CHANDIGARH HEALTHCARE HERITAGE
Celebrating the visionary doctors who shaped Chandigarh’s healthcare legacy. Their pioneering work continues to inspire excellence in medicine and patient care.
History of PGIMER, Chandigarh
Founded in 1962, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, was envisioned by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as a “temple of learning” to advance medical education, research, and patient care in India. This vision was strongly supported by Sardar Partap Singh Kairon, then Chief Minister of Punjab, who empowered Dr. Tulsi Dass—a world-renowned ophthalmologist—as the Institute’s first Director. Dr. Dass was granted full autonomy to recruit the nation’s brightest medical professionals without bureaucratic constraints.
Under his leadership, PGIMER attracted exceptional faculty including Dr. Santokh Singh Anand, Dr. B.N. Aikat, Dr. P.N. Chutani, and others, who laid the foundation for the Institute’s academic and clinical excellence. Their efforts established PGIMER as a center of innovation and integrity, fostering a culture of meritocracy and academic freedom.
Today, PGIMER stands as one of India’s top-ranked medical institutions, recognized nationally for its commitment to excellence in education, research, and healthcare delivery. Its founding principle remains: attract the best, select the best, and retain the best.
Dr. Tulsi Das
First Director, PGIMER | Institutional Architect
A globally acclaimed ophthalmologist, he was entrusted with the responsibility of leading PGIMER at its very inception—an acknowledgment of his distinguished expertise and leadership. With the full support and autonomy granted by Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon, he was instrumental in assembling an exceptional faculty, personally selecting eminent medical professionals such as Dr. Anand, Dr. Aikat, and Dr. Chutani. His visionary leadership laid the foundation not only for the Institute’s academic and clinical excellence but also for a lasting institutional ethos rooted in academic freedom, meritocracy, and the highest standards of professional ethics.
Dr. Jai Gopal Jolly
Father of Transfusion Medicine in India, Founder, Department of Transfusion Medicine, PGIMER
A pioneering force in the field of transfusion medicine, he played a central role in establishing voluntary blood donation in India and was at the forefront of campaigns to eliminate professional blood donors. As the founder of the Indian Society of Blood Transfusion & Immunohematology, he created a landmark platform fostering collaboration between medical professionals and blood donors. His visionary efforts led to the establishment of transfusion medicine departments at premier institutions including PGIMER, Chandigarh; SGPGI, Lucknow—where he also initiated India’s first MD program in Transfusion Medicine; Government Medical College, Chandigarh; and Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana. In recognition of his enduring contributions, his birthday, October 1, is commemorated nationally as Voluntary Blood Donation Day.
Dr. Santokh Singh Anand
Founder Director of PGIMER | Surgical Statesman
Born in 1909 and educated at the prestigious King Edward Medical College, Lahore, he went on to earn distinguished qualifications including FRCS (England), FACS (USA), FCCP, and FAMS. He served with distinction as Professor and Principal of Medical College, Amritsar from 1947 to 1962, before being appointed as the Founder Director of PGIMER, Chandigarh (1962–1969). A respected figure in both clinical and academic spheres, he also served as Honorary Surgeon to the Indian Armed Forces and to multiple Presidents of India. His contributions extended to national medical governance, having held key positions such as Member of the Medical Council of India, Chairman of the Indian Academy of Medical Sciences, Member of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and President of the UPSC Medical Selection Board. He is remembered with deep respect by generations of students and colleagues for his exemplary teaching, unwavering ethics, and outstanding administrative leadership.
Dr. Inder Anand
Heart Failure Researcher | Former PGI Cardiologist
A Rhodes Scholar and son of the esteemed Dr. S.S. Anand, he earned his PhD in cardiovascular physiology from Oxford University, distinguishing himself early in the field of medical research. He joined PGIMER in 1976, where he led pioneering studies in high-altitude medicine and congestive heart failure. His expertise earned him an invitation from the University of Minnesota to establish a dedicated heart failure department at the VA Medical Center. Despite receiving international recognition, he remained deeply connected to India, maintaining academic collaborations with PGIMER and conducting research with the Indian Army on high-altitude physiology. Though he accepted U.S. citizenship in 1999 at the request of the VA Medical Center, his emotional and professional allegiance to India and PGIMER remained steadfast throughout his career.
Dr. S.P.S. Grewal
Founder, Grewal Eye Institute | Surgeon & Technologist
An alumnus of PGIMER with an MD in Ophthalmology and a WHO Fellowship from Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, he has made significant contributions to eye care in India. He established Punjab’s first retina care unit and a dedicated trauma clinic at PGIMER, laying the groundwork for advanced ophthalmic services in the region. In 1993, he founded the Grewal Eye Institute (GEI), which has since expanded to three centers, serving over 3,000 patients each month. Over the course of his career, he has performed more than 50,000 surgeries, including corneal transplants, glaucoma procedures, and complex retinal repairs. Committed to education, he launched a four-year School of Optometry in collaboration with IGNOU and regularly hosts international fellows from countries such as Egypt and Ethiopia. A strong advocate for integrating technology and design into healthcare, he personally oversees the photography, interior aesthetics, and IT systems of GEI, bringing a unique and holistic approach to patient care.
Dr. Omkar Nath Bhakoo
Father of Neonatology in India
A pioneering figure in neonatal medicine, he founded India’s first DM program in Neonatology at PGIMER in 1989, marking a transformative step in the development of newborn care in the country. Working closely with Prof. Anil Narang, he played a key role in institutionalizing neonatology as a recognized medical discipline. His leadership was instrumental in advancing neonatal health policy and improving newborn survival rates across India. Under his guidance, the PGIMER neonatology unit became a national model, helping to establish 11 specialized centers and train over 68 neonatologists who now serve across the country. He currently continues his clinical practice at his own clinic in Panchkula, bringing decades of expertise to the community.
Dr. B.N. Aikat
Pathologist | Foundational PGI Faculty
One of the original faculty members personally recruited by Dr. Tulsi Dass, he was a foundational figure in the establishment of PGIMER’s academic strength. Initially hesitant to leave Calcutta, he was persuaded to join by none other than Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon—a testament to his recognized expertise. His contributions to the field of pathology played a pivotal role in shaping PGI’s reputation for diagnostic excellence from its formative years, laying the groundwork for generations of clinical and research advancement.
Dr. P.N. Chuttani
Second Director, PGIMER | Medical Educator
A key member of the founding team at PGIMER, he later succeeded Dr. Tulsi Dass as the Institute’s second Director, carrying forward the original vision with dedication and foresight. Under his leadership, PGIMER saw the strategic expansion of academic departments and a stronger integration of clinical services with research and training. His tenure was marked by a commitment to multidisciplinary growth and the continued development of PGI as a centre of excellence in medical education and patient care.
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