India's first private medical college to celebrate turning 100

Kolkata: India's first non-governmental medical college, R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, which turns 100 next year, will celebrate its achievements with a formal function on December 19, organisers said on Thursday.

"We will hold the 83rd reunion and 100th anniversary celebrations December 19 onwards with scientific sessions and cultural programme," Nilanjan Ghosh, organising secretary of the centennial celebrations and an alumni, told the media here.

Renowned cardiologist Devi Shetty will speak on innovations in healthcare delivery.

The concluding programme will be held on December 23.

Among its other plans to spearhead full-fledged research, a virology research centre is in the works, Ghosh said. A trauma care centre will also come up.

The history of the hospital goes back to 1886 when the Calcutta School of Medicine was set up by physician Radha Gobinda Kar, along with other doctors, after he returned from England with degrees in medicine, according to a statement from the hospital.

After several transformations and change of address, in 1916, Belgachhia Medical College was inaugurated by Lord Carmichael, then governor of Bengal.

In 1948, the name of the institute was changed to R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. Ten years later, the Bengal government took over the medical college.