The history of genesis of R.G.Kar Medical College dates back to later half of the Nineteenth Century. Then, our country was under the British rule. The influence of English literature and culture was gradually creeping in the minds of the young socity. This was gradually clearing the superstions prevailing in the society. Simultaneously a great sence of Nationalism was growing among all sections of the population.
The public health was in a appalling state in Calcutta and rest of Bengal. The environment and the poor sanitation made Bengal the breeding place of killer diseases like Cholera, Malaria, Plague, Small Pox etc. The diseased population were at mercy of untrained physicians and quack doctors.
During those days Calcutta Medical College and a very few Government medical schools were the only institutions producing qualified physicians. But, that number of physicians were too few to meet the huge requirement for the eight crore population of Bengal, Orissa and Bihar. Also the British Govt was making life difficult for the Native Indian doctors. Not only there was salary discrepancy with the British doctors but also they were humiliated in every possible opportunity and even tortured. So multiple factors, like the developing Nationalist movement, discriminating behavior of British Government , the great urge to serve the ailing poor Indians and most importantly the desire to spread medical education among talented young people gave birth to the dream of developing a Non Government Medical Educational Institute. Dr . Radha Gobinda Kar, son of Dr. Dr. Durga das Kar was a lion hearted personality who gave the required push to this dream to make it a reality.
Dr. Kar returned from UK in 1886. He had no wish to serve the torturing, discriminating, racist British Government. The poor health facility provided to the fellow countrymen on one hand and talented educated young nationalistic people on the other forced Dr. Kar to think about developing a Non Govt. medical teaching institute, which will provide Indian doctors to serve their poor countrymen.
It was indeed a great coincident that nine similar minded personalities including Dr. Mahendra Nath Banerjee , Akshoy Kumar Dutta, Bipin Behari Moitra, M.C.De, B.J.Banerjee, Kunda Banerjee joined hands with Dr. R.G. Kar. They held a meeting on 18th October 1886 and resolution was taken to establish a non official medical school of some standard. The first non official medical school under the name “THE CALCUTTA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE “ thus established at 161, Baithakkhana Road. In the same year the institute changed its address and moved to 155, Bowbazar Street. In January 1887 it again shifted to 117 Bowbazar Street. In 1887 the name The Calcutta School of Medicine was changed to “THE CALCUTTA MEDICAL SCHOOL” in the month of August. The curricula of the Government School were adopted. It was a three year medical course education and medium of teaching was Bengali. There was no hospital attached to the institute but the students used to visit Chandni and Mayo Hospital to see patients. With Government permission dissection of Human body started in 1889-90. The students roll was 260 . Famous doctors like Dr. Lalmadhab Mukhopadhyay , Dr.R.G.Kar, Sir Nilratan Sarkar ,Dr.Sundari Mohan Das joined the institute as teacher.
The institution again had to change its address in 1897. This time it shifted to 298, upper circular road. In the same year a small hospital with 14 beds was constructed adjacent to the school. In the same year the duration of the course was increased to 4 years. Now the number of students increased to 520. The following year a plot of land of about 12 bighas was purchased at the cost of Rs. 12,000/ (the present site of the hospital)in Belgachia. Very soon a one storied building came up approximately at the cost of Rs. 70,000/ with 30 beds. The building was named Albert Victor to commemorate the visit of the prince. This building was inaugurated in February, 1902. The following year Calcutta Medical school was completely shifted to this newly constructed hospital. 1903 witnessed the amalgamation of Calcutta Medical school with another non governmental educational institute named College of Physicians and surgeons of Bengal. Now it was named Calcutta Medical School and College of Physicians and surgeons of Bengal. The school had a three year course in Bengali medium where as the college had a four year course in English medium.
To cope with the increasing demand of the medical man power, several other Medical Institutes were established by Dr. S. K. Mallick, B.Basu, B.K.Basu, S .P.Sinha. Government asked the different private medical institutions in Calcutta to unite to form an efficient teaching Institution and get it affiliated to Calcutta University. The Calcutta Medical School and College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bengal came forward with a proposal to the Government and the secretary of the State agreed to the proposal with certain conditions. On completion of the formalities the formal inauguration of thwe college was held 9on 5th July, 1916.Hence, the great journey of THE FIRST NON GOVERNMENTL MEDICAL INSTITUTE IN ASIA started and name was changed to Belgachia Medical College. Lord Carmichael the then Governor of Bengal attended the inaugural function of the college. Only 48 students were admitted in the first batch. The Calcutta University granted affiliation up to Preliminary Scientific M.B. Standard. In 1917 the Calcutta University granted affiliation up to first MB standard. Admission of 100 students was also granted. In 1919 name of the college was changed to Carmichael Medical College in recognition of his help towards developing this hospital. Dr. Radha Gobinda Kar was the first secretary of this institute and remained so till his death on 19th December 1918. The college was granted affiliation up to final MB in 1919.
In the next few years the infrastructure development gained momentum. Another floor was constructed in AVH building. In 1921 Lord Ronaldshey laid the foundation stone of the surgical building which was completed in 1922 at a cost of Rs. 2,75000/. Also the first batch of students passed final MB exam. The Anatomical block was constructed in 1926 with a cold storage to preserve cadavers. Bissumbhur Dutta children ward was opened in 1932. The Students’ Union was formed with Dr. Umapati Mazunder as the first president and Dr. Sudhir Chandra Moitra as the General Secretary. The Ex. Students’ ssociation was also formed with Dr. Prafulla Bhusan Basu as the first president and Dr. Suresh Chandra Dutta as first honorary secretary. The first Reunion was organized in 1932. The first psychiatric OPD in Asia started in this hospital in 1933. In 1935 Sir Kedar Nath Das Maternity ward was constructed a cost of Rs.4,45,00/ out of donations from Govt. of Bengal ,Calcutta Corporation ,Lord .S. P. Sinha and Nijam of Hydrabad .Bio-chemistry department started in 1937 , the fist of its kind in the country in an undergraduate institution. In 1939 a separate Cardiology Department was established which was another first of its kind in the country. It was later named Sir Nilratan Sirkar Research Institute. Silver Jubilee of this Institute was celebrated in 1941 and foundation stone for the Silver Jubilee Hall was laid by Sir Nilratan Sirkar. In 1948 the name of the Institution was changed to “R.G.Kar Medical College & Hospital.” This Institute was taken over by Govt. of West Bengal in 1958 on 12th May. At the invitation of R.G. Kar Medical College Students’ Union , Pandit Jaharlal Nehuru , the Prime Minister of India unveiled the marble bust of Late. Dr. B.C.Roy , former Chief Minister of West Bengal . In 1966 the Golden Jubilee was celebrated. The construction of Dr. B.C. Roy Casualty Block was started in 1972. In 1975 Intensive Coronary Care Unit was inaugurated by Sri.L Dias, the then Governor of West Bengal. In the mid nineties construction work of the new academy building started which was functional in 2004. The college was affiliated to The West Bengal University of Health sciences in 2003. The first batch successfully passed out the first professional MBBS in 2005. Post Graduate courses started after obtaining permission from MCI in 17 disciplines. Anatomy-4, Pharmacology -3, Paediatrics-2, ENT-2, Obstetrics and Gynaecology- 6 seats. In 2008 College of Nursing (B.Sc Nursing) started with 50 seats. Post Doctoral courses (DM, MCH) in Cardiology and CTVS started in 2009.Internationaly the first cervix and head neck interstitial implant was successfully done in this institute on 28th October 2010. Platinum Jubilee Building ,with an auditorium capacity of 1000 seats inaugurated in 2011.
Some of our students with their achievements
Dr. Hirendra umar Chatterjee was placed first in order of merit in Final MB examination of the Calcutta University for the first time and also secured highest mark in Surgery.
Dr. Upendra Nath Banerjee appointed as Superintendant of the hospital for the first time.
Dr. Ramaranjan Ghosh the first doctor from this institute to go to England and he obtained DOMS diploma.
Dr. Bidhu Bhusan Bhattacharya obtained MD degree from Calcutta University for the first time.
Dr. Amiya umar Sen obtained F.R.C.S (Englands) for the first time.
Dr. Jaharlal Ghosh obtained M.R.C.P (London) for the first time.
Dr. Sachchidananda Banerjee obtained D.Sc degree andwas awarded Coats Medal of the Calcutta University for the first time.
Dr. Ranesh Chandra Chakraborty obtained Honours marks in all four subjects in first M.B . This is still a record.
Our students Mr.T.Ao, Mr. Suhas Chatterjee and Mr. Bimal Chandra elected captain of Football, Water polo and swimming team respectively for the London Olympics.
Ex.Student Dr. Amar Sen did partial Lobectomy operation in the Surgical ward. This was the first Thorasic Surgery operation in the city.
Dr. Hirendra Kumar Chatterjee was elected to the Senate of Calcutta University.
Dr. Hirendra Kumar Chatterjee was appointed officiating Principal of this Institution and elected to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly
Ex. Student Sri. Samar Banerjee ( Badru) was selected to lead the Indian Football team in Melbourne Olympics. Dr. Amaluya Kr. Saha was elected the Hunterian Lecturer of the Royal College of Surgeons, England.
The University College of Medicine of Calcutta University was establishedand our Ex-students Prof. Hirendra Kumar Chatterjee, Prof. Bidhu Bhusan Roy, Prof. Jogesh Chandra Gupta , Prof. Birendra Nath Banerjee , Prof. Kanak Chandra Sarbadhikay and Prof Sambhunath Mukherjee became the Head of the Deprtment of Anatomy, Phramacology, cardiology, Dermatology, Orthopedics and radio diagnosis including therapeutics respectively. Our ex-student Dr. Amaranth Banerjee was elected deputy mayor of Calcutta Corporation. Dr. Anath Bandhu Roy was elected Minister of State of , Govt. of West Bengal.
Our Ex.student Dr. Kanak Chandra Sarbadhikari became Director of Health services Govt. of West Bengal
Our Ex.student Lt.Col.Suresh Chandra Dutta was awarded Padmasree by Govt. of India.
Our ex-student Dr. Rajen Mishra was appointed Vice Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University, Shillong and Dr. Amiya Kumar Hati was hounered with Rabindra Puraskar by Govt. of West Bengal.
our ex-student Dr. Dilip Ganguly was awarded Santi Swaroop Bhatnagar award.
our ex-student Dr. Shyamalendu Choudhury was appointed Director of Medical Education. He was also the Dean of Medical faculty 1998-1999.
our ex-students Dr. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Dr. Ratna De Nag were elected as Member of Parliament.
our ex-student Dr. Susanta Bandyapadhyay was appointed Director of Medical Education. Dr. Sudipto Roy, Dr. Sashi Panja and Dr.Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar were elected as Member of Legislative Assembly. Dr. Ghosh Dastidar was appointed Minister in Charge of PWD and Environment. Dr. Panja was appointed as MOS (independant charge) Women and Child Welfare.
our ex-student Dr. B.R. Satpathy was appointed Director of Health Services.
our ex-student Dr. Bhabatosh Biswas appointed Vice Chancellor, West Bengal University of Health Sciences.
Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy & R.G. Kar medical College
Dr. B.C Roy’s association with R.G. Kar Medical College is for long forty years. He returned to India in 1911 after obtaining both MRCP and FRCS (within 2 years) and joined Bengal provincial Medical services as Assistant Surgeon and teacher in Anatomy in Campbell Medical School (now N.R.S). He left this job and joined this Institution in 1919. Here he became Professor in charge of Medicine and thereafter Emeritus Professor and consulting Physician till last day of his life. Like all other professors of clinical departments he also worked in Honorary capacity with an honorarium of Rs.150/- only per month which was utilized for awarding two scholarships to students of each year in the name of his parents Aghore- Prakash Scolarships . This Institute being a Non Government one, it was possible for Dr. Roy to respond to call from Deshbandhu C.R Das and Mahatma Gandhi to enter in to direct politics. In1923 he was elected to Bengal Legislative Assembly. He was elected as mayor of Calcutta Corporation twice in 1931 and 1933. He became the first Chief minister of west Bengal in 1948.Though Dr. Roy was not associated with this Institution during the formative stage he played a key role in its development and progress. Even when he was the Chief Minister of West Bengal he saw it to that R.G. Kar medical College got special favorable support from the Government. He used to nurture this Institute almost as his own Alma-Marter though actually he was not an Ex. Student. In 1961 he received “BHART RATNA” on his 80th birthday from President Rajendra Prasad. He passed away in on his 81st birthday on 1st of July. Government of India in 1991 has declared 1st July, which is both the birth and death anniversary as the National Doctors day in memory of Dr. B.C. Roy, the great patriot, the great physician the great teacher.
