INTRODUCTION
Grant Govt. Medical College & Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals Mumbai stands apart amongst all the medical colleges in Maharashtra because of its unique topography, connectivity and persistent leadership in medical training and health care for common man over the past one and a half-century.
Grant Medical College & Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals Mumbai is a premier and pioneer medical institution of 175 years of existence. This oldest medical institution run by the Government of Maharashtra providing undergraduate and postgraduate medical training and health care ranging from specialties to super-specialties along with tertiary care to patients will provide enhanced standards of medical education and health care.
Grant Medical College & Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals has situated the territory of south and central Mumbai. Mumbai is well connected by Western and Central railway, roadways, and airways and even by sea from all the parts of Maharashtra, India & the world.
Because of its better connectivity, people from many parts of the country find Mumbai convenient and also well equipped for treatment. Free and quality treatment across a large number of specialties for people below the poverty line and at a nominal cost to the common man is another important reason of getting an inflow of poor patients from grossly deficient and underdeveloped regions of the state and the country to Grant Medical College & Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND -
Grant Govt. Medical College a premier medical institution and Sir J. J. Group of hospitals (including the other 3 attached hospitals) a tertiary care center, both of 175 years heritage are under the auspices of Govt. of Maharashtra.
The British administration of the Bombay Presidency started a medical school in 1826, but it prematurely closed after 6 years of its inception.
In 1835, Sir Robert Grant, the then Governor of Bombay visualized a systematic and scientific institution in Bombay for imparting comprehensive health care and medical training. The foundation stone of Grant Medical College was laid on 30th March 1843 and it was opened on 1st Nov. 1845 admitting the first batch of eight students.
Sir Jamshetjee Jejeebhoy came forward with a donation of rupees one lakh for the establishment of a hospital, as clinical medicine cannot be learned in the classrooms, but by the actual treatment of the patients who are admitted to the hospital attached to the medical college. The foundation stone of Sir J.J.Hospital was laid on 3rd Jan 1843 and the inauguration took place on 15th Mary 1845. Later many philanthropists gave a handsome donation to develop various departments that formed Sir J.J.Group of Hospital as it stands today.
Over last 175 years, Grant Medical College has produced a galaxy of eminent doctors and medical teachers & made its place on the world map.
The Grant Government medical College, Mumbai is one of the premiere institution of India affiliated to the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik. The Foundation of the institution dates back to 1845 and with a consistent performance in ranking in the top 10 Medical colleges all over India.
Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals is a conglomerate of 4 Hospitals: Sir J. J. Hospital, St. Georges Hospital, Gokuldas Tejpal Hospital, Cama & Albless Hospital. A combined effort of Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy & Robert Grant saw the birth of this Institute to cater to the medical care of the patients and offer Western Medical education of the Indians. The Institute exhibits a prestigious history to document the award winning research work of Robert Koch on Vibrio Cholera & Sir V M Haffkine/ Waldemar Haffkine on the Plague Vaccine and their likes.
The Grant Medical College & Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals is a premier Medical Institution of India under Government of Maharashtra.
Sir Robert Grant (1780-1838) on becoming Governor of Bombay in August 1834 was deeply touched by the vast number of Indian’s who used to die for want of proper medical care. He envisaged the idea of Indians being trained in European system of Medicine. Thus in 1838, he proposed to the Government, the formation of a Medical College & a Teaching Hospital.
Luckily enough for the cause of Medical Education & Care, in March 1838, Sir Jamshetjee Jejeebhoy, the First Indian Knight & Baronet (1783-1859), offered a magnanimous donation of One hundred thousand rupees.
The proposal of Medical College was sanctioned by the Government & conveyed in the letter dated 18th July 1838. However it was sad & ironical that just nine days before the arrival of this wonderful news, Sir Robert Grant passed away.
It was the famous Sanskrit scholar Jagannath Shankarsheth who proposed the name “GRANT MEDICAL COLLEGE” to honor Sir Robert Grant. The foundation stone was laid on 30th March 1843 & the college became a reality on 3rd November 1845 & thus started the Grant Medical College (GMC).
Simultaneously with the plans & foundation of the college, it was also decided with the aid of munificent donation offered by Sir Jamshetjee Jejeebhoy, to substitute the previously existing Native General Hospital in city by creating the Sir J.J. Hospital. Its foundation stone was laid on the 3rd of January 1843 & it was opened for reception of the sick from 15th May 1845.
The first Professors of GMC were
Charles Morehead – MD, FRCS, Professor of “The Institute & Practice of Medicine” who was also the first principal of GMC
Dr. John Peet – MD, FRCS, Professor of Anatomy & Surgery
Dr. Herbert John Girand – MD, Professor of Chemistry & Materia Medica
The first batch of 9 students
was admitted to the GMC, Bombay on 1st November 1845. They were
Bhawoe Daje Lad Parsekar
Monoel A.D. Carvalho
Sebestian A.D. Carvalho
Atmaram Pandurang
Paul Francis Gomes
Fardemjee Jamshetji
Ananta Chandroba Dkule
JC Lisoba
Manoel Antonio D’Abrew
The motto of the Institution is
MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO – i.e. – SOUND MIND IN SOUND BODY
Arial view of Grant medical college & sir JJH, Mumbai.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF EMINENT PERSONALITIES -
* Christopher and Caval worked on Malaria in Grant Medical College
Bhende discovered the Bombay blood group at Grant Medical College.
* V.R.Khanolkar (Doyen of Pathology) initiated work on cancer pathology G.M.C.
* K.D.Manohar discovered Fascioloposis buski infection in G.M.C.
* d.Bodies of Donovanosis named after Donovanc was discovered in G.M.C.
* In 1896, V.M.Haffkine worked, perfected and inoculated the plague vaccine in F.D. Petit laboratory (presently the pharmacology lecture hall) Here was the foundation of Haffkine Institute laid.
* In 1902 Robert Koch worked on Vibrio cholerae in rooms behind coroner’s court.
* In 1907 Van Dyke Carter discovered the pathology of Spirometers in Relapsing fever (our OPD pathology lab is named after him)
Rahavendra Rao first Indian Professor of Pathology worked on Tropical diseases and leprosy.
* Gadgil, the Dean, and Professor of Pathology identified the first focus of Human Endemic schistosomiasis in J.J.Hospital
World-famous surgeon Dr.V.N.Shirodkar G.M. cities have numerous surgeries named after him and are still followed all over the world.
* Shantilal J.Mehta, father of modern Sir J.J.Group of Hospital was 1st Indian Gold Medalist FRCS and a founder of Jaslok Hospital
The founder – Dean of Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital was a GMCite - Dr.Jivraj Mehta.
* Reita Faria, Miss world 1966 & Aditi Govitrikar, Mrs. world 2001 are GMCites.
* All the first 3 Indian expeditions to Mount Everest were manned by doctors from GM.C. Dr. Nanavati 1st expeditor, Dr. Rasik Baal 2nd expeditor and Dr. Lal Teland 3rd expeditor (Headed by Hillary and Tenzing).
* Grant Medical College is older than Bombay University.