Established in 1958, Maulana Azad Medical College stands as a beacon of medical education and healthcare. It is named after Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. He was a prominent freedom fighter and India’s first education minister.
Maulana Azad Medical College began humbly at the old Irwin Hospital. Today, it’s known as Lok Nayak Hospital. Govind Ballabh Pant laid the foundation for the college buildings in 1959. The location was the 30-acre site of the old Central Jail. The jail was unused after Tihar Jail opened.
Did you know the old Central Jail main building is still on the college grounds? It’s a listed heritage site. Also, the grave of Mughal-era poet Momin is near the college parking area.
Khooni Darwaza stands opposite the college entrance. This gate is where British soldiers shot Bahadur Shah Zafar’s sons and grandson. It happened during the First War of Independence in 1857.
Maulana Azad Medical College has grown into a large institution. Four hospitals are attached to it. These are Lok Nayak Jay Prakash Hospital and GB Pant Institute. Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences and Guru Nanak Eye Centre are also included. Together, they provide 2800 beds. They serve millions of people in Delhi and surrounding states.
The college offers many courses. These include MBBS, BDS, MD, and MS degrees. Postgraduate residency courses are available too. You can even pursue super-speciality fellowships. Institutes for nursing and pharmacy are also part of the college. More than 30 courses are offered in the medical stream.
Maulana Azad Medical College is affiliated with Delhi University. It trains 290 undergraduate students. It also trains 245 postgraduate and post-doctoral students each year. There are 426 faculty members and 810 resident doctors.
Maulana Azad Medical College is a tertiary care referral center. It provides advanced medical care. It has teaching programs for various degrees. These range from graduate to postgraduate levels. Residency and subspecialties are also available. In India, these subspecialties are called superspecialities.
The college has achieved high rankings over the years. In 2024, it was ranked 24th among medical colleges in India by the NIRF. India Today ranked it 5th among all medical colleges. Outlook India ranked it 8th among government medical colleges.
Maulana Azad Medical College has many notable alumni. Ravi Kannan R is a surgical oncologist. He received the Padma Shri and Ramon Magsaysay Award. Ravinder Goswami is a Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar laureate. Upendra Kaul is an interventional cardiologist. He won a Dr. B. C. Roy Award and Padma Shri.
S. I. Padmavati, a former director of Maulana Azad Medical College, received the Padma Vibhushan. Prem Chandra Dhanda, a former principal, received the Padma Bhushan.
Maulana Azad Medical College continues to uphold its motto. The motto is “Immortality of Mortals by Cure”. It reflects the college’s dedication to healing and medical excellence. Its history and contributions make it a landmark in Delhi.