Chandigarh: Imagine getting your tonsils removed with a contraption that reminds you of a guillotine. The brutal-looking device was used for the procedure in the 19th century. Thankfully, tonsil removal is much gentler now.This and several other medical devices of yore can be seen at the medical museum to be launched by PGI — a first-of-its-kind venture in a govt hospital and an institute of national importance (such as AIIMS, JIPMER and NIMHANS). Designed to preserve a rich legacy of academic brilliance and surgical grit, the museum is not just a collection of artefacts; it is a timeline of an institution that grew alongside the city of Chandigarh itself, rooted in the foundational vision of Sardar Partap Singh Kairon.The museum will be launched on April 30 during PGI’s annual convocation. Union minister of health and family welfare J P Nadda will be the chief guest on the occasion.Snapshot of the pastOne of the exhibits is the Mackenzie-type tonsil guillotine — a chilling yet precise surgical tool from the late 19th century — displayed alongside the engineering wing’s very first measurement book and the original PGI Act.The collection stretches from heavy metal cylinders once used to haul radioactive materials to vintage dental cameras and slide projectors that once illuminated lectures by some of India’s brightest medical minds. PGI director Prof Vivek Lal conceptualised the project during a stint at Cairo University. After seeing medical artefacts preserved since 1776, he realised that PGI’s own founding fathers also deserved a similar tribute to inspire younger generations.“It will be a nostalgic innovation. We want to showcase the brilliance of our academicians to inspire those to come,” Prof Vivek said.The museum is housed in the Nehru Hospital extension building. “Once the Sarangpur campus is complete, the exhibit will transition into a state-of-the-art facility, integrated with the existing anatomy museum and featuring immersive 3D audio-visual experiences designed with the help of experts from the National Museum in Delhi,” said Prof Sandeep Bansal, who implemented the project.Visitors can expect a “Hall of Fame” dedicated to the institute’s Padma awardees, with archival photographs and glass-labelled cases showcasing the evolution of medical technology. “As a pilot project, this museum marks the beginning of a broader institutional effort to preserve the historical identity of the hospital, ensuring that its legacy remains accessible to future generations and continues to inspire others,” said Pankaj Rai, deputy director (administration), PGI.MSID:: 130517107 413 |
