Jivraj Narayan Mehta (Aged 91), born on August 29, 1887, was an Indian politician and the first Chief Minister of Gujarat. He also served as the first “Dewan” (Prime Minister) of the erstwhile Baroda state, and Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1963 to 1966.
From 1909 to 1915, Jivraj Mehta lived in London where he studied medicine, was the president of the Indian Students Association, and obtained his FRCS degree. He won a university gold medal in his MD examinations in 1914 and later became a member of the Royal College of Physicians of London.
After returning to India, he briefly served as the personal doctor to Mahatma Gandhi and joined the independence movement. He was twice incarcerated by the British government (in 1938 and 1942) for his role in Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement. After independence in 1947, he held various public offices.
He served as the first chief minister of the newly formed Gujarat state from April 1960 to September 1963. Later, he also served as the Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1963 to 1966. He was the founder of Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, and served in these institutions as their first dean over a period of 17 years (1925–1942). His strong proposal for an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi was accepted by the government. He passed away by 7 November 1978.
Jivraj Narayan Mehta
(1887 – 1978) – (Gujarart)
Jivraj Narayan Mehta (Aged 91), born on August 29, 1887, was an Indian politician and the first Chief Minister of Gujarat. He also served as the first “Dewan” (Prime Minister) of the erstwhile Baroda state, and Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1963 to 1966.
From 1909 to 1915, Jivraj Mehta lived in London where he studied medicine, was the president of the Indian Students Association, and obtained his FRCS degree. He won a university gold medal in his MD examinations in 1914 and later became a member of the Royal College of Physicians of London.
After returning to India, he briefly served as the personal doctor to Mahatma Gandhi and joined the independence movement. He was twice incarcerated by the British government (in 1938 and 1942) for his role in Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement. After independence in 1947, he held various public offices.
He served as the first chief minister of the newly formed Gujarat state from April 1960 to September 1963. Later, he also served as the Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1963 to 1966. He was the founder of Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, and served in these institutions as their first dean over a period of 17 years (1925–1942). His strong proposal for an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi was accepted by the government. He passed away by 7 November 1978.
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