At 90, Dr. Sneh Bhargava recounts the tragic events surrounding Indira Gandhi's assassination during her tenure as director of AIIMS, while also reflecting on her groundbreaking career in a memoir that calls for women's support in professional advancement.
Remembering Indira Gandhi: Dr. Sneh Bhargava's Unique Encounter and Legacy
Remembering Indira Gandhi: Dr. Sneh Bhargava's Unique Encounter and Legacy
Dr. Sneh Bhargava, AIIMS Delhi's first female director, shares her poignant memories of Indira Gandhi's last moments, highlighting women's empowerment in medicine.
Dr. Sneh Bhargava, a trailblazer in the medical field and the first and only woman director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, recently published her memoir titled "The Woman Who Ran AIIMS." At 90, she continues to be actively involved in the medical community, contributing her remarkable insights and experiences.
Her journey to the directorate was marked by an extraordinary event on October 31, 1984—the day Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, was assassinated. Although she did not attend the meeting that appointed her, Dr. Bhargava vividly recalls being summoned to the emergency ward, where she found Gandhi critically injured. The sight of the Prime Minister, clad in a blood-soaked sari, triggered a sense of urgency in Dr. Bhargava; her concern was not her political stature, but rather the need to save a life amidst the chaos.
As news spread of Gandhi's shooting by her own bodyguards—an act linked to the military operation earlier that year—Dr. Bhargava and her team faced the significant challenge of maintaining confidentiality. For four hours, they had to project an air of hope, despite knowing that Gandhi had already succumbed to her injuries upon arrival.
Dr. Bhargava recalls the harrowing task of embalming the Prime Minister's body, revealing the graphic details of her procedure. The sense of responsibility weighed heavily on her, even as she grappled with the escalating violence unfolding outside the hospital in response to Gandhi's death.
In her memoir, Dr. Bhargava recounts not only her experiences with Gandhi but also her interactions with other influential figures throughout her career, including India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. She narrates a lighter moment when Sonia Gandhi brought in a young Rahul for care after a small accident, and emphasizes her dedication to medical ethics amidst political pressures that frequently tested her resolve.
Bhargava's narrative reflects her journey from a childhood marked by a passion for medicine to a career that helped establish radiology as a pivotal component of healthcare in India. Her educational pursuits in England, where she was often the sole woman in her field, underscore her commitment to breaking barriers for women in medical professions.
Dr. Bhargava's story is not just one of personal achievement; it’s also a clarion call for societal change. She advocates for the importance of family support in the upbringing of girls, urging that only with equitable encouragement can future generations of women aspire to break glass ceilings and achieve their dreams. Her memoir serves as both a reflection on a tumultuous time in India and a testament to the potential of women to excel in traditionally male-dominated fields.
