THE WOMAN WHO RAN AIIMS : The Memoirs of a Medical Pioneer

A powerful memoir tracing the rise of radiology in post-Independence India, told through the life of a pioneering doctor whose service, ethics, and resilience shaped Indian healthcare.

on Feb 19, 2026

THE WOMAN WHO RAN AIIMS : The Memoirs of a Medical Pioneer

This memoir by Dr Sneh Bhargava is not just the story of an extraordinary woman; it is the story of Indian medicine coming of age. Born in 1930, Dr Bhargava’s life mirrors the evolution of radiology in post-Independence India, and her voice carries the authority of someone who stood at the very centre of that transformation.

As the first—and so far only—woman to head All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr Bhargava offers gripping first-hand accounts of defining moments in medical history. From being on duty the day Indira Gandhi was brought to AIIMS after being shot, to witnessing the announcement of the CT scanner in the United States and later persuading the Indian government to bring this revolutionary technology to India, her experiences read like pivotal chapters from a living archive. The book is rich with anecdotes from a bygone era—missing radium needles, life-saving diagnoses made with minimal technology, and the immense responsibility doctors carried when medical infrastructure was still finding its footing.

What truly elevates this memoir is its emotional depth and ethical clarity. Dr Bhargava writes candidly about the burdens of leadership, the moral compass required in an increasingly commercialised medical world, and the quiet resilience needed to persist despite opposition, lack of funds, and systemic resistance. Her reflections on patient care, mentorship, and medical ethics feel deeply relevant even today. As a matriarch of Indian medicine, she advises, cautions, and inspires—never from a pedestal, but from lived experience.

The book also traces her journey beyond AIIMS, detailing her role in establishing leading hospitals in New Delhi and her collaboration in building Dharamshila Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. Even in her nineties, forced into retirement only by pandemic regulations, Dr Bhargava’s indefatigable spirit shines through. Written with warmth, clarity, and humility, this memoir is both a personal testament and a historical document.

Unputdownable and deeply moving, this book will resonate with doctors, students, and general readers alike. It reminds us what it truly means to live a life of service—and why dedication, integrity, and compassion remain the strongest foundations of medicine.