President Droupadi Murmu on February 26 paid a visit to Manipal Tata Medical College (MTMC) in Jharkhand, describing the institution as a transformative force in strengthening medical education and healthcare infrastructure across the state. The visit underscored the growing national importance of innovative education models that bring quality medical training to underserved regions.
MTMC, a premier constituent unit of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), was warmly abuzz with faculty, students, and dignitaries as the President arrived on campus. She was received by Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Governor of Jharkhand; Irfan Ansari, Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare, Jharkhand; Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M.D. Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor of MAHE; Somnath Das, Group President of Manipal Education and Medical Group; and D.B. Sundara Ramam, Vice President of Corporate Services at Tata Steel.
A Symbolic Beginning
The visit opened with group photographs bringing together faculty, management, and students in a spirit of shared pride, before the President planted a Miyazaki mango sapling on the campus grounds. The act carried layered meaning — a gesture of nurturing growth and a visible commitment to environmental sustainability, values that resonate deeply with an institution dedicated to the long-term wellbeing of communities.
A Historic Model for Medical Education
In her address, President Murmu praised the institution for its contribution to medical education and expressed confidence in the bright future of Manipal Tata Medical College and its students. Addressing a gathering at the T.M.A. Pai Hall, Vice Chancellor Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M.D. Venkatesh drew attention to the landmark policy decision by the Government of India in 2019 that paved the way for the establishment of MTMC — the country's first private consortium model medical college. The college, he noted, operates with Tata Main Hospital, provided by Tata Steel, as its teaching hospital, making it a unique and pioneering collaboration between two of India's most respected private institutions.
The Vice Chancellor said MTMC is situated within MAHE's distinguished history in medical education. He recalled that Manipal established India's first private medical college back in 1953 and later went on to found the first public-private medical college in Sikkim — a legacy of innovation that MTMC carries forward on the eastern frontier of the country.
The college's inaugural batch of 150 MBBS students, admitted in the 2020–21 academic session, is on the cusp of a milestone, with their graduation scheduled for March 2026. In just six years, the institution has established itself as a credible and respected centre of medical learning in the region.
The Story That Moved a Nation's President
Perhaps the most powerful moment of the visit came during President Murmu's interaction with students, when second-year MBBS student Purnima Hembram took the floor. Hailing from a village in Jharkhand, Hembram — a married mother of three — shared her extraordinary journey of balancing the demands of family life with the rigours of medical school. Her quiet resolve drew admiration from everyone in the hall.
President Murmu, herself a figure who has long symbolised the aspirations of India's tribal and rural communities, was visibly moved. She praised Hembram's determination and urged the entire MTMC community to draw strength and inspiration from her story. The encounter served as a powerful reminder of why institutions like MTMC matter — not just as centres of academic excellence, but as pathways that allow individuals from the margins of society to reach the forefront of a profession dedicated to healing.
"Felt Completely at Home"
Reflecting on her experience, President Murmu praised the Manipal Group's enduring legacy and noted that MTMC has, in a remarkably short span, built a strong reputation in the region. In a remark that captured both her warmth and the spirit of the institution, she said she felt completely at home during her visit to the MTMC campus.
The visit is expected to bring renewed national attention to Jharkhand's evolving healthcare education landscape and to spotlight the potential of public-private partnerships in expanding access to quality medical training across India's interior states. For the students and faculty of MTMC, the President's visit was more than a ceremonial occasion — it was an affirmation that the work being done in their classrooms and wards is being seen, valued, and celebrated at the highest levels of the republic.
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