The responsibility of leading AIIMS was a heavy one. The hospital was one of the foundational pillars of the new India after Independence and was founded in a spirit of idealism and scientific endeavour. Nehru’s dream was that such a centre of excellence would set the pace for medical education and research in South Asia. It was one of his famous “temples” of modern India. Ever since we doctors had first heard about it, there had been tremendous excitement about it. I first heard about it when I was studying in England.

Over the years, AIIMS had set new standards for research and treatment, and it was my job to maintain them. I was conscious of the fact that in academic medicine, the faculty is directly involved in clinical practice, medical education and research. This synergy is unparalleled in other professions. The complex inter-dependence of these three functions is one of the hallmarks of academic medicine. Consequently, AIIMS was a complex structure to run, as mandated by Parliament, and demanded integrity, truthfulness, compassion and accountability.