Maj Gen S L Bhatia Oration of APPI
Major General Sohan Lal Bhatia (1891 – 1981) was an illustrious Physician, Physiologist and Administrator. He completion of graduate degree in Medicine from Cambridge. While in Cambridge, renowned physiologist A V Hill encourage him to specialize in Physiology. In 1917, Sohan Lal Bhatia joined Indian Medical Service and was appointed as Professor of Physiology and Hygiene at Grant Medical College, Bombay (one of Best Medical Colleges on east of Suez at that time).
He became the first Indian to become Dean of Grant Medical College in 1924 and thereafter became Principle and Superintendent of J J Group of Hospitals. On account of his excellent administrative abilities and personal charisma, he was made deputy Director General of Indian Medical Services (1941-1945). Major General Sohan Lal Bhatia played a key role in formation of the AIIMS, New Delhi as part of the Bhore Committee. After retiring from Indian Medical Service in 1950, he continued to promote medical education, social responsibilities of physicians in various capacities with state and central government.
He was a founder member of the Medical Council of India; a fellow and former president of the Indian Academy of Sciences; a member and former president of the physiology section of the Indian Science Congress, a member of the Indian Medical Association and a member of the Physiological Society of Great Britain. He attended a conference of the World Medical Association in Rome as a member of the Indian delegation; was elected a fellow of the College in 1936, and awarded the CIE in 1945 for his service in World War II.
Museum of History of Medicine was established in 1974 in St John’s Medical College by Major General Bhatia is now named after him as Major General SL Bhatia Museum for the History of Medicine.
Sources:
- Radhika Hegde, Mario Vaz. Social responsibilities of a physician: reflections of Major General S L Bhatia (1891-1981). Indian J Med Ethics . Oct-Dec 2017;2(4):275-281. doi: 10.20529/IJME.2017.070.
- https://history.rcplondon.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/sohan-lal-bhatia
