The country’s premier institute, which was established in 1956, celebrated its diamond jubilee on September 26. The exhibition was inaugurated on AIIMS’ Institute Day on September 26 by Union Health Minister JP Nadda.
Rare black and white photographs chronicling the All India Institute of Medical Sciences’ (AIIMS) 60-year history, is on exhibition on the campus. Due to the overwhelming response, the last date of the exhibition has been extended till October 31. It took five months to gather all these rare photos of the medical institute from across the world.
From former senior doctors, medical staff to AIIMS alumini—also known as AIIMSONIANS—were contacted to contribute to the exhibition. “We had created a common email ID, which was circulated among senior doctors, staff and alumini from the institute. We requested them to share whatever photos they had when studied at the institute. Alumini from the US and New Zealand also contributed,” said Dr OP Kharbanda, the exhibition’s coordinator.
The country’s premier institute, which was established in 1956, celebrated its diamond jubilee on September 26. The exhibition was inaugurated on AIIMS’ Institute Day on September 26 by Union Health Minister JP Nadda.
Among the rare images include photographs of Queen Elizabeth II’s visit on the grand opening of the premier campus in 1961, and Jacqueline Kennedy’s visit in 1962. Incidentally, these images are available in colour, a rarity at that time.
The institute’s buildings were formally opened by the British monarch on January 27, 1961 at a ceremony attended by the then President Rajendra Prasad.
The Queen, now 90, had also planted a Gulmohar tree on the lawn, but it was eaten up by termites. Four bottle brush trees were planted at the same spot. It is expected that eight additional trees will be planted in the outer circle around it.
“We have included rare images from our archives, Queen’s visit with Prince Philip,” AIIMS Director Dr MC Misra said.
The exhibition also extols the contribution made by Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, who was instrumental in founding the institution. Old pictures of her mansion, ‘Manorville’ in Shimla, which she gifted to AIIMS for use as a holiday home for doctors and nurses, are also on display.
The institution has roots in the Bhore Committee, which in 1946 had recommended the establishment of a national medical centre which would concentrate on meeting the need for highly qualified manpower to look after the nation’s expanding healthcare activities.
New Zealand granted £1 million to AIIMS under the Colombo Plan and the foundation stone of the All India Medical Sciences was laid in 1952.
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