furrowed brows. The clock ticked relentlessly toward July 1969.
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One day, aboard the Delhi–Madras GT Express, Sushila Nayar was returning to Sevagram. By chance, she found herself sitting next to 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗣.𝗦. 𝗩𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗵𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗿, then head of physiology at Government Medical College, Nagpur—though at that time, he was posted at the Government Ayurveda College.
Professor Vaishwanar? We knew him well when we joined GMC Nagpur in 1973. He was fiery, quick-tempered, but utterly inspiring. He’d challenge us—products of Marathi-medium schools—to read 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, not 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘫𝘦𝘦. We walked into his physiology classes with our hearts pounding, palms sweating, praying we wouldn’t be called to the blackboard.
His wife, Mrs. Indu Vaishwanar, taught biochemistry. She was his opposite in every way—gentle, patient, kind, motherly.
We called her Mummy.
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Back to the train.
After pleasantries—and offering him a sweet she had brought from Delhi—Dr. Sushila Nayar shared her dilemma: a medical college was about to open in Sevagram, but she hadn’t found even a single anantomy and physiology teacher.
Prof. Vaishwanar listened. Then, unexpectedly, he offered to help.
What choice did she have? Beggars can’t be choosers. Dr. Nayar accepted his offer gratefully and later got state government approval to appoint him as an honorary advisor to help start the medical college.
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Years later, I got to know a softer side of Prof. Vaishwanar. Behind that stern exterior was a man full of empathy, deeply committed to helping Dr. Nayar. He drew up detailed lists of equipment and staffing needs. He suggested whom to approach for support, and named teachers who could be deputed.
And so, one by one, Sevagram’s first faculty began to arrive.
Dr. G.M. Indurkar, Dr. M.D. Kane, Dr. K.N. Ingle, and Dr. B.V. Deshkar—all deputed from GMC Nagpur—began teaching Anatomy and Physiology (Biochemistry wasn’t yet a separate department). In December 1970 came Dr. M.L. Sharma, Dr. M.D. Khapre (Pharmacology), and Dr. R.V. Agrawal (Pathology). Dr. Raj Kumar, Professor of Surgery, was deputed from the Bhilai Steel Plant. Dr. K.K. Trivedi and his wife Mrudula joined the departments of Surgery and Gynaecology. Dr. S.P. Nigam came for Medicine.
Dr. Sushila Nayar also reached out to her network across Delhi, Punjab, and Chandigarh. Among those who answered her call, perhaps the most significant was Dr. Ishar Dayal Singh, Professor of Physiology—who joined as the first Principal of MGIMS in 1969. A Principal who sat cross-legged in daily prayers, played the harmonium, sang bhajans, and wore khadi. Just like all the staff and students did—khadi was not just a dress code; it was a spirit.
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These teachers left behind comfortable lives in big cities and prestigious institutions for Sevagram’s mud roads and minimalism. They lived in two-room quarters, used kerosene lanterns during power cuts, and walked dusty paths where no taxis or autos plied. None of them even owned a scooter.
MGIMS had no imposing buildings. No modern labs. No fancy machines.
But it had these teachers.
Their hearts, their hands, their sacrifices—these built what bricks and cement never could. They treated the first batches of students like family and worked around the clock to shape MGIMS into what it is today.
All because of a chance meeting on a train?
Maybe.
But as they say—where there’s a will, there’s a way.
On that GT Express in the summer of 1969, Dr. Sushila Nayar’s will found its way.