Major-General Amir Chand 
(Founder President )

A decade ago, about a dozen of interested Gastroenterologists met together. Under the dynamic leadership of late Major General Amir Chand, the birth of the society took place and he was elected the first President of the society and H.K. Chuttani as the secretary, by founder members The society began to work to be in line with the progress of world Gastroenterologists. The founder members reflected the lofty objectives to strengthen the common bond amongst Gastroenterologists of India and so to share the axiomatic principle originally expressed by Louis Pasteur, that “Science belongs to no country because knowledge is the patrimony of humanity – the torch which enlightens the world”. The society has grown in strength, reaching the figures of one hundred fifty. 

The objectives of the society are as follows :

• To encourage and advance the knowledge and practice of the speciality of  Gastroenterology in all possible ways,  
• To promote the exchange and diffusion of information and ideas relating to  the alimentary tract and associated organs.
• To provide a forum for discussion of gastroenterological problems on a national scale.
• To encourage scientific investigation in the field of Gastroenterology. 

The members of the society have been responsible in organising Gastroenterological department in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, and the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh and various other leading Medical colleges throughout the country. 

It was registered as “Indian Society of Gastroenterology” in the year 1960 under Societies Act XXI of 1860.  It was accepted as Scientific Association interested in the development of Research and practice of Gastroenterology in the country by Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research in September 1966. 

It is certified to be the founder member of O.M.G.E. (World Organisation of Gastroenterology) (Organisation Mondiale De Gastro-enterologie)

Following were the Presidents of the Society :-

      Maj. Gen Amir Chand

Many of our members have been in International conferences.  Our immediate past president Dr. Jayantilal S.Shah is a liason officer for Indian Society of Gastroenterology and International conferences and other central world organisations like O.M.G.E world congress of Gastroenterology.  He is one of the Founder Fellow of Collegium Internationale Chirurgiae Digestive.  He had also been invited last year as the visiting professor of gastroenterology by the British Council of Great Britain and he lectured in universities of London, Edinburg, Glasgow and Cleavland.  Our member Dr. H.G. Desai is an authority of Maximal Histamine Test in India.  International research in Gastroentrology can be attributed to him.  Our secretary Dr. B.M. Pulimood is associated with instrument Innovations in Gastroentrology.  Our member Dr. A.B. Kothari is the receipient of I.M.A. Oration Award in 1965 and the recipient of President’s medal of Indian Association of Occupational Diseases in 1970.  Many of our members in past have been called to lecture in foreign countries and have participated in International and Asiatic Gastroenterology conferences. Contributions by Prof.  Dr. S.J. Ramlingaswami, Dr. H.K.Chuttani, P.M. Chuttani, M.K. Parikh, P.P. Anita, R.K. Menda and our present president Dr. SJ Baker are many in furtherance of Gastroenterology. 

Baroda members of Gastroenterology are

       (1)   Dr. A.B.Kothari 
       (2)   Dr. Manibhai A. Patel 
       (3)   Dr. Manubhai D. Patel 
       (4)   Dr. Raojibhai F. Patel 
       (5)   Dr. Bipinbhai C. Patel 
       (6)   Dr. H.C.Barbaiya 
       (7)   Dr. H.C.Desai. 

The office bearers of the society for 1971 are 

       (1)   President Dr. S.J.Baker, M.D., F.R.A.C.P., Vellore 
       (2)   Immediate past Presidents Dr. R.K.Menda, M.B., F.R.C.S., F.A.C.S F.A.C.G.
                  Bombay and Dr. J.S. Shah, M.S., F.I.C.S. F.A.C.G., F.A.S.A.S. (U.S.A),   
              F.C.I.C.D. (Italy) Bombay 
         (3)   Vice Presidents Dr. A.K.Segahl, B.Sc. MD., M.A.M.S. Chandigarh, 
              Dr. B.N.Tandon  M.D. 
       (4)   Secretary Dr. B.N. Pulimood, M.R.C.P. 
       (5)   Treasuer Dr. N.Madangopalan M.D. F.R.C.P.E. (Madras) Governing body 
              memebrs 

                          (a)   Dr. V.K. Satija Ludhiana
                          (b)   Dr. S.K.Mehta Chandigarh 
                          (c)   Dr. P.N.Chhutani 
                          (d)   Dr. P.M.Vaidya Varanasi 
                          (a)   Dr. B.J. Vakil, Bombay 
                          (b)   Dr. P.S. Guota Panjim 
                          (c)   Dr. J.Grover Poona 
                          (d)   Dr. N.Rangabhashyam, Madras and 
                          (e)   Dr. H.A. Durrani Sringar.  

Our President Dr. S.J. Baker is connected with Welcome Research unit and is Professor of Medicine at Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Under his able guidance the society shall make a new mark in its history. 

In short, Indian Society of Gastroenterology is well founded and nurtured to get adulthood. 

Let us in Chorus do all in our power to promote and sustain the ideals, objectives and activities of the society, to benefit mankind at large.  Society has no blocks or water tight regionalism but has service motto for suffering humanity through, research, discussions and dissemination of knowledge.

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

                                                                                                                                  -       Rigveda, I-89I