Introduction

Marathwada is a backward and under developed region of Maharashtra which was under the then Hyderabad state ruled by Nizam. India got freedom on August15, 1947.However,Marathwada attained freedom from the Nizam rule on September17,1948.The present Ambejogai town was then called Mominabad and was in the forefront of the freedom struggle.The chief Architect of the Marathwada region Shri.Swami Ramanand Thrith, who was the then Hyderabad State Congress President, who had established a nationalistic education institution by name Yogeshwari Education Society. He was ably supported by Shri. Babashaheb Paranjape and others. The cavalry unit of the British army was stationed at Ambejogai during the Nizam rule. After the Police action in 1948,the army units were disbanded and left the place.


Ambejogai has a very good climate which was ideally suited for establishment of a hospital. Hence, in 1952 a 150 bedded T.B. Sanitarium and 50 bedded general hospital was established by the then Hyderabad State Government. A number of highly qualified foreign trained Indian doctors worked in this hospital. Late Dr. Venkatrao Dawle,had done his MBBS in 1948 from Osmania University, Hyderabad and FRCS in 1960 from Edinbrough, UK. Dr. Venkatrao Dawle born in a poor illiterate peasants family in Hadolti, Dist.Osamanbad, was a totally self-made man, who had worked in the agriculture and in the households during his school days. He did his Matriculation from Government High School, Latur and proceeded to Hyderabad for his further education, where he was selected in the Royal Air Force and successfully completed his flying training, simultaneously he was also selected for the Medical course, however he opted for the Medical Profession and completed his MBBS with distinction in 1948 and worked as Medical officer at Taluka Ausa, Dist.Osmanabad,where with the help of the local people he established a civil dispensary.


Dr.Venkatrao Dawle was the first Medical Teacher to be appointed at newly established Medical College, Aurangabad in 1956 ,where he established the Department of Anatomy. In 1957 , he went to England and obtained FRCS Degree from Edinburgh. He worked under renowned General and Heart Surgeons in UK for 4 years. After returning to India he opted to work in Ambejogai, which was then called Mominabad. There was no electricity, telephones and direct bus or train services to any district head-quarters from Ambajogai.


Dr. Venkatrao Dawle, established a good general hospital in 1962 at Ambejogai and started good surgical center where all types of surgeries including Heart surgery were performed by him. During those days Heart surgery was not performed any-where outside Bombay.


Dr.Venkatrao Dawle published many Technical papers in renowned Medical Journals. Because of his hard work, caring attitude he was immensely popular among the masses and is a household name even today in the entire Marathwada region. Qualified Doctors are reluctant to work in the Rural areas, Dr.Venkatrao Dawle was an exception to this and inspired many Doctors to work in the Rural areas. His philosophy was to provide medical relief to all at their doorsteps this was the key for his achievements. He conceptualized the establishment of a Medical College at Ambejogai & succeeded in this attempt with the co-operation of all the sections of the society & the entire political spectrum of that time.


The problem of Cancer, Heart Diseases, etc. needed specialized care and trained & dedicated manpower. Even today despite tremendous progress made in Medical & other fields, poor people of Marathwada cannot afford the Advanced Medical Treatment.