John Berry White

Dr John Berry White was British philanthropist and a retired brigadier of British Army and later the civil surgeon of the erstwhile Lakhimpur district in 1870, he made sterling contribution to the development of the region.[1][2][3]

He donated his personal savings to set up a medical institution in Dibrugarh, but it was only after his retirement and death in London in 1896 that his admirers took up his dream. The end result was the Berry White Medical School, with the Assam Medical College at Dibrugarh in the course of time evolving out of this medical school.[2] He was the member of the medical board for tea garden communities at that time.[4]

He contributed his lifetime earning of Rupees Fifty Thousand towards establishment of the medical school.[5] He is held to be the pioneer to start health education and health care in Assam.[6]

The old building where the Berry Medical School was founded has been given historical tag and is being maintained as historical monument.[7][8]

Early life

Dr Berry White, then a youth of 24 years, arrived in Assam in 1858. In 1857, he was commissioned as an assistant surgeon under the East India Company and was posted in Upper Assam. He served the Upper Assam areas in various capacities for 24 years and rose to the position of Civil Surgeon of the then Lakhimpur district.

Dr Berry White had written in his will that the institution should be located at Dibrugarh. He breathed his last on November 19, 1896 in London and the institution of his dream came into reality in 1900. It was named after him – The Berry White Medical School.[9][10][11]

Other interest

Dr White had interest in publication and even had 25 shares in a newspaper publication company at that time.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "An extraordinary pioneer". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  2. 1 2 "The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Northeast | Medical museum to rise from ruins". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  3. ↑ "The Assam Tribune Online". www.assamtribune.com. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  4. ↑ "Osmania History". omcalumni.org. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  5. ↑ "Assam Medical College". www.assammedicalcollege.in. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  6. ↑ "Medical College - Government of Assam, India". assam.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  7. ↑ "Heritage tag for British-era AMCH structure". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  8. ↑ "The Assam Tribune Online". www.assamtribune.com. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  9. ↑ "The Assam Tribune Online". www.assamtribune.com. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  10. ↑ "The Tea City of North East". dibrugarh.nic.in. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  11. ↑ "Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology - Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh - Assam.". iiic.skg.in. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  12. ↑ Barua, Deepali (1994-01-01). Urban History of India: A Case Study. Mittal Publications. ISBN 9788170995388.
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