Darbhanga Medical College. Picture by Pramod Gupta

Darbhanga, Feb. 21: The Darbhanga Medical College, in its 86th year of existence, seems to have completely obliterated the name of its real founder and chief patron, Maharaj Rameshwar Singh, from its chapters.

The institution has elaborate plans to celebrate its foundation day on February 23 with fanfare with the Governor-cum-chancellor of Bihar universities Devanand Konwar as the chief guest.

Dr Raman Kumar Verma, the secretary of the reception committee and a retired teacher of the college, said the college administration and those associated with the reception are busy making last-minute preparations for the day.

The maharaj had donated 300 acres of prime land in the heart of the twin city of Darbhanga-Laheriasarai along with Rs 6 lakh for setting up the medical college at Darbhanga. Earlier, the college was in Patna and was known as the Temple of Medical Learning.

Doctors of the college said in 1925, the Prince of Wales visited Bihar and on the request of the maharaj, visited the medical school. He was so impressed by the college that on behalf of the British government, he proposed to the maharaj that it be converted into a medical college. The maharaj gladly accepted his offer on the condition that it would set up at Darbhanga. And the rest, as they say, is history.

The Temple of Medical Learning was upgraded to the Darbhanga Medical College and handed over to the government for proper administration.

There is no any memorial whatsoever in the name of the maharaj on the big college campus. Chatra Dhar Jha Park, named after a former principal of the college, lies before the main office building of the college. The names of several political leaders, who held different capacities in the college over the years, can be found on the college campus but that the real founder’s name is missing, even forgotten and neglected by the organisers of the foundation day programme.

On being asked, the principal of the college, S.P. Sinha, said: “The college has not forgotten the name of Maharaj Rameshwar Singh. His oil on canvas portrait hangs in the library for students and teachers as a mark of his memory.” He added that the college would do something further to keep the maharaj’s memory intact. Other doctors also supported his view.

Dr Verma said a foundation board still exists at Patna mentioning the maharaj’s donation of Rs 6 lakh.