📜 The Evolution of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital 

During the height of British rule in India in 1803, the East India Company commanded a massive private army of 260,000 soldiers. High mortality, primarily from endemic diseases like diarrhea, malaria, and kala azar, necessitated modern medical training. Since treating this vast force with limited European doctors and relying solely on traditional Indian medicine was unsustainable, there was an urgent need to train native people in Western medical practices.

This necessity led to the founding of Asia's first medical college, Medical College, Bengal, in 1835. However, the qualifying exam pass rate remained remarkably low (30-33%). Seeking improvement, social reformer Sri Ram Kamal Sen proposed a separate Bengali section around 1841-42. This section was finally initiated in 1853 by Principal Dr. F. Mouat, Dr. Jackson, and others at the Medical College.

By 1859, frequent student unrest and agitations, led by figures like Sri Bijoy Krishna Goswami and later Sri Banamali Chattopadhyay, erupted within the vernacular sections. To manage these disturbances, the authorities decided to relocate the Bengali section.

Meanwhile, a small dispensary, popularly known as the 'Pauper’s Clinic,' had been established in the Central Hall of Sealdah Market to treat the local poor. This clinic was upgraded to the Sealdah Municipal Hospital in 1864. This Municipal Hospital was subsequently chosen as the new location for the relocated Bengali medical section, leading to the establishment of the Sealdah Medical School on December 1, 1873.

The institution underwent several name changes: in 1884, it was renamed the Campbell Medical School after Governor General George Campbell. A notable early student, Nilratan Sircar, was admitted in 1877. In 1948, it became the Campbell Medical College. Adding to its infrastructure, the artistically designed Lady Elliot Hostel was constructed in 1895, funded by a generous charity donation of $\text{Rs. }24,040/-$ from Her Highness of Murshidabad, Sams-E-Jahan Begum Paradua Mahal Shahiba, a building that stands to this day.