The Doctor, Philantrophist & Visioner

Dr. S C Acharya, former Chairman

of Indian Medical Association

It all happened last spring at my aunt's place in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. I was keen to see some of the archive photographs album of the lineage 

which were in her possession but could not figure out the place where it had been kept. After a thorough search a pack of black/sepia and white snaps were found inside a briefcase that was stored in one of the wall almirahs.

The IMS Laboratories staff at Amausi, Lucknow 

With much excitement immediately started scanning the numerous photographs while my aunt and uncle gave brief details about the time and background of each snaps. Though most of the photographs with age had faded and damaged by silver fish insects, but interestingly, the images also depicted fashion trends of that era. 

Dr. S. C. Acharya flanked by IMA delegates at Gorakhpur

What intrigued me most is the photograph of a tall slim man sporting a thick moustache! In some photos he is clad in a formal suit and tie while in another one he sports the ethnic dhoti-punjabee dress. Yes, he is Dr. Sushil Chandra Acharya, a well known medical practioner of the bygone days - alias, our grandfather. He had a striking personality and the thick well groomed moustache was his trade mark, narrated Dr. Jayant Pandit.

Dr. Jayant Pandit, a reputed acamedician and retired professor is the ex-head of Pharmaceutical Department, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and spouse of Dr. Acharya's third daughter, Shipra Pandit. Dr. Acharya had four daughters - Bella, Shelley, Shipra and Krishna and two sons - Dr. Sukumar and Ravindra Acharya.

Initially Dr. Acharya was employed as a physician with the Indian Railways. However, during one of his train journeys to Orissa he came across a fellow co-passenger, a British gentleman who had introduced himself as the commissioner of Gorakhpur district in UP. During their long journey he pleaded Dr. Acharya if he could come to his district in UP and save scores of people's lives who were perishing due to a strange disease that had become chronic. During that era there was acute scarcity of medical practitioners.

This alarming account by the commissioner moved Dr. Acharya who decided to resign from

Dr. J. N. Pandit along with the IMS Laboratories Staff

the Indian Railways and go to UP to serve its ailing people. With sheer hard work and dedication he set up a large dispensary and traveled to remote areas with minor surgical facilities, treated and gave medicines to the poor for free. His influence in the Indian Railways also saw Deoria and few other mofussil towns becoming important stoppage for all major trains including electrification and over all development of rural areas.

Dr. Acharya started the iconic (now defunct) IMS Laboratories in the 1930s. It was a premiere laboratory of the country and UP in particular manufacturing Indian and European medicinal products. The campus situated at Amausi, Lucknow was around hundred acres that included manufacturing area, stores, standard laboratories besides, recreation fields like football and hockey grounds. An eye-opener fact is that each employee was given staff quarters.

Dr. Jayant's father, Dr. Jitendra Nath Pandit too was a medical practioner who did his medicine from Campbell Medical College, Calcutta (currently renamed as NRS Medical College) in 1933. Due to financial constraints since he had to support his siblings, uncles and their families, Dr. Pandit took up service with the IMS Laboratories.

After independence, stringent drug manufacturing laws enforced by the Indian government resulted in scaling down of production and ultimately the laboratory went into seed. Sadly, following this, immigrants from west Pakistan captured this land and facility while significant land had been taken up by Amausi airport.

With the turn of event, Dr. Pandit was gradually compelled to take up service with the UP medical and health services.

Living in the rich sugarcane belt, Dr. Acharya developed interest in this segment too where he along with partners set up mini sugarcane plants. He ran a charity of providing free medical checkup and medicines twice a week for the poor and destitute. Dr. Acharya had also set up a Kali temple in which he donated a significant portion of his land.

As a little boy, I remember visiting my grandparents every year during my long  winter vacation.

The IMS Laboratories Staff, Amausi, Lucknow

Almost everyday after an afternoon nap, would go along with grandpa in his light blue colour Ambassador car to his garden where he grew a variety of vegetables and fruits.The biggest fun I still remember is seeing the gardener irrigating the plants with a powerful water pump.

Dr. Acharya's footprint in eastern UP brought development primarily in health and electrification among others. He was also the chairman of the Indian Medical Association and one of the directors of the Tharpar Group of Companies. According to legend, during the freedom movement when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi visited Deoria to address a mammoth rally, they were taken for a ride in Dr. Acharya's personal Chevrolet car - a luxury item owned by very few during that era. 

The Acharya Clan

To conclude, Dr. Acharya was a philanthropist, industrialist and a visioner. For all the valuable contributions made by him and his associates, this is a homage and hope all their souls rest in eternal bliss!