A lush green area rich in history and heritage, Basavanagudi is one of the oldest areas in the city. However, it is synonymous with the Bull TempleKadlekai Parishes Apart from the (annual Peanut Fair) and the vibrant Gandhi Bazaar, did you know that it has also been home to many stalwarts from the medical field?
For example, India’s first female surgeon came from Basavanagudi, as did the first eye surgeon from Mysore state. Some of these doctors were founding members of renowned institutions such as Vani Vilas Hospital and Bangalore Medical College, while others served as personal doctors to dignitaries such as the President of India, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Maharaja of Mysore.
To celebrate the legacy of these successful individuals who scaled great heights despite all odds, an exhibition titled Vintage Salute was organised, which featured a curated photo exhibition of these doctors who worked in Basavanagudi from the 1940s to the 1980s. It was conceptualised by Maya Chandra, Founder-Director of Maya Films, who is a history buff and a longtime resident of Basavanagudi herself.
Inspirational Journeys
The photo exhibition traces the journey of 34 doctors who were pioneers in their own right, many of them having completed their LMP (Licensed Medical Practitioner) degrees before Independence. They pursued specialisation abroad on scholarships despite their humble backgrounds.
Maya Chandra at the Vintage Salute exhibition by doctors of Basavanagudi | Photo courtesy: Special Arrangement
“Being a native of Basavanagudi and having received treatment from doctors in the neighbourhood, I always knew that there were many such doctors among us. Looking back, I cannot stop myself from feeling immense gratitude towards their contribution in my life. So, on the occasion of Doctors Day this year, I thought it would be a great idea to pay tribute to the doctors of our area. Their stories should be told as an inspiration to all of us, including the doctors of today,” says Maya.
The exhibition covers the major achievements of these doctors from various fields and includes professionals from allopathy, homeopathy, Ayurveda and mental health streams. The photographs are a treasure trove of information. Also on view is Dr YN Krishnamurthy (1890 – 1975), who did his schooling from Fort High School, Chamarajpet and studied radiology at the University of Edinburgh after being educated at Presidency College, Madras. He was one of the first Indians to specialise in radiology abroad and was appointed by the Maharaja of Mysore to set up Karnataka’s first radiology department at Victoria Hospital.
From Vintage Salute, an exhibition of doctors from Basavanagudi | Photo courtesy: Special arrangement
Then, there is Dr BN Balakrishna Rao (1910-1995) – who was the first person to perform neurosurgery in India and was appointed honorary surgeon to the President of India. The life of Dr BV Ramaswamy, who practised at Gandhi Bazaar from 1952-1994, is as interesting as it is inspiring because apart from practising at his clinic, he would visit people door-to-door every morning, earning him the title of “doctor of the poor”.
Stories of grit and determination
The exhibition also pays tribute to notable women doctors such as Dr. Nagamma, Dr. Kamalamma, Dr. Ratnamma Isaac, Dr. Chandramma Sagar, Dr. Sulochana Gunasheela and Dr. Radha. Both Dr. Kamalamma and Dr. Nagamma were child widows and the fact that they chose to study and serve society at a time when ostracism of widows was common is a testimony to their strong spirit.
Dr. Kamalamma, who had her own clinic in the area and travelled by horse carriage in the 1940s, also assisted in the home delivery of many babies. Dr. Nagamma, who completed her LMP in 1927, was awarded the President of India Award for her community service.
“My mother would often consult Dr Nagamma and I too would accompany her as a child. I had no idea she was such a great personality; this exhibition is a real eye-opener,” says Parimala SA, 70, a long-time resident of Basavanagudi, who visited the exhibition.
Padma Shri awardee Dr M. Mary Ratnamma Isaac was born in 1887. She was the first Indian woman surgeon to train under the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) in the United Kingdom and dedicated her life to healthcare and social service. Apart from Dr Chandramma Sagar, the first woman to complete triple FRCS from London, Edinburgh and Glasgow, the exhibition also pays tribute to Dr Sulochana Gunaseela, who introduced laparoscopy and ultrasound scanning in Karnataka and in-vitro fertilisation technique (IVF) in South India. She also delivered the first IVF baby in South India in 1988.
extensive research
According to Maya, preparing the exhibition took many hours of detailed research and contacting old residents, friends and families of Basavanagudi, as well as personally visiting their homes and clinics to collect information. “I got a lot of names when I made a request on the Facebook group, but no one gave me any actual contacts. With the help of my research team led by my friend Radha Rao, we met the families of many of these doctors, who gave us a lot of material,” says Maya.
Doctors from Basavanagudi in a panel discussion during the inauguration of Vintage Salute, an exhibition | Photo Courtesy: Special Arrangement
The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr Vivek Javali, a cardiac surgeon who started his career in Basavanagudi in the 1980s. This was followed by an engaging panel discussion titled Carrying the Legacy Forward: Inspirations and Challenges, with Dr Praveen Murthy, Dr Padmini Isaac, Dr Devika Gunasheela, Dr Sanjay Gururaj Rao, Dr Aditya, Dr Ramdas and Dr Saraschandra Singh. All the panel members are from the families of the doctors featured in the exhibition.
The Vintage Salute will be held till July 7 at the Indian Institute of World Culture, 6, BP Wadia Road, Basavanagudi.
