FROM THE GENESIS TO THE ESCAPE VELOCITY: FIRST EDUCATIONAL SOJOURN FROM CALCUTTA MEDICAL COLLEGE (CMC)

A common culture of medicine became the hallmark of European empires throughout the world since the beginning of the 19th century. The first Asian/Indian modern medical institution CMC, as we all probably know, was on 28 January, 1835, though classes did not actually start before June 1835. It heralded the new era of hospital medicine in India from its inception. This era which can be briefly summarised as autopsy, bedside teaching and statistics gathered from the morbid anatomy of deceased patients. The genesis of the College was preceded by a period of nativity gestation phase principally through the functioning of the Native Medical Institution (NMI 1822-1835) the first English medical school of India. At the beginning, the teachers were confronted with the task of combating a strong national prejudice against the study of anatomy or dissection. Following rigorous remodelling in syllabi and mode of teaching, CMC was the first college not only in India but beyond Euro-American borders as well to have been recognized by the University College, London, the Royal College of Surgeons and the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries.CMC gained the momentum to reach the escape velocity to be in a position to send their most illustrious students to England for higher European medical education.