A Clinical History of the Kashmir Valley
Medical education in Kashmir has evolved from a traditional system dominated by hereditary healers (Hakims), who used to practice the Unani system of medicine. Then there were the spiritual amulets, a part of our cultural and spiritual practices. Pandits believed in Rudraksha, sacred beads believed to be symbols of Lord Shiva used for meditation and spiritual growth. The Muslims used Aqiq, a stone considered sacred and also silver amulets (Ta’wiz) containing verses from the Holy Quran as healing promoters. These measures, however, were gradually replaced by a robust modern infra structure which was driven by early missionary zeal, royal patronage and a lineage of legendary clinicians.
Dr William Jackson Elmslie of the Scottish origin was the first missionary to practice modern medicine in Srinagar starting in the summers of 1885. He was sent by the Church Missionary Society (CMS). He opened a small dispensary called “Amira Kadal Mission Dispensary” which became very popular and he moved it to the European Quarters in Munshi Bagh, where it remained in later years. In addition to his usual medical work, Elmslie taught medical classes to locals and simple ophthalmic surgery to local doctors. He was also a skilled surgeon, successfully removing cysts, tumours and bladder stones and orthopaedic procedures like joint resections. Elmslie was succeeded by Theodore Maxwell, and Downes who continued the progression of the mission. They were the leaders for the construction the mission’s first buildings as the Mission Hospital in Drugjan, on the hill near Buchwara, Dal gate.
This was followed by Arthur and Ernest Neve who came to replace the CMS and worked very hard to continue providing medical first buildings as the Mission Hospital in Drugjan. They were joined by their niece Nora, a nurse who also joined the CMS. Patients used to come from villages scattered throughout Kashmir and the Plains of India, and a few from Tibet, Afghanistan, Yarkand and Kohistan. They introduced surgical procedures and also managed several epidemics hitting the valley. The Mission Hospital in Drugjan is todays Govt Chest Diseases Hospital, in the Dal gate . The Leprosy hospital was also started by the team of Arthur and Ernest Neve in 1891 on the banks of Dal Lake at Bahrar.
The Maharajas of Jammu and Kashmir starting with Ranbir Singh and later his progeny Partap Singh and finally Hari Singh fully supported the creation of healthcare facilities in the state from the days of the arrival of missionaries despite being advised by the locals against it.
The foundation of the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital in Srinagar (1940s) marked a turning point, moving medicine from tents and small dispensaries into specialized, multi-ward facilities. Modern formal medical education truly began with the establishment of the Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar in 1959. Its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It remains the “mother institution” for most Kashmiri doctors and was the first to provide structured MBBS and later postgraduate training. It is a very well-respected teaching institution particularly within North India and its home region, offering excellent opportunities of teaching. This was followed by the establishment of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar which was commissioned on 5th December 1982.
Kashmir’s medical history is defined by “Legendary Clinicians” who were often the primary source of medical knowledge and training before the proliferation of internet and modern textbooks. Some of the names which resonate are Dr Gwash Lal Koul who was the first person from Kashmir to get the coveted MRCP start modern practice of Medicine in 1920, he is known for his unconventional methods of treatment in the pre-antibiotic era and the miraculous cures. Dr. Ali Jan (Dr. Ali Mohammed Fazili) Often called the “Luqman of Kashmir” is a folk hero in Kashmir. A topper from King Edward Medical College, Lahore, his clinical diagnostic skills were so precise and these were often viewed as miraculous. He mentored generations of doctors. Dr. (Col.) Saligram Kaul: The first Principal of GMC Srinagar and a renowned physician who set the academic standards for the institution. Dr. Syed Naseer Ahmed Shah, former Principal of GMC Srinagar who was instrumental in expanding the college’s infrastructure and postgraduate departments. In the specialization of Cardiology, the author was the first person from Kashmir to get the coveted DM Cardiology in 1978. Under his mentorship Prof Bashir Ahmad Wani, the first HOD of cardiology at SKIMS, Srinagar and Dr C D Gupta HOD of the Cardiology under Medicine department in GMC Jammu were trained at the PGI Chandigarh in 1979-80. As a former Professor of Cardiology at AIIMS, he acted as a bridge for Kashmiri students seeking advanced training in the National Capital,
The entire landscape of medical education has seen a sea change during the last 5 years with a massive expansion. Transitioning from a region that relied mainly on GMC Srinagar and SKIMS, Kashmir now hosts several new Government Medical Colleges: GMC Anantnag (South Kashmir), GMC Baramulla (North Kashmir) and GMC Handwara (North Kashmir). With the expected opening of AIIMS, Awantipora, Pulwama (South Kashmir) later this year, the medical education in Kashmir is going to get a new Philip. Once operational, it will be the premier tertiary care and research institute in the valley, specifically focusing on Oncology, Neurology, and Cardiology.
The total number of MBBS seats in Jammu & Kashmir has tripled since 2018, rising from 500 to 1,725 in 2025–26. In the 2024–2025 academic cycle, the National Medical Commission (NMC) approved a significant hike in seats across these colleges: GMC Baramulla and GMC Anantnag both saw their intake capacity increased to 150 seats each. New medical equipment including MRI machines for Baramulla and Cath Labs for Anantnag and Doda (neighbouring region) have been funded to ensure that students learn on modern diagnostic tools.
In a growing spree, as is expected, there have been notable gaps despite the expansion: these are in the form of faculty shortage; many of the newer GMCs still rely on “academic arrangement” faculty and senior residents from GMC Srinagar. Then there are issues of the infrastructure completion, while classes have begun, some residential hostels and advanced labs are still in the final phases of construction.
Tailpiece:
From the ancestral wisdom of the Hakims, who for centuries relied on the Unani traditions to heal the valley, the history of medical education in Kashmir has undergone a profound transformation. This “modern” wave was institutionalized by the Dogra Maharajas, notably Maharaja Pratap Singh and Maharaja Hari Singh, who provided the land and patronage necessary to establish the state’s first formal healthcare infrastructure, including the iconic Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital and with it came the Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar. This momentum continued with the establishment of the SKIMS as a premier tertiary care centre. Today, the valley’s medical landscape has expanded into a robust network of new medical colleges in districts like Anantnag, Baramulla and Handwara culminating in the establishment of AIIMS Awantipora. This journey from the pulse-reading Hakims to the high-tech AIIMS represents a legacy of resilience and a relentless pursuit of excellence in serving the people of Kashmir.
Prof Upendra Kaul, Founder Director Gauri Kaul Foundation
