Sushila Nayyar

Sushila Nayyar (December 26, 1914 – January 3, 2001) was an Indian physician, politician, and social reformer. She was a close associate and personal physician of Mahatma Gandhi and played a significant role in the Indian independence movement.

Nayyar was born in Kunjah, British India (now in Pakistan). She became involved in the independence movement at a young age, influenced by Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance. She earned her medical degree from Lady Hardinge Medical College in Delhi and later became Gandhi's personal physician, attending to his medical needs and participating in his ashram life.

During the partition of India in 1947, Nayyar was instrumental in organizing relief efforts for refugees and working to restore peace and communal harmony. She established hospitals and medical centers in rural areas to provide healthcare to the underserved populations.

Nayyar entered politics after India gained independence. She served as the Minister of Health in the Delhi State Government from 1952 to 1955, and later as the Union Minister for Health from 1962 to 1967. As a minister, she focused on public health initiatives, including disease prevention and control, sanitation, and family planning.

In 1969, she founded the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (MGIMS) in Sevagram, Wardha, which emphasized a community-oriented approach to medical education and healthcare delivery. The institute aimed to train doctors who would serve in rural areas and address the specific health needs of the Indian population.

Sushila Nayyar dedicated her life to serving the nation, promoting public health, and upholding the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. Her contributions to medicine, politics, and social reform have left a lasting impact on India.