Darrang Medical College and Hospital(DMCH): A Milestone of Progress and Gratitude to Our Far-Sighted Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma
Heramba Nath
The establishment of a medical college and hospital in Darrang has long been a dream cherished by generations. That dream has now entered the realm of reality with the foundation stone of Darrang Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) being laid on 14 September 2025 by Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For the people of Darrang district and the adjoining region of Kamrup East, this day will be remembered not merely as an official ceremony but as a turning point in their history—a moment when aspiration met opportunity, when suffering gave way to hope, and when the vision of a leader translated into a promise of dignity. At the centre of this transformative development stands our far-sighted Chief Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, whose leadership has once again redefined what progress means for Assam.
The absence of a medical college and hospital in Darrang was not simply a matter of missing infrastructure. It represented years of deprivation, a long struggle of people who were compelled to travel great distances for the most basic right—the right to health. From the remote char villages to the flood-prone belts, from the tribal communities to the small farmers, every section of Darrang’s population had at one point or another faced the anxiety of rushing a patient to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) or to Tezpur Medical College and Hospital (TMCH), often during the most critical hours. For countless families, the journey itself became a life-or-death struggle. Many lost loved ones not because medical science had failed them but because timely access to it was denied. It is in this context that the decision to establish DMCH is more than an announcement; it is an act of redemption for a district that has silently carried this burden for far too long.
Our far-sighted Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has repeatedly shown that leadership is about identifying such gaps and addressing them with vision and urgency. Assam, under his stewardship, has witnessed a revolution in healthcare infrastructure, particularly through the unprecedented expansion of medical colleges across the state. In just a short span, several new medical institutions have been sanctioned and are at different stages of completion, ensuring that every region—from upper Assam to lower Assam, from the Barak Valley to the Bodoland Territorial Region—feels the reach of progress. The inclusion of Darrang in this ambitious network is proof that the state government’s vision is not confined to metropolitan centres but is inclusive of semi-urban and rural districts.
To appreciate the significance of DMCH, one must also recall the historical trajectory of the district. Darrang has long been known for its educational achievements. The district produced teachers, scholars, and administrators who made their mark in Assam and beyond. Yet, when it came to healthcare, the district remained strikingly underdeveloped. Floods regularly ravaged its villages, isolating entire communities and leaving them vulnerable without even basic medical support. The lack of a tertiary healthcare institution was a scar that the people carried silently. It created a cruel paradox: a district known for its intellect and resilience was denied the very infrastructure that could save lives. The decision to build a medical college and hospital here is, therefore, not only a step towards development but an act of historical justice.
The far-reaching implications of this project extend into multiple dimensions. On the healthcare front, the most obvious benefit is that patients will now have access to advanced medical services without having to travel to Guwahati or TMCH. Specialised departments, emergency services, and modern diagnostic facilities will be available within the district itself. This will save lives, reduce costs, and provide a sense of security that has long been absent. For families that previously sold assets, borrowed money, or slipped into debt simply to access treatment in Guwahati, DMCH will be a shield against both financial and emotional distress.
On the educational front, DMCH will emerge as a centre of excellence for aspiring doctors, researchers, and healthcare professionals. The presence of such an institution in the district means that young students will no longer be forced to migrate out of the region in pursuit of medical education. Instead, they will find opportunities at their doorstep. This has a dual advantage. Not only does it keep the intellectual capital within the state, but it also ensures that doctors trained in Darrang will have a deep connection with the local population, its challenges, and its cultural context. Such locally rooted professionals are often the most committed to serving their communities.
The economic and social impact of the college and hospital cannot be underestimated. A medical college and hospital is not just a hospital with classrooms; it is an ecosystem. It creates direct employment for doctors, nurses, technicians, and administrative staff. It indirectly supports small businesses, from pharmacies to diagnostic centres, from hostels to transport operators. Construction alone will generate jobs, while long-term functioning will sustain thousands of livelihoods. For a district like Darrang, which has often been deprived of major economic establishments, this development will be catalytic. It will stimulate growth in allied sectors, improve infrastructure, and attract further investment. In time, Darrang will not just be known as an educational hub but as a healthcare hub as well.
Perhaps one of the most visionary aspects of this initiative is the simultaneous establishment of GNM and BSc Nursing institutes within the same compound. Our far-sighted Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has demonstrated through this decision that he understands healthcare not as a narrow sector but as a holistic system. Doctors are at the centre of this system, but it is nurses and paramedical professionals who form its backbone. By integrating nursing education alongside medical education, the state has created a symbiotic ecosystem where learning and service reinforce one another. This is a model that can inspire other states in India. Looking ahead, if paramedical courses in radiology, physiotherapy, emergency care, and laboratory sciences are also introduced, DMCH could evolve into a comprehensive centre for allied health sciences, capable of meeting the diverse and growing demands of modern healthcare.
The symbolism of this institution is equally important. For decades, the people of Darrang have borne the brunt of nature’s fury—floods, erosion, and isolation. They have also borne the neglect of infrastructure. The establishment of a medical college and hospital in their district is, therefore, not just a facility; it is a message. It says to the people that they are no longer on the margins of development, that their voices have been heard, and that their future will no longer be written in terms of deprivation. Such symbolism matters in governance because it restores faith in the system and strengthens the bond between people and their leaders.
Our far-sighted Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma deserves the gratitude of the people for making this possible. His track record in healthcare reform is already well established. From expanding cancer care facilities in partnership with global institutions to upgrading district hospitals, from launching welfare schemes to ensuring the construction of new medical colleges, he has reshaped Assam’s healthcare landscape in a way that few leaders before him have attempted. DMCH is yet another testament to this journey.
The foundation stone laid by Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi adds a national dimension to this initiative. It reflects the alignment of Assam’s aspirations with India’s broader vision of growth and self-reliance. At the same time, it must be recognised that the push, the persistence, and the planning came from within Assam, driven by the vision of its leadership. This harmony of national support and state initiative is what makes the project robust and sustainable.
This moment also invites reflection on the deeper meaning of development. Infrastructure is not merely about buildings and equipment; it is about the human condition. The true test of governance is whether it can reduce suffering and expand opportunity. In giving Darrang a medical college and hospital, the state has reduced suffering by ensuring timely access to healthcare, and it has expanded opportunity by creating avenues for education and employment. This dual achievement is the hallmark of visionary leadership.
The gratitude of the people flows naturally, therefore, towards our far-sighted Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma. Leadership, at its best, is about foresight—the ability to see not just what is but what must be. It is about listening to the silent struggles of ordinary people and responding with action that changes their reality. In bringing DMCH to life, Dr Sarma has done exactly that. His vision has embraced not only the immediate but the long-term, not only the privileged but the marginalised.
This moment, therefore, must be recorded as one of the greatest milestones in Assam’s journey of progress. For the people of Darrang and Kamrup East, it marks the dawn of a new era, one in which healthcare is no longer a distant hope but an accessible reality. For the state as a whole, it is a reminder that with the right leadership, dreams long deferred can indeed become reality.
As the foundation stone rests on the soil of Darrang, it carries with it the weight of history, the promise of the future, and the gratitude of the present. It will stand as a symbol not only of medical advancement but of human dignity restored. And at the heart of this achievement will always be remembered the role of our far-sighted Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, whose vision turned a district’s longing into a people’s blessing.