Many institutes in Pune are associated with the freedom struggle. One such institute is Sassoon General Hospital (SGH). The government-run hospital has a proud history of treating Mahatma Gandhi for ‘appendicectomy’ on January 12, 1924.

Mohandas Gandhi was sentenced to six years simple imprisonment for sedition by the session judge in Ahmedabad on March 18, 1922. As a result, he was sent to Yerwada Central Prison. However, 22 months of prison life harmed his health.

While narrating the story, Dean of BJ General Medical College (BJGMC) and SGH Dr Ajay Chandanwale said that on the night of January 12, 1924, Gandhi was brought to the hospital as a State prisoner. “There was a violent thunderstorm that night. Gandhi was operated by Colonel Maddock. The electric light fused during the operation. The appendectomy had to be finished by the light of a hurricane lamp. Gandhi thanked his surgeon profusely and they became warm friends. However, he started picking up fasts as a means to resist the rule,” said Chandanwale.

He further narrated that on February 4, 1925, the government remitted the unexpired portion of Gandhi’s sentence and released him unconditionally. His reaction was ‘my release has brought me no relief’. 

“On August 4, 1933, Gandhi was again sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment for disobeying the restraint order requiring him to reside within the limits of Poona city. On being refused facilities for doing the Harijan work from inside the Yerwada Prison, he commenced a fast ‘unto death’ on August 18. On August 21, Gandhi was once again moved to the Sassoon General Hospital. He said his prayers and broke his fast with a glass of orange juice,” said Chandanwale.

To mark the stay of Mahatma Gandhi in the hospital, a Gandhi Memorial was created in the old, stone building of the hospital where the father of our nation was operated.