Situating Calcutta Medical College and Social Changes in Colonial Bengal
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ISSN: 2347-7474 International Journal Advances in Social Science and Humanities Available online at: www.ijassh.com RESEARCH ARTICLE The Age of New Knowledge: Situating Calcutta Medical College and Social Changes in Colonial Bengal Aishwaryarupa Majumdar Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. Abstract This article aims to examine the development of medical education in Bengal Presidency and its assimilation by the Bengali people in nineteenth century. It also desires to explore and re-search the development and expansion of medical education and knowledge through the newly established medical institution, Calcutta Medical College. Throughout the century there was a constant flow and exchange of new knowledge which gradually brought various societal change and advancement in the Bengali society. Calcutta medical College provided opportunity to the indigenous pupil to know about a new and advanced medical system along with the chances to adopt a novel profession. This made a drastic change and its reflection on the contemporary Bengali society was noticeable. Keywords: Medical Education, Calcutta Medical College, New Medical Knowledge, Social Change. “When then we consider, how elevating is the study of Anatomy and Physiology, and the Natural and Physical sciences on which the whole art of medicine is based, how exalted are the notions which those sciences give of the wisdom and power of the Omnipotent Creator of Universe:- when we reflect how incessantly are the best qualities of man’s moral nature called forth in the exercise of the profession of medicine, and when we finally bear in mind how inestimatable is the benefit conferred on the community at large by the exercise of that profession, we are finally justified in saying in the words of those who promoted the foundation of this institution (Calcutta Medical College), that in the Medical College there has been established ‘a moral engine of great utility and power’, not merely useful in supplying the wants of the State, but instrumental in elevating and at the same time benefitting the people of the country at large”. W.C.B Eatwell [1] Introduction Nineteenth century attracts the attention of culture and exchange of new knowledge and all of us because of its unique character. interestingly, had sustained contacts This century had built a bridge between the between western science and Indian intellectual tradition of the West and the scientific tradition. Here the first East. Bengal was the first region in the educational establishment fashioned on Indian subcontinent, which bore the brunt of western system was set up. In medical field British political, economic, social and also Bengal served as a model of this system cultural bend and by absorbing that for the rest of the subcontinent, as the Bengalhad tried to shape a synthesis, which Presidency had the first Government prevailed almost until the end of the British medical college of western pattern and was period. Throughout the nineteenth century, the first to have an organized medical Bengal had first witnessed the encounter of service also. Aishwaryarupa Majumdar|December 2016 | Vol.4 | Issue 12 |28-33 28 Available online at: www.ijassh.com This work intends to start with the year to introduce modern medical education and 1835, the foundation year of Calcutta to train the local talents then available. Medical College (CMC). The newness, that Thus was born the Native Medical had already entered into Bengal confirmed Institution in 1822-23 in Calcutta [3]. and strengthened its position amongst the Bengali society through its institutionalized Prior to the establishment of the western form of education. Without a proper medical medical system in Bengal there already institution and education programme it existed two types of major indigenous would have been almost impossible to spread medical systems, i.e. Ayurveda and Unani. an alien scientific knowledge so vastly The education system was informal in among the Bengalis. Thus was born the first nature. The Orientalist members of the medical college in India, CMC, with the British officials were glad with the Indian introduction of western medical system in it. culture and in support of imparting both the medical systems simultaneously to the The nineteenth century was flooded with ‘natives’ [4]. The Native Medical Institution knowledge, experiments and researches in started with its new character of dual almost every field including medicine and medical systems (i.e. imparting western and medical education. New knowledge had indigenous medical systems simultaneously) been transmitted to India (in general and [5]. Gradually, with the passage of time, the Bengal in particular) by the British from the gaps and flaws of the institution started very first days of their access into the socio- becoming prominent and the Government political scenario [2]. Numerous medical realized the need of a better organized knowledge of the west, produced much prior medical institution, which came in the form to the east, were dispersed through medical of Calcutta Medical College in 1835. classrooms, dissection rooms, laboratories in Calcutta by the colonial agents and forces. The western medical system and techniques Gradually, these ideas gained momentum had already become familiar to the Bengali and started circulating among the populace without having any proper recipients. educational institution from the very initial days. The first reason was the missionary It is true that colonization of distant land activities in different parts of the Presidency required not only military strategy but more and secondly, because the British had than that including the issue of preservation started engaging Bengalis in the hospital as of health of the colonizers. Furthermore for hospital assistants dressers etc. ensuring proper commercial exploitation also, which British wanted initially, health The preliminary new knowledge, its considerations come up. difference with the indigenous systems and over all its better utility were well Thus public health, hygiene, necessary understood by a small educated section of treatment and other medical issues became the society. But it was limited and they paramount in shaping colonial expansion in didn’t have chance to spread it out to the a new land right from the days of trading larger part of the society. This small companies. Since eighteenth century, the knowledge gaining process got momentum European professionals, who came on after the establishment of CMC which gave different assignments, wrote about the the legal right and honorable status of health conditions in the tropics. Medical ‘Doctor’ to the Bengalis as well as Indian board was formed by the Company to students of that period. This knowledge monitor health conditions and necessary transfer process could able to make them requirements. But problem occurred when empowered by logical thinking and rational they observed that a constant resource of activities through proper educational medical men from outside was necessary, institutions. but was becoming really expensive Calcutta Medical College: A proposition for the Company. Initially they did it. Once the wars with Indian Princes Milestone were over and Company had established its The first attempt for the introduction of a rule over the larger part of India, it decided Aishwaryarupa Majumdar|December 2016 | Vol.4 | Issue 12 |28-33 29 Available online at: www.ijassh.com proper medical training was undertaken by anatomical purposes, even while Lord William Bentinck [6]. As a fruit of his acknowledging that such action would be effort and long persuasion, government contrary to the traditional beliefs of order was passed to set up a medical college Hinduism. After having an affirmative in Calcutta. The resolution was passed on response from the student section and 28th January, 1835, which is observed as the observing the ruined condition of existing Foundation Day of the College [7].However medical education in the major three this gave the history of medical science in institutions due to their non availability of India a novel dimension towards ‘modern proper language training, dearth of books, medicine’ or advanced medicine as well as and lack of dissection training, the helped to achieve a world acquaintance in Committee in its report (submitted on 20th this field. Calcutta Medical College did not October, 1834) said that, “A knowledge of appear accidentally. It took several years to language we regarded as a ‘sin qua non’… give medical education an organized official shape. We wish them to be able to drink out of the fountain head instead of depending to allay We know that up to the establishment of their mental thirst with driblets of CMC, the Native Medical Institution along translation”. The Committee recommended with Sanskrit College, and Calcutta for establishment of a new medical Madrassa were functioning. But the institution on an extensive scale where the strength and ability of these institutions various branches of medical service were neither satisfactory nor it could fulfill cultivated in Europe should be taught and as the immediate needs. 1830s brought near as possible on the approved European enormous political and cultural changes in system [9]. India. Modification and revision in almost every sector started taking place with Lord By the Government order of 1835, the William Bentinck’s arrival to India as Native Medical Institution and also