The land on which Government Medical College and Hospital, 2nd biggest hospital in Asia (volume-wise) is situated on was donated to the college by Sir Colonel Dr Krishnaji Vishnu Kukday. President of India Droupadi Murmu, who will be gracing the function of platinum jubilee of GMCH on Friday, will be honouring four persons and Kukday is one of them. Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has completed 75 years of its existence and to mark the same, it has organised Platinum Jubilee function on December 1, 2023. The programme will be contribution to the college and society is unforgettable. Dr Subhedar is among the first students of first batch of 1947. He later joined GMCH and worked as Head of the Department of Medicine. The fourth person to be felicitated by President is Dr Pramod Giri, a well-known neurosurgeon. Dr Giri is an alumnus of GMCH of 1991 batch. Among the youngsters, he is probably the one who is still rendering services to Super Speciality Hospital (SSH), a part of GMCH, his almamater. He has also donated a handsome sum for the platinum jubilee celebrations.

 

Dr Kukday went to London for higher education. He cracked Indian Medical Service examination and joined Indian Army. His exemplary work and devotion to duty was recognised by the Government and he was awarded the Knighthood. He was the first Indian Surgeon General to the Government of Bombay, Civil Surgeon at Thane, In-charge of Mental Hospital and rendered exemplary service. He was also the Founder of Nagpur branch of Pune Seva Sadan Society, associated with Blind Relief School. After serving for the Army he got retired in the year 1928. He passed away in May 1958. Adv Dinkar Kukday, the grandson of Colonel Dr Kukday will receive the honour. Adv Kukday, who is practicing at Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court, has worked as Assistant Government Pleader and Assistant Public Prosecutor at the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court from 1993.

 

In second honour, Gokhale family started Dr Shakuntala Gokhale Charitable Trust in memory of ‘Daughter of Akola’ Dr Shakuntala Gokhale. Late Dr Shakuntala Gokhale, MBBS MS FRCS was daughter of Nagesh Keshav Gokhale from Akola. She was a spinster and a successful eye surgeon and rendered her services in India and UK. She always wanted to give back to society and she had donated to schools and several other charitable causes. The Trust in her name had earlier donated ophthalmology equipment to Akola GMC and recently a cardiac ambulance. As an alumnus of GMCH, Nagpur 1961 batch, she wanted to do something for her almamater. Ravi Limaye, the close relative of Dr Shakuntala Gokhale will receive an honour on her behalf. He served Indian Air Force and later in private sector worked for IT projects, education sector groups at Bhopal. He is Member Secretary of Dr Shakuntala Gokhale Charitable Trust.