Dr. A. V. Baliga

A. V. Baliga was a physician, an educationist and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. He was born on 26th April 1904 in Kallianpur, Udupi District. He persued his primary education in Hindu Higher Primary School, Kallianpur. Later he joined Christian High School in Udupi. In 1920, Mahatma Gandhi gave a call to students to leave educational institutions run by the British Raj. He joined the national School in Udupi which was affiliated to Gujarath Vidyapith, a Nationalist institute and passed his matriculation. Since the matriculation was not recognised by the British authorities, he could not be admitted to the M.B.B.S course. He was forced to join the L.C.P.S course at the National Medical College, Bombay. He was topper in L.C.P.S course and caught the attention of G.V.Deshmukh of KEM Hospital who appointed him house surgeon and physician.

Career
Baliga went to U.K on a fellowship. He had to pass the London matriculation for his LRCP, MRCS and FRCS. He returned to India in 1933 and was appointed as an assistant honorary surgeon at the KEM Hospital, Bombay. He also started his private practice and became famous surgeon both nationally and Internationally. Baliga was instrumental in establishing the Kanara college of Arts and Science in Kumta (renamed as Dr. A.V. Baliga College, Kumta). He also helped to establish the M. G. M. college in Udupi, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal and the Orthopedic Children’s Hospital in Haji Ali, Bombay. He was a founding member of the Association of Surgeons of India.
After independence, he was involved in the Goa liberation movement. He played an important role in maintaining the good political relationship between India and former Soviet Union. After the 1962 debacle, he also went on an unofficial diplomatic mission to China. He published the “PATRIOT”, a daily and “LINK”, a magazine through which he could express independent social and political views.

Honours
Several Institutes in India are named after Dr. A.V. Baliga.