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Hero of Obg

Dr. Nilkanth Anand Purandare was a pioneering Indian obstetrician and gynecologist. He graduated from Grant Medical College in 1900 and went on to establish the departments of obstetrics and gynecology at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital, gaining them international recognition. Some of his most important contributions included research on the importance of anterior shoulder location in labor and a method for detecting cephalopelvic disproportion. He also founded the Bombay Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society in 1936 and helped establish the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India. Dr. Purandare made many other contributions before

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Anish Veettiyankal
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159 views2 pages

Hero of Obg

Dr. Nilkanth Anand Purandare was a pioneering Indian obstetrician and gynecologist. He graduated from Grant Medical College in 1900 and went on to establish the departments of obstetrics and gynecology at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital, gaining them international recognition. Some of his most important contributions included research on the importance of anterior shoulder location in labor and a method for detecting cephalopelvic disproportion. He also founded the Bombay Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society in 1936 and helped establish the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India. Dr. Purandare made many other contributions before

Uploaded by

Anish Veettiyankal
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Milestones

Indian contribution to Obstetrics and Gynaecology


Purandare C N
1
, Patel Madhuri
2
1
Ex Prof.of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Grant Medical College,Mumbai,India
2
Prof.& HOD, ESI-PGIMSR, M G M Hospital,Parel, Mumbai, India.
The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India March / April pg 144-145
Fig 1. Dr. N. A. Purandare
MD (Bom.), FRCOG
144
On 27
th
April 1877 a male child was born in the family of
Vaids which practiced Aurvedic Medicine for
generations. This child was Nilkanth Anand Purandare.
As a child he was very curious about diseases and
their treatment showing an early aptitude towards
learning. Thus he opted for medicine after passing
matriculation.
He joined Grant Medical College in 1896 and graduated
in 1900. During his studentship he received many prizes
and medals and the important one was Charles
Morehead prize in Medicine. With this scholarship he
was appointed as an Hon. Asst. Obstetrician and
Gynaecologist at Bai Motlibai and Petit Hospitals and
Tutorship at the Grant Medical College while pursuing
his post graduation studies. He passed his M.D. in
Obstetrics and Gynaecology with distinction.
In 1911 Dr. N. A. Purandare started his private practice.
He knew that obstetric care was exclusively in the hands
of dais. With his kindness, sympathy and brilliance
he could break the strong hold of dais in obstetric
care. Meantime his popularity increased. He became a
famous Obstetrician not only in Mumbai and India, but
world over.
A few brilliant, dedicated Indian doctors started a
hospital and medical college in Parel, Mumbai. They
invited Dr. N.A. Purandare to join them. Thus in the
year 1926, Dr. N.A. Purandare became Hon. Professor
in Midwifery and Gynaecology at the Sheth G.S. Medical
College and Hon. Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at
the King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital. Later he
was appointed as Hon. Obstetrician at the Nowrosjee
Wadia Maternity Hospital which was across KEM
Hospital.
He was a pioneer in establishing the Departments of
Obstetrics and Gynaecology at KEM and Nowrosjee
Wadia Hospitals. He put these Departments not only
on the map of India but also got them International
recognition. He was a dedicated teacher and a keen
clinician. He was loved and respected by students as
well as colleagues. He retired in 1940 but continued as
an Emeritus Professor till his death.
145
Two very important researches in the field of Obstetrics
to his credit are :
(i) Importance of location of anterior shoulder in the
progress of labour and its significance in obstructed
labour and (ii) A method for detecting cephalopelvic
disproportion. These researches were universally
accepted and incorporated in International text books.
At the Bombay Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societys
Golden Jubilee Year function Dr. Vasant B. Patwardhan
commented, We hail Dr. Purandare for the recognition
he earned at an international level for his observations
on Anterior Shoulder and his method of accessing
cephalo-pelvic disproportion at the pelvic brim.
Obstetricians like him come once in a lifetime.
Dr. N.A. Purandare was an avid learner. He visited UK
in the early 1930s to update his knowledge and had an
interesting encounter with Prof. Victor Boney. During
Prof. Boneys visit to India he asked to meet the
turbaned Doctor Purandare who had challenged his
clinical judgement in a case in UK and had proved him
wrong. He applauded this Indians clinical acumen.
He knew the importanance of dais and nurses. He was
aware that to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality
these dais and nurses should be trained scientifically.
Thus he wrote a book in marathi named Prasuti Shastra.
This book was not only accepted by the nurses and
dais but also many marathi speaking families.
It was back in the 1920s that he perceived the need for
an organization that would bring Obstricians and
Gynaecologists together, both in Bombay and India.
Subsequently, he conducted correspondences almost
of his own accord with any physician interested in the
field of fertility. Thus he founded Bombay Obstetrics
and Gynaecology Society (BOGS) in 1936. He was the
first founder President of BOGS. He provided BOGS
with premises on the top floor of his own Nursing Home.
The growth of BOGS now known as MOGS and the
Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies
of India is entirely due to his effort and vision. He
presided over the 3
rd
All India Obstetrician and
Gynaecology Congress held in Calcutta in 1941. In his
Presidential address he suggested that a Journal should
be published by the Federation to report the work of
the Indian Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
He was also a member of various medical societies like
Indian Medical Association and served as a President
of these at various times. Deeply interested in raising
the standards of medical education and ethics he
worked as a Member of the Senate of Bombay
University and College of Physicians and Surgeons of
Bombay.
He was honoured as the Hon. Fellow of the Royal
College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London,
for his distinguished academic carrier. To top all the
honour in the year 1963 he was made an Hon. Founder
Fellow of the Indian Academy of Medical science. He
was also awarded a scroll at a special convocation.
Bombay also honoured him by naming a major road
from Wilson College to Chowpatty after him.
Dr. N.A. Purandare had four sons, two Obstetrician and
Gynaecologist and two engineers, of national and
international repute. They all excelled in their respective
fields.
Anna, as he was fondly called, was a very loving but
disciplined person. He would appreciate academic
excellence from all his children and grand children. A
clinician to the last detail he held things together on a
tight rein. He was an innovative obstetrician and a
benevolent human being.
This giant of an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and
pioneer of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in India left us
on 12
th
December 1964 at the age of 87 years. We all
salute him and his vision and hope to continue his legacy
further.
Fig 2. Purandare Griha
Indian contribution
The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India March / April 2011

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