People of J&K state witnessed the wonders of modern allopathic medicine and surgery during the period of Dogra rulers. All this was possible with the arrival of Christian missionaries in the state. Both Maharaja Partap Singh and Maharaja Hari Singh were strong supporters of modern allopathic medicines.
Maharaja Hari Singh had opened some dispensaries and two Sadar Hospitals in the state, Sadar Hospital of Srinagar operated from present Lal Ded Hospital on a small scale though it had installed an imported X Ray unit in 1919.
Apart from Government run dispensaries and Sadar Hospitals , Christian missionaries had opened dispensaries at various centres in Jammu and Srinagar , it was Maharaja Hari Singh who was keen on opening two full-fledged public hospitals in the state . Accordingly two public hospitals were built in the state. One named SMGS (Sri Maharaja Gulab Singh) Hospital at Jammu and SMHS ( Sri Maharaja Hari Singh ) Hospital at Srinagar .SMGS Jammu was built at a cost of Rupees Eight lakh while an expenditure of rupees Thirty five lakhs was incurred to build SMHS Srinagar. SMGS was thrown open to public by Maharaja Hari Singh on 6th May 1940, the foundation stone of SMHS Srinagar was laid by Marquess of Linlithgow, the Viceroy of India in 1940. The viceroy was on a visit to Kashmir . SMHS hospital Srinagar was inaugurated by his successor, Lord Wavel on 11th of October 1945. A public hospital was also set up in Mirpur now falling in POK. .
Credit for opening two TB sanatoriums ( Tangmarg and Batote ) goes to Maharaja Hari singh. Film maker Ramanand Sagar stayed in Tangmarg sanitorium and urdu writer Manto in Batote . Both recovered from the dreaded Tuberculosis. Dr Rahi Masoom Raza ( who wrote mega TV serial Mahabharata )also stayed at Tangmarg sanitorium for some time and recovered fully from Tuberculosis. Tangmarg sanitorium was set up in 1929. A 6 to 9 months stay at the Sanitorium cured so many patients from the dreaded Tuberculosis. Sanitoriums became redundant after the discovery of antibiotics.
Opening of Srinagar hospital was delayed as suitable piece of land could not be located in Srinagar city. Finally the Hospital was built on land provided by Hadow Mills Carpet Factory. That is why the hospital was also known as Hadow Hospital . With the passage of time , word Hadow became Hedvun in Kashmir. It is so called even to this day.
It is worth mentioning that prior to opening of SMHS Hospital, Christian Missionaries had set up four Hospitals in Kashmir valley. These hospitals were located at Drugjan Srinagar ( Srinagar Mission Hospital) , Baramulla (St. Joseph Hospital) , Anantnaag (Mission Hospital) and Zenana Hospital Rainawari(Now known as JLNM Hospital).
Drugjan Hospital Srinagar was started in 1898 while St Joseph’s Hospital Baramulla was opened in 1921. Rainawari Zenana Hospital was opened in 1911 while Anantnaag Mission Hospital was rebuilt and restarted in 1892 . Besides this the missionaries also opened a Zenana Hospital at Nawakadal presently being used as premises of Nawakadal Girls College.
In 1891, a separate Leper Hospital was established by Church Missionary Society at Bahraar near Nagin lake.
The foundation stone of Zenana Missionary Hospital at Rainawari was laid by C. Tyndale Biscoe on 17th October 1908.
The missionaries also started an asylum for mentally sick near Badamvaari garden Srinagar. This hospital is now known as Govt Psychiatry Hospital.
Apart from land provided by the state, All these Hospitals received some financial aid from Maharaja Partap Singh and Maharaja Hari singh .
And finally in 1961, J&K Government opened state’s first Medical College in Srinagar .
Avtar Mota is a blogger and writes for various newspapers and magazines.
