North India Statesman
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kolkata doctor rape and murder case : On 9 August 2024, a trainee doctor was brutally raped and murdered in the premises of 'R.G.' Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The entire country was shocked by this incident. The history of this hospital, which witnessed this inhuman crime, is worth knowing.
The hospital was established 138 years ago
Founded in 1886 A.D. by Dr. Radha Govinda Kar (RG Kar), the hospital has always been the cornerstone of Kolkata's healthcare system. Holding the record of being Asia's first non-government medical college, the institution was initially started in a rented house.
Who was Dr. Radha Govind Kar?
Dr. Radha Govind Kar was born in Bengal in 1852. He had a keen interest in medicine since childhood. He studied at 'Bengal Medical College'. At that time it was the oldest medical college in Asia. Later it came to be known as 'Calcutta Medical College'. After graduation, Dr. Kar went to England for further studies and returned to India in 1886 with a medical postgraduate degree.
Due to the dilapidated condition of the disease-ridden metropolis
After returning to India, Dr. Kar realized that the number of hospitals in Kolkata (then 'Calcutta') was inadequate in proportion to the population. Epidemics like cholera and plague frequently spread in the city and thousands of people died. This gave Dr. Kar the idea of establishing a new medical college and in the same year he started a medical college named 'Calcutta School of Medicine' in a rented building on Sitakhana Bazaar Road. It had a three-year medical course and the language of study was Bengali.
The name and location of the hospital kept changing
The college became popular rapidly after its establishment. Soon, when the college area started to seem small, the college was shifted to a bigger building in the Bowbazar area. Subsequently, when a bigger building was needed, four acres of land was purchased in 1898 for Rs 12,000 to build the college building in Belgachia area. The building was completed in four years. In 1902, the then Governor Lord Woodburn inaugurated the 30-bed, one-storey hospital.
After this, two more floors were built in the hospital. In 1904, the 'Calcutta School of Medicine' was merged with the 'College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bengal', established in 1895. In 1916, the name of the institution was changed to 'Belgachia Medical College'.
Finally got the name of the founder
The organization continued to grow. From time to time new buildings were constructed for new departments like Surgical, Anatomy, Maternity, Cardiology. The institute is also credited with opening Asia's first Psychiatric OPD (Out Patient Department).
By the time India became independent, the college had become a prestigious institution. In 1948, the name of the college was changed to 'R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital' after its founder. Dr. Kar died in 1918. He remained the secretary of the college till his death. The Government of West Bengal took over the administration of the institution in 1958. At present the college offers post-doctoral, PG diploma, fellowship and undergraduate programmes.
This is the first time in its 138-year-old history that the institution has had to deal with such a heinous crime and controversy of this sort. Let's hope this is the last time, too.
