Medical College Hospital Kolkata West Bengal India

Heritage

Till 18th century, teaching and practice of medicine in India was done according to Ayurvedic or Unani or Arabic system. Wisdom of Charaka and Sushruta was compared to the pioneer western physicians like Hippocrates. It was the British rulers who during early 19th century trained few of the Indians for diagnosis and treatment of diseases admintsering alopathic medicine.

CMH Building in 1910

British Government tried with a native medical school that did not prove to be purposeful for the cause of diseases prevailing in India. They decided to set up a medical college in Calcutta.

Laying of Foundation Stone

Then came the greatest days in the history of medical education in India on 28th January, 1835, when government order was passed By British rulers vide Notification GO No. 28 dated 28th January, 1835, the first Medical College was established in Kolkata, erstwhile Calcutta, which was the British capital in India.

The order said that the native medical institution to be abolished and a new medical college be formed for the education of Indian youth without distinction of creed or caste and that teaching be carried out through the medium of English language in strict accordance with the methods adapted in Europe.

This Medical College in course of time came to be known as Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. The Medical College is best known as the first medical college in the east. It has been running past two centuries and today is the best example of heritage medical college.

Outline of Original Building

The heritage of the college is preserved till this day through the buildings those were built over centuries, The Operation Theatre with Viewers' Gallery that is more than 150 year old. Not only the education and the premises of the college bears the heritage mark of the college, but also the students of the college like Pandit Madhusudhan Gupta, the first male student of the east and Kadambini Ganguly, the first female student of the east.