Articles

A DREAM COME TRUE

Dr. C. RAMADAS,

(Former Secretary of I.M.A.)

Guntur Dt. Branch.

12, cooks Meadowk, Edlesborough,

Edlesborough, BEDS,

U.K.

In the 1940s. the Indian Medical Association, Guntur district branch used to meet in the present General Hospital old building which at one time was known as the Government District headquarters Hospital. The unique feature of the hospital was that it was a 100 bedded, massive structure and was considerd as one of the major hospitals of the state. During the emergency, when madras was bombed by the japanese in 1940, political prisoners were transferred to this hospital.

            The superintendents of the hospital used to besenior surgeions of the state (madras Presidendency ) or retired military medical Officers, the last  one being a European doctor.

            When I was posted as a Radiologist in1940 to this hospital, I was surprised to see that the Radiology Dept. had wooden flooring and when enquiring about this, I was told that Mr. Barnard, the founder – director of the institute of Radiology, Madras, who visited the place in the late 30s, had made the department radio proof to upgrde it to international standards.

            At the same time, a portion of the tiled roofed building, originally a secondary grade Training School, housed the infant Guntur Medical College. This school had built-in- cement tubs – an added advantage for the Anatomy department.

            As years passed by, the members of the Medical profession, apart from meeting monthly to discuss medical subjects, also had fortnightly meetings to discuss the medical problems of the local people. As a result, we started a medical clinic for the poor and needy, with each doctor spending 2hrs. in the evening at the clinic, examining patients and dispensing medicines free of charge.

            In our meetings, in view of the importance the British gave to the District head quarters Hospital, a resolution was passed to request the Government for a medical College to be started at Guntur for the benefit of the people of coastal area and Rayalaseema. After the war inn 1945, we actually applied for it. But Sri Rajagopalachary, the chief minister then was bent  on starting the Medical college at madurai and not Guntur.

            Sensing this, we started our campaign by sending senior members of our Association to meet the ministers in person and made them aware of the importance, the British Government gave to Guntur, in particular, the Head Quarters Hospital. We certainly didn’t forger to mention the existence of the built-in tubs which were probably intended for a medical college.

            Fortunately by the benin will of the Lord, there was a change in the State Government Sri Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu became Chief Minister  and Srimathi Rukmini Lakshmi Pathy, the health Minister. They considered our request favorably and set the ball rolling for the establishment of the Medical College at Guntur.

            This finally resulted in the birth of GUNTUR MEDICAL COLLEGE. Which had its humble beginnings in the old tiled roofed building and now occupies a beautifully majestic structure with all facilities for upgrading medical training.

            I am very proud to state that  G.M.C. has developed marvelously with the unceasing efforts of dedicated teachers and equally diligent students who have brought colors not only to our state but also internationally to the institution. How I wish my colleagues were with me here to enjoy the fruits of their labour! May Lord Almighty bless G.M.C. and further its progress.