Jivraj Narayan Mehta
Encyclopedia
Dr Jivraj Narayan Mehta was the first Chief Minister of Gujarat. He was born on 29 August 1887 to Narayan and Jamakben Mehta in Amreli
in Bombay Presidency
. He was son-in-law of Manubhai Mehta
, then Dewan
of Baroda state.
prompted him to take up medicine. He subsequently secured admission into the Grant Medical College and Sir J.J. Hospital, Mumbai
, after clearing a stiff written test and a thorough viva voce examination that was conducted by the British IMS officers.
His medical education was sponsored by the Seth VM Kapol Boarding Trust. He topped the class in his First Licentiate
in Medicine and Surgery (the then equivalent of MBBS) examination. In his final year, he won seven of the eight prizes open to his batch and shared the eighth prize with his hostel roommate Kashinath Dikshit.
Later, for postgraduate studies in London
he applied to the Tata education foundation for a student loan and he has been selected in one of the only two students for this prestigious fellowship from amongst several bright students who had applied for it. Jivraj Mehta lived from 1909 to 1915 in London
. He was the president of the Indian Students Association in London
where he studied medicine and did his FRCS there. He won University gold medal in his MD examinations in 1914. Later he has been made a member of the prestigious Royal College of Physicians
of London.
He was twice incarcerated (1938 and 1942) by the British government for his role in Gandhiji's Satyagraha
movement. After independence in 1947, Dr. Jivraj graced public office in various positions. He devotedly served people as the first "Dewan
" (Prime Minister) of the erstwhile Baroda state
in free India
sworn-in on September 4, 1948, director general of health services and secretary to the ministry of health in the central government during the partition period, minister of public works, finance, industry and prohibition for the then province of Bombay,
He was the first Chief Minister of the newly formed Gujarat state from April 1960 to September 1963. Later he has also served as the Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom
(1963–66).
. He devotedly served the cause of these institutions in the unenviable post of their first Dean over an eventful period of 18 years (1925–42).
In the 1930s, Dr. Jivraj had gauged the fundamental importance of research in medical education. As the dean, he made many efforts towards securing adequate funds for the institute. is enterprise. Drs. P. C. Bharucha, M. D. D. Gilder, N. A. Purandare and R. N. Cooper responded overwhelmingly to his appeal for financial donations to the college research corpus. However, similar requests to the Indian Research Fund Association went for nothing. Then Dr. Jivraj persuaded Sir Walter Morley Fletcher
to visit KEM Hospital on his visit to Bombay to attend a dinner. He shown him the commendable research going on and also impressed upon Sir Walter the acute need of Government support for such a research program. The result was Government sanction of funds within a few weeks for the same projects through the Indian Research Fund Association.
Dr. Jivraj with other distinguished medical personalities like Sir Nilratan Sarkar and Dr. B. C. Roy strongly forwarded the case of the metropolitan city of Delhi
, when the Government was contemplating establishment of a central medical research institute at Dehradun
. Their proposal was accepted by the government and result was All India Institute of Medical Sciences
(AIIMS) at Delhi. He was also involved in the planning of the medical colleges and hospitals at Poona (now Pune
), Ahmedabad
, Nagpur
and Aurangabad. In the establishment of the Topiwala Nair Municipal Hospital
, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Hospital and the Dr. Balabai Nanavati Hospital
in Mumbai
, he played a key role. He was thrice elected president of the All India Medical Congress and also president of the Indian Medical Association
.
Dr. Jivraj Mehta died on the 7th November 1978.
Amreli
Amreli is a city and a municipality in Amreli district of the Saurashtra region in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It is believed that during the year 534 AD Amreli existed was formerly known as Anumanji, Amlik and then Amravati. The city is named in ancient Sanskrit ass Amarvalli. Initially...
in Bombay Presidency
Bombay Presidency
The Bombay Presidency was a province of British India. It was established in the 17th century as a trading post for the English East India Company, but later grew to encompass much of western and central India, as well as parts of post-partition Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula.At its greatest...
. He was son-in-law of Manubhai Mehta
Manubhai Mehta
Sir Manubhai Nandshankar Mehta was the Dewan of Baroda state from 9 May 1916 to 1927. From 1927 to 1934 he was the Prime Minister of Bikanir ....
, then Dewan
Dewan
The originally Persian title of dewan has, at various points in Islamic history, designated various differing though similar functions.-Etymology:...
of Baroda state.
Early life and education
In his early age, Dr. Eduljee Rustomji Dadachandjee, a civil surgeon in AmreliAmreli
Amreli is a city and a municipality in Amreli district of the Saurashtra region in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It is believed that during the year 534 AD Amreli existed was formerly known as Anumanji, Amlik and then Amravati. The city is named in ancient Sanskrit ass Amarvalli. Initially...
prompted him to take up medicine. He subsequently secured admission into the Grant Medical College and Sir J.J. Hospital, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, after clearing a stiff written test and a thorough viva voce examination that was conducted by the British IMS officers.
His medical education was sponsored by the Seth VM Kapol Boarding Trust. He topped the class in his First Licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
in Medicine and Surgery (the then equivalent of MBBS) examination. In his final year, he won seven of the eight prizes open to his batch and shared the eighth prize with his hostel roommate Kashinath Dikshit.
Later, for postgraduate studies in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
he applied to the Tata education foundation for a student loan and he has been selected in one of the only two students for this prestigious fellowship from amongst several bright students who had applied for it. Jivraj Mehta lived from 1909 to 1915 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was the president of the Indian Students Association in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he studied medicine and did his FRCS there. He won University gold medal in his MD examinations in 1914. Later he has been made a member of the prestigious Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
of London.
Political career
He was briefly the personal Doctor to Gandhiji after returning to India and joining the freedom movement.He was twice incarcerated (1938 and 1942) by the British government for his role in Gandhiji's Satyagraha
Satyagraha
Satyagraha , loosely translated as "insistence on truth satya agraha soul force" or "truth force" is a particular philosophy and practice within the broader overall category generally known as nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. The term "satyagraha" was conceived and developed by Mahatma...
movement. After independence in 1947, Dr. Jivraj graced public office in various positions. He devotedly served people as the first "Dewan
Dewan
The originally Persian title of dewan has, at various points in Islamic history, designated various differing though similar functions.-Etymology:...
" (Prime Minister) of the erstwhile Baroda state
Baroda State
Baroda State was an Indian princely state in present-day Gujarat, ruled by the Gaekwad dynasty from its formation in 1721 until 1947 when it succeed to newly formed, India. With the city of Baroda as its capital, during the British Raj it was part of the Baroda Residency...
in free India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
sworn-in on September 4, 1948, director general of health services and secretary to the ministry of health in the central government during the partition period, minister of public works, finance, industry and prohibition for the then province of Bombay,
He was the first Chief Minister of the newly formed Gujarat state from April 1960 to September 1963. Later he has also served as the Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(1963–66).
Contributions to Medical Education in India
He was the founder-architect of Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. He devotedly served the cause of these institutions in the unenviable post of their first Dean over an eventful period of 18 years (1925–42).
In the 1930s, Dr. Jivraj had gauged the fundamental importance of research in medical education. As the dean, he made many efforts towards securing adequate funds for the institute. is enterprise. Drs. P. C. Bharucha, M. D. D. Gilder, N. A. Purandare and R. N. Cooper responded overwhelmingly to his appeal for financial donations to the college research corpus. However, similar requests to the Indian Research Fund Association went for nothing. Then Dr. Jivraj persuaded Sir Walter Morley Fletcher
Walter Morley Fletcher
Sir Walter Morley Fletcher, KBE FRS was a British physiologist and administrator. Fletcher graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge and was most significant in his administration of the Medical Research Council during the interwar years...
to visit KEM Hospital on his visit to Bombay to attend a dinner. He shown him the commendable research going on and also impressed upon Sir Walter the acute need of Government support for such a research program. The result was Government sanction of funds within a few weeks for the same projects through the Indian Research Fund Association.
Dr. Jivraj with other distinguished medical personalities like Sir Nilratan Sarkar and Dr. B. C. Roy strongly forwarded the case of the metropolitan city of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, when the Government was contemplating establishment of a central medical research institute at Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
. Their proposal was accepted by the government and result was All India Institute of Medical Sciences
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
All India Institute of Medical Sciences is a premier medical college and teaching hospital based in New Delhi, India. The Institute operates autonomously under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ....
(AIIMS) at Delhi. He was also involved in the planning of the medical colleges and hospitals at Poona (now Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
), Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
, Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
and Aurangabad. In the establishment of the Topiwala Nair Municipal Hospital
Topiwala National Medical College and Nair Hospital
Topiwala National Medical College is one of the foremost medical colleges situated in the city of Mumbai, Maharashtra in India. It is attached to the Bai Yamunabai Laxman Nair Charitable hospital, a 1800-bed tertiary care center...
, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Hospital and the Dr. Balabai Nanavati Hospital
Nanavati hospital
Dr. Balabhai Nanavati Hospital is a hospital in Vile Parle, Mumbai which was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in November 1950 and opened in May 1951.-History:The foundation stone at Dr. Balabhai Nanavati Hospital was laid by the Prime Minister Mr...
in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, he played a key role. He was thrice elected president of the All India Medical Congress and also president of the Indian Medical Association
Indian Medical Association
The Indian Medical Association , the national organization of “Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine”, was organized in 1928, and currently IMA has around 1,78,000 members belonging to different branches of medical profession and function through a network of more than 1700 local...
.
Dr. Jivraj Mehta died on the 7th November 1978.
External links
- http://www.gujaratinformation.net/gallery/Chief_Minister/Jivrajbhai.htm
- http://www.mapsofindia.com/gujarat/government-and-politics/