Dr TMA Pai’s vision transformed Manipal from a quiet hillock in coastal Karnataka into a centre of medical education, healthcare, and academic excellence.
Manipal The Beginning
Manipal, a hillock in coastal Karnataka, is located near the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. Once a dense forest rich in birdlife, the town takes its name from the Tulu words “mann” meaning mud and “palla” meaning lake. The Mannu Palla lake remains a key landmark, while Tiger Circle recalls the area’s early natural history of free-roaming tigers.
Vision of Dr TMA Pai
Dr TMA Pai, from Tonse near Manipal, chose to serve his native region after completing his MBBS from Stanley Medical College, Madras. Recognising the lack of medical education facilities in India, he proposed the novel self-financed model of medical education. Despite initial scepticism, his vision led to the establishment of Kasturba Medical College on 30 June 1953.
Early Growth of KMC
KMC began in 1953 with pre-clinical training at Manipal, while students went to Wenlock District Hospital, Mangalore, for clinical training from 1955. The college initially functioned from two blocks, including the Physiology Block inaugurated by Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, then Health Minister of India. This marked one of the earliest public-private partnership models in medical education.
Kasturba Hospital & Recognition
To support clinical training, the 150-bedded Kasturba General Hospital was inaugurated in 1961 with support from the Medical Relief Society of South Kanara. With clinical training beginning at Manipal in 1969, KMC became an independent medical college. Today, Kasturba Hospital has grown into a 2000+ bedded super-specialty hospital, and KMC is recognised among India’s leading medical colleges, with graduates from 56 countries and a globally recognised MBBS degree.
Present PSPH