135 YEARS LATER...

When we started our medical graduation in 1970 at the THANJAVUR MEDICAL COLLEGE, we never ever thought that we all are spreaded across the Globe and few of us where settled down today in the UK in the land of the Prince of Wales 135 years after the establishment of the TANJORE MEDICAL SCHOOL & THE RAJA MIRASUDAR HOSPITAL by the British in Thanjavur in 1880.

Raja Mirasudar Hospital & The Tanjore Medical School were built by the British Collector of Thanjavur, Henry Sullivan Thomas in 1878 to commemorate the visit to the Tanjore district by the future King of England, The Prince of Wales, Edward VII in 1875.

A generous contribution of 40 acres of land for the buildings by Rani Kamatchiamba Bai Saheb, the wife of Sivaji II, the last Maratha King of Thanjavur, who lost his state to the British, should always be remembered with extreme gratitude by all of us. Many other Mirasudar from Thanjavur district too made generous contributions totalling Rs 30000 towards the establishment of the Medical School & Raja Mirasudar Hospital. Rs 100000 came from the MADRAS PRESIDENCY Government Securities.

The total cost of the buildings amounted to nearly Rs 66000. Thus were born the RAJA MIRASUDAR HOSPITAL & the H R H PRINCE OF WALES MEDICAL SCHOOL, TANJORE.

The yearly intake of students was just 15. The entry qualification was an SSLC pass & the Medical Diploma offered was called LMP (Licensed Medical Practitioner), a 4 years course with an annual fee ranging from Rs 60 to 100. More buildings were added over the next few years & this hospital became the best in Madras Presidency in 1902.

In that particular year,the inpatients were 1537 & outpatients were 29000 - 100 OPD patients per day. All medical officers were British & the Hospital & Medical School were under British Army Medical Service called IMS (INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE).

Lieut. Col. W R J Scroggie CIE was the greatest of all Medical Superintendents, whose contribution towards the development of these institutions is truly noteworthy.

As per the records, the prestigious Tanjore Medical School existed up to 1928 but had to be closed down for multi various reasons, the most important being financial. However, Raja Mirasudar Hospital survived the various calamities over the years including India's Independence struggle & with the help of the Rotary Club of Thanjavur post-independence became the key designated Hospital for THANJAVUR MEDICAL COLLEGE, which was built in 1958.

From that day, if has gradually grown up as a multi-speciality post graduate institution. Thanjavur Medical College has two hospitals namely Govt.Raja Mirasudar and Thanjavur Medical College Hospital.

It shines as a precious jewel in the crown of Thanjavur , the ancients chola’s capital , which is famous for its thousand years old Big temple , which finds a place in world heritage monuments.

Going back into TMC history, We feel very proud that We've graduated from this legendary institution.