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Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Meet Kadambini Ganguly: The woman who rewrote the rules of Indian medicine
Born in a Brahmo family in Chandsi, in Bengal's Barisal district (now in Bangladesh) on July 18, 1861 Kadambini Basu along with Chandramukhi Basu, became the first female graduates in India, from Bethune College in Kolkata. Not only that, she was the first female doctor in South Asia to get three bachelor's degrees in medicine! Let's look back at the greatness of this inflexible woman. Dating back to a time when women were confined within abodes, expected to remain invisible, unheard, and unquestioning, Kadambini Ganguly's voice reverberated through the male-dominated corridors of medical college. The doors of Calcutta Medical College had echoed with a thousand footsteps, but never once those of a woman, until Ganguly knocked, not with hesitation, but with resolve. Yes, it is a story that not only swells our chests with pride, but also upholds a legacy worth cherishing. The same eyes that had once seen shuttered schoolrooms, male-only lecture halls, and a society terrified by the simple sight of a woman carrying books, those very eyes now led a battle India had never before witnessed. No garlands. No applause. Just a quiet resolve. She did not come to be welcomed. She came to rewrite the rules in ink and scalpels, where women were never meant to leave a mark. A childhood lit by rebellion Born on 18 July 1861 in Bhagalpur, Bengal Presidency, now Bihar, Kadambini Basu entered the world as a contradiction. She belonged to the Kulin Kayastha caste, a socially elevated group that paradoxically resisted female education. But her father, Braja Kishore Basu, who had a different lens for society, became the cornerstone of a history in making. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo In a world where educating girls was considered blasphemous, he initiated the first women's organization in India, the Bhagalpur Mahila Samiti, when his daughter was just two. In 1878, she shattered a glass ceiling and inscribed her name into the annals of history: Kadambini Ganguly became the first woman to pass the University of Calcutta's entrance examination. By 1883, alongside Chandramukhi Basu, she graduated from Bethune College, becoming one of the first two female graduates in India. But for Kadambini, education was never the destination; it was only the beginning. Her path did not end with a degree; it pressed forward, with firm determination, toward a profession the world insisted was not meant for women: Medicine. Did success feel like a celebration? Alas, no. It felt like isolation. She had to outthink, outwork, and outlast everyone around her, not because she wanted to prove herself better, but only to prove that she was 'equal.' A doctor against the odds Her decision to pursue medicine was not only courageous but unthinkable at that time. She was among the few Indian women to seek higher education, and she did so in a world brimming, and reeking, of patriarchy. As she stepped into the medical college, a different battle began altogether. She was ostracised, mocked, and pushed aside for being a female. The professors never knew how to talk to a female student. Females, if present at all, were just bodies to be examined, not the ones doing the examining. She passed her exams in 1888 and was appointed assistant physician at the Lady Dufferin Hospital in Calcutta, a rare post for an Indian woman. Yet even within those walls, her skin and gender placed her beneath her European counterparts. When she was denied senior positions simply because she was Indian, she wrote a public letter to the press. With scalpel in hand, she was peeling off every layer of patriarchy. Frustrated by this institutional discrimination, she set her sights abroad. A trailblazer in the West In 1893, she traveled alone to the United Kingdom to advance her medical training. In that particular year, she earned three prestigious qualifcations: the Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians (LRCP) in Edinburgh, the Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons (LRCS) in Glasgow, and the Graduate of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons (GFPS) in Dublin. Equipped with accolades, she made her way back to India and established her private practice, specialising in gynecology and women's health. Patients from across social strata, including the Nepalese royal family, sought her care. She treated ailments cloaked in silence, subjects Indian society refused to name. The fight for equality But Kadambini's commitment to healing was not restricted to medicine alone. She was a fervent reformer, she was active in the Brahmo Samaj, working to abolish child marriage, the dowry system, and the marginalisation of widows. She joined the Bengal Ladies' Association, championing girls' education and women's spiritual and intellectual growth. When the British contemplated raising the age of consent for girls from 10 to 12, Kadambini's counsel was sought. Her voice helped shape the Age of Consent Act of 1891—an early legislative strike against child marriage. She also investigated the brutal conditions faced by women workers in the coal mines of Bihar and Orissa, serving on a committee that documented their suffering. These were not symbolic gestures; her activism had teeth and consequence. A living legacy Her legacy is not only glorified in textbooks alone. It dwells in the first girl in a village who dares to challenge patriarchal norms and picks up a biology book. It is in every woman doctor who walks into a hospital and is not called a miracle, but a colleague. It breathes in the hearts of women who carry dreams heavier than the burdens society places on their shoulders. It flickers in the eyes of every girl who chooses courage over silence, and belief over fear. Kadambini Ganguly is not just a name we remember; she is a feeling we carry. A whisper in moments of doubts. A fire in moments of resolve. She did not want to be honoured. She wanted to be echoed. And in every girl who dares, she is. Ready to navigate global policies? 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Time of India
07-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Calcutta Medical College: Where India's first pulse of western medicine began to beat
On January 28, 1835, as mist lingered over the colonial rooftops of Calcutta, a quiet but radical shift began inside a modest hall on College Street. Under the vision of Lord William Bentinck, Governor-General of India, an institution emerged that would rewrite the medical story of the East. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Medical College, Bengal, now known as Calcutta Medical College, was founded not just to heal, but to transform how healing itself was understood in India. A t a time when superstition clouded diagnosis and traditional medicine held sway, this college introduced something extraordinary: a curriculum rooted in Western medicine, taught in English, and accessible to Indians. It was the first of its kind in Asia. The birth of scientific medicine in India This was not merely a medical college. It was a cultural battlefield. In its early years, Calcutta Medical College trained Indian students to dissect cadavers, study human anatomy, and engage with contemporary science. This was unthinkable in many Indian communities at the time. In 1836, Madhusudan Gupta, one of its first Indian students, made history. He became the first Indian to dissect a human corpse as part of formal education in Western medicine. His act was not just academic. It was an open challenge to centuries of orthodoxy. The dissection table became a symbol of courage and scientific awakening. A hotbed of healing and dissent Medicine was not the only thing that found a home within these walls. So did rebellion. During the colonial years, Calcutta Medical College became a hub of student activism. Many of its students joined the independence movement, using their classrooms by day and protest lines by night. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In 1947, Sree Dhiraranjan Sen, a student of the college, was killed during a protest on Vietnam Day. His sacrifice was recognized internationally, with the Vietnam Students' Association in Hanoi passing a resolution in his memory. The incident captured the spirit of a generation that refused to remain passive observers. A legacy forged in service Over time, the college expanded not just in size, but in significance. From treating patients during the Bengal Partition riots to establishing clinics in refugee camps, its students and faculty stepped beyond hospital walls. In 1952, led by alumni including Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, the college helped create the Students' Health Home, an initiative that offered medical services to students across West Bengal. The institution has also stood tall in research and innovation. In 2023, Dr. Sudip Das from the ENT department received a patent for a low-cost medical device. In 2024, the Indian Council of Medical Research declared CMCH the best medical college in Eastern India, with an evaluation score of 70 percent. Shaping the healers who shaped history The alumni of Calcutta Medical College read like a who's who of Indian medical and intellectual history. The college produced Dr. Kadambini Ganguly, the first certified female physician in South Asia. It nurtured the brilliance of Dr. Upendranath Brahmachari, who discovered the treatment for kala-azar, a disease that once claimed thousands of lives. Leaders such as Ram Baran Yadav, the first President of Nepal, and Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, West Bengal's second Chief Minister, also began their journey within these walls. Even Sri Yukteshwar Giri, the renowned yogi and spiritual teacher, passed through the corridors of this institution. From science to politics to spirituality, the influence of CMCH has extended far beyond medicine. Enduring bricks, expanding vision Today, Calcutta Medical College & Hospital continues to operate from its grand colonial-era buildings. The facade may be weathered, but the mission remains urgent. It treats thousands of patients daily, trains generations of doctors, and continues to expand its reach through modern research and community engagement. Despite challenges like space constraints and growing competition from newer institutions, CMCH holds its own. It was ranked 44th in India by the NIRF in 2024, yet its value cannot be measured by rankings alone. Its significance lies in its role as the birthplace of modern medical education in India. More than a medical college Calcutta Medical College is more than just a historical site or an academic institution. It is a testament to India's early steps toward scientific thought, equality in education, and public health service. It has shaped not only doctors, but dreamers and doers. It has turned colonial intent into national pride. In an age of high-tech hospitals and Ivy League aspirations, this 190-year-old college still beats with the same quiet defiance it was born with. It stands as proof that a true legacy is not built by grandeur, but by impact.
India Today
01-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Bengal Minister calls Kolkata college gangrape ‘small incident', then clarifies
Bengal Minister Manas Ranjan Bhunia on Tuesday joined the bandwagon of Trinamool Congress leaders indulging in loose talk over the Kolkata law student's rape as he called it a "small incident". He further trivialised the heinous crime in which a Trinamool youth leader is the prime accused, saying "incidents do take place".Bhunia made the remark while addressing an event on Doctors' Day at the Calcutta Medical College on Tuesday. To stress his point, the minister referred to the Pahalgam terror attack, apart from recent incidents where men and women have killed their spouses and made the headlines out at the BJP, who condemned the incident and demanded Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's resignation, Manas said, "Not one terrorist has been caught till now, those who killed us in Pahalgam. And they always target Bengal! Any small incident happens and there are those who start crying as if it was doomsday. I want to urge you all: do not underestimate yourself. You are all soldiers of Mamata Banerjee. Yes, incidents do take place, even within one's own family. Husband kills wife, wife pushes husband from a cliff along with lover. These are the crises of society". At a time when the Trinamool-led Bengal government is facing widespread criticism and scrutiny in light of the recent crime cases in the state, Manas urged party workers and supporters to "stand beside" the chief minister, saying she tackles each and every incident with the care of a his statement sparked a row, Manas Bhunia came up with a clarification, saying nowhere in his speech did he mention the law college rape case or Kasba (the neighourhood where the college is situated)."Where did I mention the Kasba incident? Is my statement related to Kasba? This is completely misleading, deliberately added to humiliate, to insult," Bhunia said, while accusing the media of distorting his statement, and warning of legal June 25, a 24-year-old woman student of the South Calcutta Law College was gang-raped for which three men were arrested apart from a college security guard. The prime accused, Monojit Mishra, is a former student and current general secretary of the South Kolkata district of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP).Before him, Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra and MP Kalyan Banerjee landed in hot soup by making controversial comments about the Kolkata gangrape Frida, Kalyan Banerjee said that a woman should be aware of the company she keeps before going out with men who have "dirty mindsets". Madan Mitra resorted to survivor-shaming, stating that the law student could have avoided the fate had she not gone to college duo received a sharp rebuke from the party leadership, who served them show-cause notices and sought their response within three days, asking why action should not be initiated against Mitra has tendered an unconditional apology for his remarks, Kalyan Banerjee is yet to respond to the party's notice.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Kolkata#West Bengal
Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Why is National Doctor's Day 2025 celebrated on July 1?
National Doctor's Day 2025: It is aptly said that a doctor is not just a healer, but he or she is the source of hope and comfort for those in pain. Every year, lakhs of students in India prepare for NEET UG to become doctors and pursue MBBS. In India, July 1 is an annual observance to acknowledge and recognise the contributions of physicians to individual lives and communities. The day is also celebrated to honour the birth and death anniversary of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, a physician, freedom fighter, and former West Bengal Chief Minister. This year, the theme for National Doctors' Day is 'Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers'. India has been celebrating the day since 1991 to honour Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy. For his works in the medical profession, he was also conferred the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1961. Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy played an instrumental role in establishing several esteemed medical institutions, including the Indian Medical Association and the Medical Council of India. Overworked, underpaid: Doctors' life in a hospital Dr. Roy graduated with honours in Mathematics from Patna College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1901, he was accepted into both the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology and Calcutta Medical College, opting for the latter. During his time at Calcutta Medical College, he faced significant challenges, including financial struggles, as his father was no longer working. Fortunately, he secured scholarships to help support his education and living expenses, as mentioned on the official website of the National Library of Medicine. As stated on the website, he became the first person to finish the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) in surgery in just two years and three months. Not only for his medical contribution, he is also credited with setting up various educational institutions like IIT Kharagpur. He also set up the Institute of Mental Health, the Infectious Disease Hospital, and the first postgraduate medical college in Calcutta.
Indian Express
08-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
West Bengal reports 26 more Covid-19 cases, 2 babies admitted to Kolkata hospital
West Bengal recorded 26 new Covid-19 cases Sunday, taking the total number of active cases in the state to 622. The highest number of active cases in Kerala has been recorded Kerala, with 1,806 cases. This is followed by Gujarat, with 717 active cases, and Delhi, which has 665 active cases. According to sources from the health department, two infants, a three-month-old and a one-year-old, have been admitted to a private hospital on Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. The babies were brought in for check-ups due to high fever, cough, and cold symptoms. Suspecting Covid-19, the doctor conducted tests, which returned positive results, leading to their admission to the hospital. Counters for Covid testing have been opened at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. Sources in the health department have reported that a report has been sent to the Centre detailing the actions taken by the state, the number of patients currently admitted to the hospital, and their present conditions. At the beginning of May, Kolkata had only one Covid-19 case. However, by the end of the month, there was a rapid increase in the number of cases. There has also been one death in the state due to the virus. According to sources in the hospitals, although the Covid symptoms are mild, the rising number of cases has led hospitals to increase the number of Covid beds in private facilities. While the health department has not yet issued any health advisory, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to raise awareness about the importance of taking precautionary measures. The KMC is set to display banners in all its health units across the city, encouraging people to wash their hands, wear masks, and maintain social distancing. Health workers in every ward have been instructed to gather information on Covid-19 symptoms in addition to their regular data collection related to malaria and dengue. They have also been advised to isolate any individuals exhibiting influenza-like symptoms or severe acute respiratory symptoms (SARI). With the rise in Covid-19 cases and heightened surveillance, health department sources report that two isolation wards have been prepared at ID Hospital in anticipation of a potential increase in cases.
