In the scorching summer of 1975, my elder sister, then in her 30s, fell seriously ill. Dissatisfied with the medical care she was receiving in Bhopal, we quickly moved her to Wardha, where my parents lived. Kasturba Hospital in Sevagram was still in its early stages back then. 𝗗𝗿. (𝗠𝘀) 𝗣. 𝗡𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗿, an Obstetrics and …
MGIMS
At the helm: MGIMS Student’s Section Chief
In the early seventies, when MGIMS was just beginning, many people, not just doctors and administrators, played important roles in its growth. Now, as these pioneers retire, their stories are at risk of being forgotten. It’s crucial to record and preserve their contributions for future generations. Dr. Bipin Amin (1975) recently requested me to write …
Memories in Monochrome: Prime Minister’s Visit to Adhayan Mandir
In 1969, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited MGIMS. She spoke to a small group of medical students in the Adhyayan Mandir near the old Kasturba hospital. I’m unsure about the occasion of Indira Gandhi’s visit, as I was only a ninth-grade student at Swavalambi Vidyalaya in Wardha at that time. This morning, I stumbled upon …
MGIMS Hostel Chronicles: The Tale of Premdas
After sharing Bele’s story yesterday, several MGIMS alumni requested that I describe Premdas. Today, I had the opportunity to interview him, and what I uncovered is truly fascinating. Like Bele, Premdas entered the MGIMS hostel in ’72, originating from Pujai village. Before discovering his place in the Boys’ hostel, he also worked as a daily …
Bonds Beyond Time: Memories from MGIMS Hostels
MGIMS sprang to life during the monsoons of 1969. In the early years, there were no proper hostels. Boys stayed in the Patel hostel, and girls in the nursing hostel. These were not true hostels, but simple shelters that provided a roof over their heads. In 1972, eight hostel blocks were built, labeled A through …
𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗡𝗮𝗴𝗽𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗱𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗶𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗸𝗮𝗿
𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗡𝗮𝗴𝗽𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗱𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗶𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗸𝗮𝗿 A fortnight ago, Dr. Mihir Wechalekar, an alumnus of MGIMS, class of 1992, received the prestigious 2024 Mid-Career Excellence Award in Australia. This honour was bestowed upon him at the combined New Zealand Australian Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific Meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand. This …
Leading the Way: Introducing MGIMS’s New President
The Kasturba Health Society in Sevagram, which oversees MGIMS, is about to embrace its third President in its illustrious 55-year history. Dr. Sushila Nayar, the visionary founder, led the institute for 31 years, from 1969 to 2001. Following her passing, Dhirubhai Mehta assumed leadership, guiding MGIMS for 24 years. Sadly, Dhirubhai passed away on April …
Dhirubhai Mehta
(1936-2024) It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Dhirubhai Mehta, President of Kasturba Health Society, Sevagram, who left us this morning. He was just about to turn 88 this weekend. Born on April 27, 1936, in Songadh, a village 28 km west of Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Dhirubhai came from a middle-class family. …
Unstoppable: Dr. Chhabra’s Impact on Medicine and Beyond
As the news sinks in, some may rub their eyes in disbelief. Others may find their ears reluctant to accept the truth. Some might dismiss it as a cleverly planted premature April fool story. However, the truth does not change: tomorrow, Dr. Shakuntala Chhabra shall leave Sevagram for good, marking the end of an era. …
𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗹
Alcohol and a snake. Two unlikely companions in the dark, yet both played a role in the mysterious arrival of Vitthal (name changed) to the emergency room of our hospital. Two days ago. It was well past midnight when Vitthal, consumed by alcohol, began to babble about a snake. In the quiet of his village …