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

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 and Physiology, and the Natural and Physical sciences on which the whole art of 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. and Unani. an alien scientific knowledge so vastly The education system was informal in among the . 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, 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 the Governor- General in 1828. He appointed a medical classes of Sanskrit College and committee to enquire into the condition of Calcutta Madrassa were abolished with the existing medical institutions. The effect from 1st February, 1835, and a new committee was comprised of six members: medical College was founded for imparting Surgeon J. Grant, Apothecary General; instruction in the various branches of J.C.C Sutherland, Esq, Secretary to the medical science on the most approved Education Committee; C.G Trevelyan, Esq, European system. Government G.O. No. 28 Deputy Secretary Political Department; of 28th January, 1835. Assistant Surgeon Spens, Body Guard; Age of New Knowledge and Social Assistant Surgeon Bramley, Mrine Surgeon, Baboo Ram Comul Sen [8]. Change CMC was started with fifty students, limited The members of the Committee visited infrastructure and staffs initially. There was various institutions i.e. the schools and no distinction of caste, creed or religion.Dr. colleges of Bengal to get a fair picture about Mountford Joseph Bramley was placed in the present condition of medical education charge of the institution on a salary of Rs. and existing demands and requirements for 1200 per month (later designated as formal medical education. They talked with Principal) along with Dr. Goodeve and Dr. people from different ideological background, B.O’shaughnessyas his colleagues [10]. but the most interesting and effective response and evidence came during the , a vaidys, Profesor of unannounced visit to Duff’s College. With Native Medical Institution was transferred Duff’s co-operation the Committee with two assistants from the Sanskrit questioned the senior students of his College College to the new Medical College. There especially about the idea of a Government was a course outline for the graduates which medical college for the Indians. comprised of five departments namely Surgery, Medicine, Anatomy, Chemistry and The students responded in a positive way to Meteria Medica [11]. Most of the students the question of handling a dead body for were of local upper caste or

Aishwaryarupa Majumdar|December 2016 | Vol.4 | Issue 12 |28-33 30 Available online at: www.ijassh.com at first and later on one Christian joined but caste Hindu he dissected human body on there was no Muslim student for first year. 1836 with four of his students [14]. We know Subsequently some Muslims came but they that the contemporary Hindu society was became always minority in CMC. On leaving very much rigid about human dissection and the College, the native graduates were to be till date nobody was dared to cross the employed as sub-assistant (SASs), in the prejudices and superstitions of the society. discharge of duties of medical attendant in large dispensaries established in different Though the progressive minded students of parts of the country, on salaries ranging Duff’s college were in favors of dissection from Rs. 60 to 100 per month. because of the importance of Anatomical knowledge in medical science, but never There was, however, no compulsion to enter performed before. It was Pandit Gupta who Government service and were free to first made an example and gradually the establish them for private practice [12]. orthodox society compelled to leave its age Initially the College had no library, old conception of making someone an out- museum, apparatus or hospital to start with. caste if dissection was performed. This Two skeletons were purchased through became a landmark in the history of Bathgate & Company of Calcutta for Rs. medicine in India by opening the gates of the 1500 and other anatomical preparations tradition of modern scientific medicine in were imported from England. One Mr. this country. Evans was appointed Curator of the newly established Museum. It is interesting to note here that the societal restriction and boundaries about women However there was a gradual emergence of education was slowly attaining freedom new and more sophisticated branches of through the activities of the then social medicine in CMC. The present century was workers throughout the nineteenth century. full of experiments and researches in almost After the introduction of Calcutta University every branches of academia. Medicine was it got more momentum when Bengali women no exception. Slowly more coerces were started to attain the classes of CMC. Under started to be introduced by the British the Act of incorporation, none of the three experts which was a result of an urge for Universities got the power to admit any experiment and contemporary need as well woman to a University entrance for better treatment. The evolution of examination. The question of admitting courses in CMC throughout the Nineteenth woman in Universities was first raised by century is important in describing a the Registrar of Bombay University. complete history of the development of medical education in Bengal. The On 30th April 1875, he enquired of the chronological order of development of the about the expediency departments of Medical College was like; of admitting females to the Indian Anatomy (1835), Physiology (1835), Medicine Universities. Despite of receiving the letter (1835), Forensic and State Medicine (1845), of the Registrar did not express an opinion. Anaesthesiology (1847), Dentistry (1861), But after this incident Calcutta University Pathology (1871), Eye (1880), Obstetrics and had to face a situation within a few months Gynaecology (1882), Surgery (1900), in which a woman candidate, Radiotherapy (1910), Pharmacology (1920), , a pupil of Native Dermatology and STD (1930), Chest and Christian Girls’ School of Dehra, applied for Respiratory Medicine (1946), Paediatric the admission to the Entrance Examination Medicine (1946) [13]. of the University. Having a much debate the Syndicate resolved the problem by saying in CMC not only brought expertise and skill in favor of taking steps for the admission of medical field but also paved the way to social women to the University Examinations. On modification in different angles. As the first 12th May, 1877 it was decided that the example we can discuss about Pandit Entrance Examination should be the same madhusudan Gupta who played a vital role as for the men but women should examined to push Indians forward for the proper in a separate place under the supervision of Anatomical knowledge. Despite an upper women [15]. In the 1879 for the first time

Aishwaryarupa Majumdar|December 2016 | Vol.4 | Issue 12 |28-33 31 Available online at: www.ijassh.com women were permitted to take admission in Mahendta Lal Sircar strongly believed on Indian Universities. , the potential of science for all India and along with Chandramukhi Basu in Arts founded the Indian Association for the stream was allowed to take their degrees at Cultivation of Science in 1876. This was the the convocation in 1883. Despite all round first effort towards institutionalizing Indian social discriminations and discouragement, interest in western science. Sircar wanted female medical education continued to this institute to perform two functions: one spread and flourish through the late was the cultivation of and research in nineteenth and twentieth century in Bengal science by Indians and other was the as well as in India. popularization of science within the general populace. He set out his ‘nationalist’ agenda Mention may be made of in this connection to create culture of science among the that the Medical College of Calcutta opened Indians. For him science was a metaphor of its doors for women medical students for the nationalism and this scientific spirit would first time in 1880s. But first woman student be a clear indicator of national progress and Mrs. Kadambini Ganguly was admitted in status. It proves that while the British 1884 only and became the first women initially used their science to make a more doctor in India [16]. In 1889 Miss proper and effective rule in India, the Bidhumukhi Bose became the first Indian science education made the Indians so women graduate from Medical College. But potential that they started to use it as a tool intesrtingly Miss Ganga Agarwal was for nationalism against those British only. appointed first Indian woman house Conclusion physician of Medical College in 1934 which means that it took 68 years for women to Calcutta Medical College wasdesigned to break the overt and covert gender bias in train the Indians students properly so that society. they could meet up the need of superior doctors than the early ‘native doctors’ in the Once the adoption process of western army as well as in the civil stations. scientific methods and knowledge was done Rejecting vernacular language as the mode by the Indians they started to practice of instruction, the British imposed English science within the colonial frame work as a as the medium of language in the new method to assert their existence vis-à-vis the college. For the first time British colonial rule. For Indians, science now Government took up the medical education emerges as a component to make programme officially for the Indians and to enlightened India and to empower the give them degree for private practices. recipients through education. Mahendra Lal Sircar was one such individual without It is notable that, on one hand western whom the history of medical science is medicine was officially started but on the incomplete. He was one of the most other the training of indigenous medical distinguished graduates of the Calcutta systems was abolished from Sanskrit College Medical College in the nineteenth century and Calcutta Madrassa on the same year. (1833-1904). The success of the Calcutta Medical College can be gleaned from a variety of He studied at Hare's School but his contemporary sources. W.W. Bird stated predilection for science led him to the that the Medical College students had Medical College, where he was from 1854 to considerable skill and ability, becoming 1860, earning the Licentiate in Medicine and excellent anatomists, and those native Surgery after a brilliant student career. In families were actually hiring students while his second year he gave at the request of they were still studying [17]. seniors and the concurrence of the professors a series of lectures on optics as applied to A commentator declared that the College ophthalmology. The University of Calcutta inculcated "those habits of analysis which grantedhim the M.D. after he passed first in must be most important in its effects on the the 1863 examination, being only thesecond national character and social life of the such recipient. Hindus. . . . The Medical College . . . now

Aishwaryarupa Majumdar|December 2016 | Vol.4 | Issue 12 |28-33 32 Available online at: www.ijassh.com equals many of the best and ancient schools the ordinary people. It reached its zenith of Europe. It affords the finest medical when the vernacular class was attached with education” [18]. The heritage of the rigorous Calcutta Medical College. Within a very standards in the basic sciences of the short period medical education reached out medical curriculum in this century to the mofussil areas also by attracting established through this College. The ordinary people. These people were neither heights of achievement of early modern financially nor academically suitable for the scientists were the fruits of the scientific main English class (fees were high and tradition so successfully established in the English made obstacles sometimes for formative years of the Calcutta Medical them). So the medical education, which had College. till then an elite characteristic, became a field of interest to the ordinary people of The older concept of caste degradation due to Bengal also. It is noteworthy here that the touching dead human body and lower caste teachers of Calcutta Medical College were people disappeared with the arrangements not always the English scholars, Bengali of new status of the doctors as ‘daktars’ in doctors were also considered as good the society. Gradually the demand for teachers. Western medical education increased among

References 1. Eatwell WCB, (1860) On the Rise and Progress of 12. Report of the Medical College of Bengal, 1839, Rational Medical Education in Bengal (an Calcutta as sited in the Book Chikitsa Bijnaner introductory lecture) Calcutta, p. 27. Itihas: Unish Satake Banglay Pashchatya 2. Nigel Crook, “The Transmission of Knowledge in Sikshar Prabhab by Binaybhushan Ray, South Asia- Essays on Education, Religion, Sahityalok, , 2005. History, and Politics”, Oxford University Press, 13. 175 Years of Medical College Bengal, New Delhi, 1996. Commemorative Volume. 3. Appendix of the Report of the Selection 14. Eatwell W.C.B, P 21. Committee, (1833),1: 270, London. 15. The decision was taken because there was a 4. For more detail about Orientalism see Edward strong opinion from the Bengali society that Syeed. there should be a separate arrangement for 5. Long J, Vernacular Education in Bengal, women as they were prohibited to come in front the outer male persons (Purda Syatem). Calcutta Review, (1854), 22:329. 16. Karlekar Malavika, “Kadombini and the 6. Lord William Bentinck (1774 1839), who was Bhadrolok: Early Debates on Women’s Education Governor-General of Bengal (1828-33) and later in Bengal”, (26th April, 1986), Economic and of India (1833-35): He was a reformer of the Political Weekly, Vol 21, No 17, P WS 25-WS 31. Benthamite persuasion and is best known for his 17. British Parliamentary Papers. Reports from the suppression of such practices as suttee, female Select Committee, House of Lords, 1852-53, vol. infanticide, and ritual murder and robbery. 15, Colonies, East lndia (Shannon: Irish 7. Eatwell W.C.B, P. 17-18. University Press, 1970) 132, cited in Gorman 8. Ibid, P 18 Mel, Introduction of Western Science into 9. Ibid, P 18-19 Colonial India: Role of the Calcutta 10. Later Goodeve was appointed as the Professor of MedicalCollege. Anatomy and William Brooke O’Shaughnessey 18. Hindu Medicine and Medical Education," joined the Professor of Chemistry. Calcutta Review, (1866), 120-22. 11. 175 Years of Medical College Bengal, Commemorative Volume, 1835-2009, (2009) Kolkata.

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