Messages & Forewords

A Message From The
Governor

I am pleased to know that the Grant Government Medical College and the Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals have completed 180 years and are celebrating their 181st Foundation Day this year.

At a time when Mumbai was frequently afflicted by cholera, typhoid, malaria, and other diseases, the establishment of this College marked a transformative step in strengthening public health. Today, Mumbai stands as a prominent medical destination.

For nearly two centuries, the institution has upheld excellence in medical education, clinical care, and public health service. Its alumni have made remarkable contributions both in India and abroad, while its hospitals have remained sanctuaries of accessible and compassionate healthcare. Some of the beautiful buildings carry stories of their own that deserve to be rediscovered and retold. The Commemorative Volume is a tribute to generations of doctors, nurses, teachers, students, and staff whose dedication has sustained its proud legacy.

I congratulate the institution and all those associated with it, and wish it continued success in its noble mission of knowledge, compassion and service to humanity.

With regards,
Jishnu Dev Varma
Governor

A Message From The
Chief Minister

Institutions of this scale shape society in many ways. They strengthen public health, build skilled professionals and create trust in systems that serve people during illness and uncertainty. Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals grew into an important centre where students learned through real work and patients received care that remained accessible to all sections of society. The reach of the institution extended across districts and communities, and its contribution became part of the state’s progress in health and education.

As India advances toward stronger national health goals, Maharashtra continues to improve its medical infrastructure, teaching capacity and research systems. Efforts to modernise public hospitals, develop specialised services and support academic growth are part of this work. Institutions with a long record of service, such as Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, form a cornerstone of this effort. Their experience and public trust make them central to the state’s healthcare vision.

This coffee table book also recognises the people whose steady work kept the institution active through many decades. Doctors, nurses, students, technical staff and administrators contributed in ways that built a culture of responsibility and service. Their work ensured that the institution remained relevant and responsive to changing needs.

I extend my greetings to the faculty, students, alumni and staff associated with Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals. I am confident that the institution will continue to strengthen healthcare in Maharashtra and uphold its commitment to the people.

With regards,
Devendra Fadnavis
Chief Minister

A Message From The
Deputy Chief MinIster

Iam happy to know that Sir JJ Group of Hospitals is bringing a commemorative book on the occasion of completing 181 years.

This commemorative book documents the people and the ideas that shaped the institution through many periods of change. It records how generations of doctors, nurses, students and staff sustained its purpose. Their work stands as an important contribution to the state.

The college began its work in 1845 and grew into a centre that shaped many branches of modern medicine in India. Its students learned through service and went on to strengthen hospitals, clinics and teaching programmes across the state. The hospital cared for people from varied backgrounds and became known as a place where treatment, dignity and access stood side by side. The institution’s presence in Mumbai built confidence among citizens who turned to it during illness and uncertainty.

The strength of public healthcare rests on institutions that combine knowledge with commitment. Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals continue to show how teaching, research and patient care can support each other and create lasting impact. Their work reflects the values that guide Maharashtra’s efforts to build a resilient and inclusive healthcare system.

I extend my good wishes to everyone associated with Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals and appreciate their continued service to the people of Maharashtra.

With regards,
Eknath Sambhaji Shinde
Deputy Chief Minister

A Message From The
Deputy Chief MinIster

Institutions that serve the public over long periods often become part of the social fabric of a state. Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals have played such a role in Maharashtra. The institution has provided care to large sections of society while also preparing medical professionals who carry their learning into many parts of the country.

As the demand for healthcare grows, teaching hospitals take on a dual responsibility. They provide treatment to patients who rely on public services and they create environments where students learn through direct work. This combination strengthens the quality of care and builds the next generation of medical professionals.

The Government of Maharashtra is working to expand healthcare access by improving infrastructure, supporting research, and creating modern training systems. Efforts to enhance diagnostic capacity, build specialised centres, and integrate digital processes are part of a long-term plan to ensure that people across the state receive timely and reliable care.

This coffee table book documents the journey of Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals. It acknowledges the work of doctors, nurses, students, and staff who keep the institution functional every day. Their commitment reflects the values that shape public healthcare in Maharashtra.

I offer my best wishes to everyone associated with Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals and hope that the work carried out here continues to strengthen healthcare in the state.

With regards,
Sunetra Ajit Pawar
Deputy Chief Minister

A Message From The Minister

The Government of Maharashtra continues to strengthen public healthcare and to expand access to specialised care. Institutions such as Grant Government Medical College and Sir J.J Group of Hospitals carry this vision forward through their long-standing commitment to training, research, and service.

This coffee table book records the institution’s journey across 181 years. It documents the people, the work, and the values that shaped it. Such a record helps preserve an important chapter in the history of medical education and public health in India.

I offer my appreciation to everyone associated with Grant Government Medical College and Sir J.J Group of Hospitals. Their work keeps the institution rooted in service and learning.

With regards,
HASAN MUSHRIF
Minister, Medical Education

A Message From The
Minister of State

Hospitals are places where science and humanity meet every day. In every ward and in every classroom are individuals who dedicate themselves to caring for others, often under demanding circumstances. Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals stand as a strong example of this commitment.

Since 1845, Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals has held a prominent place in medical education in India. It has trained generations of doctors who have served patients with skill and empathy, contributed to public health, led important research, and built departments that became benchmarks for clinical work. Its graduates carried the values of discipline, responsibility and service to institutions across the country. This legacy makes the college one of the premier medical institutions in India.

The hospital has cared for patients from all sections of society, especially those who depend on public healthcare. The teamwork of doctors, nurses, students and support staff continues to uphold the mission of service that gives the institution its strength.

This coffee table book presents an opportunity to reflect on this long journey. It records the institution’s history, its contributions and the work of the people who shaped it. Such documentation helps preserve institutional memory and encourages younger generations to take pride in the legacy they inherit.

I extend my best wishes to everyone associated with Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals for their continued service to the people.

With regards,
Madhuri Misal
Minister of State, Urban Development,
Transport, Social Justice,
Medical Education & Minority Development

A Message From The Secretary

Since 1845, the institution has carried out two essential responsibilities. It has provided medical training that shaped the careers of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. It has also delivered care to patients who rely on public hospitals for timely and accessible treatment. These roles have strengthened each other and helped build a culture of learning that grows through experience, inquiry and routine clinical work.

Institutions that sustain such continuity are central to the goals of public administration. They reflect long-term investment in people, infrastructure and teaching systems. They also show how public healthcare can evolve when guided by steady leadership and clear purpose. Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals stand as an example of how education and service can remain aligned over long periods of time.

This Coffee Table Book documents the institution’s journey across 181 years. It records changes in medical practice, shifts in public health priorities and the contributions of many individuals who shaped its identity. Such documentation helps us understand how institutions grow, adapt and maintain their relevance.

I offer my appreciation to the faculty, staff, students and alumni who continue to support the work of Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals. Their efforts keep the institution rooted in service and committed to learning.

With regards,
Dheeraj Kumar (IAS)
Secretary, Medical Education
& Drugs Department

A Message From The Commissioner

As a teaching institution, it offers a learning environment that extends far beyond the classroom. Students witness the complete spectrum of medical practice and develop essential skills—listening with empathy, assessing with precision, making informed decisions and acting responsibly—under the mentorship of experienced faculty. This rigorous and immersive training fosters confidence and prepares them to meet the evolving demands of modern healthcare.

The institution has also made significant contributions to the development of specialised disciplines and to research across diverse fields. Its departments have helped establish and uphold medical standards in Maharashtra. Today, its alumni occupy leadership positions in hospitals, universities and research centres across India and internationally. Their achievements stand as a testament to the strength of the education they received and the professional values instilled in them.

This commemorative volume chronicles the institution’s 181-year journey, capturing the milestones, ideas and contributions that have shaped its identity. Such documentation not only honours the past but also helps present and future students understand the legacy they inherit and the responsibilities they carry forward.

I commend the efforts of all those involved in preparing this publication and extend my best wishes to the faculty, students and staff of Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals. Their continued commitment strengthens medical education and reinforces the foundation of public healthcare in Maharashtra.

With regards,
Anil Bhandari (IAS)
Commissioner, Medical Education & AYUSH

A Message From The
Director

Started in 1845, Grant Government Medical College is the oldest medical college to train Indians (Natives, as the British called us then) to treat Indians. Every other medical college before that was created to train Indians to supplement medical services for government personnel, as English doctors were woefully inadequate to cater to them.

I am humbled and honoured to be the only alumna to hold the position of Dean of this glorious institute in its 181-year-old history. This coffee table book, along with the museum plans on the anvil, promise to bring its glorious past to life.

This hallowed space has not only given India its first few doctors, but has also educated the first doctors from countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, erstwhile East Africa, South Africa, Tanzania, and some countries of the Caribbean. Practically every country in the world has a GMCite active in the medical profession!

Our institute has many firsts. The first department of paediatrics in the country, where I learnt the art of teaching and healing. The first laparoscopy, first neuro-endoscopy, and many other firsts.

I can only wish that this glorious institute continues its illustrious journey, because I owe my professional growth and achievements to the Grant Government Medical College, and the confidence that allows me to grow and face challenges comes from the training that I received at GMC, not just in the lecture and practical halls but the whole 48-acre verdant campus that groomed us all for the world.

Chakraka Chakraka!

With regards,
Dr Pallavi Supriya Prabhakar Saplé
Director, Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER)

From The Dean’s Desk

It is both an honour and a deeply personal privilege to introduce this commemorative volume on Grant Government Medical College & Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, an institution that has, for nearly two centuries, belonged not only to the medical profession but to the people of this city and this state.

This hospital was created in 1845 with a simple but profound purpose, to make organised medical care accessible to all. Over the decades, that commitment has never wavered. Within these wards, generations of patients from every background have found treatment, dignity and hope. Within these classrooms and laboratories, students have been shaped not only into doctors, but into custodians of public trust.

Millions of Indians have passed through these corridors: patients seeking relief, students seeking knowledge, and teachers dedicating their lives to both. Each has added to a legacy of sustained service. The strength of this institution lies in its continuity, in the quiet discipline of daily work and in the shared belief that medicine is, above all, a public trust.

As Dean, I am deeply aware that we are temporary owners of a long and distinguished tradition. The buildings may endure for centuries, but it is people, along with their compassion, scholarship and integrity, who give meaning to these walls. From our faculty and nurses to our students and support staff, every member of this community contributes to the character of this institution.

This volume is both a tribute and a record. It honours those who laid the foundations and those who continue to strengthen them. It also serves as a reminder that this 181-year-old legacy is not something we inherit passively; it is something we renew each day through our collective labour.

As we look ahead, we remain committed to advancing medical education, strengthening patient care and upholding the values that have guided this institution since inception.

Our responsibility remains clear. Innovation must deepen equity. Technology must widen access. The future we envision, of a Viksit Bharat, is one in which excellence and inclusion are embedded as central principles to our growth story.

May this book stand as a tribute to all who have served here, and as an affirmation of our continuing duty to the public whom we are privileged to serve.

With regards,
Dr Ajay Bhandarwar
Dean, Grant Government Medical College &
Sir JJ Group of Hospitals