Dr. Sneh Bhargava, the first and only woman director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), is a notable figure in India's medical sphere. At the age of 90, she wrote her memoir, "The Woman Who Ran AIIMS," documenting her remarkable career and the historic circumstances under which she found herself on October 31, 1984—a day that changed India. On that morning, Bhargava was called to the casualty ward where Indira Gandhi lay critically injured, following an assassination due to political tensions stemming from the controversial Operation Blue Star.
Bhargava recalls the chaos of that day, stating, "At the time, I didn't focus on it being the prime minister who was lying in front of me. My first thoughts were that we had to help her and also protect her from further harm." The urgency of the situation escalated as large crowds formed outside the hospital, and after seeing that Gandhi was beyond saving, the medical team had to maintain a pretense of treatment until her son Rajiv Gandhi was sworn in as prime minister.
The intricate details of the prime minister's attempted resuscitation and eventual embalming unveiled Bhargava's steady hand during the calamity. "The embalming chemical, when we injected it into different main arteries, kept oozing out,” she recounted, illustrating the grim reality of the situation. In her memoir, she also shares stories of her tenure at AIIMS, such as an encounter with a young Rahul Gandhi, whom she treated after a minor accident, showcasing her compassionate care amidst political pressures.
Throughout her career, Dr. Bhargava has faced various challenges, from political intimidation to managing clinical advancements in radiology, where she played a crucial role in establishing its importance at AIIMS. Having joined the institute in the 1960s with limited imaging facilities, Bhargava expanded the department, advocating for state-of-the-art technology in diagnostics.
Born in Lahore before the partition of India, Dr. Bhargava's formative experiences shaped her dedication to medicine and community service. Despite the societal constraints for women in education at the time, she pursued her studies in London, later returning to India to make a significant impact. Today, she emphasizes the importance of familial support for young women aspiring to achieve ambitious goals, urging society to nurture daughters' dreams as sincerely as sons' ambitions.
Dr. Bhargava's life story and her reflections on a momentous historical event continue to resonate deeply in contemporary society, marking a unique convergence of personal and political narratives.
Follow us for more inspiring stories from the heart of India’s medical community.
Bhargava recalls the chaos of that day, stating, "At the time, I didn't focus on it being the prime minister who was lying in front of me. My first thoughts were that we had to help her and also protect her from further harm." The urgency of the situation escalated as large crowds formed outside the hospital, and after seeing that Gandhi was beyond saving, the medical team had to maintain a pretense of treatment until her son Rajiv Gandhi was sworn in as prime minister.
The intricate details of the prime minister's attempted resuscitation and eventual embalming unveiled Bhargava's steady hand during the calamity. "The embalming chemical, when we injected it into different main arteries, kept oozing out,” she recounted, illustrating the grim reality of the situation. In her memoir, she also shares stories of her tenure at AIIMS, such as an encounter with a young Rahul Gandhi, whom she treated after a minor accident, showcasing her compassionate care amidst political pressures.
Throughout her career, Dr. Bhargava has faced various challenges, from political intimidation to managing clinical advancements in radiology, where she played a crucial role in establishing its importance at AIIMS. Having joined the institute in the 1960s with limited imaging facilities, Bhargava expanded the department, advocating for state-of-the-art technology in diagnostics.
Born in Lahore before the partition of India, Dr. Bhargava's formative experiences shaped her dedication to medicine and community service. Despite the societal constraints for women in education at the time, she pursued her studies in London, later returning to India to make a significant impact. Today, she emphasizes the importance of familial support for young women aspiring to achieve ambitious goals, urging society to nurture daughters' dreams as sincerely as sons' ambitions.
Dr. Bhargava's life story and her reflections on a momentous historical event continue to resonate deeply in contemporary society, marking a unique convergence of personal and political narratives.
Follow us for more inspiring stories from the heart of India’s medical community.
