IPPNW-Students India
The Indian affiliate of IPPNW will be hosting the 18th World Congress of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War in New Delhi. Contact
Neha Venkatesh is responsible for the Indian Student Website. Her photo is shown at left. History of the Indian IPPNW students' groupINDIAN DOCTORS FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT (IDPD)The medical profession has always showed concern for ailing humanity, not only in form of providing cure to the sick but also in form of taking effective measures for prevention of disease and infirmity. Physicians have worked to improve nutrition of impoverished families and have supported various legislations that concern health of society; for example they have demanded steps for automobile safety measures, ban on advertisement of tobacco products, warning signals on alcohol, ban on sex determination tests with a gender bias, steps for promotion of healthy environment etc. Mankind has progressed whenever it has lived in peace. Wars have brought about devastation and human misery. Health is most adversely affected in the event of war and violence. Weapons of mass destruction including nuclear, biological and chemical ones have added new dimension to this. History is witness to the unprecedented destruction caused by the atomic bombing by the USA on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With the present scenario of these weapons medical profession shall have no remedy to offer. As of today there is a serious danger of these weapons falling into the hands of terrorists. Danger of unprecedented damage by accident also can be quite serious. Physicians have realized with deep concern the effect of war and violence on human health. Therefore we have demanded complete elimination of nuclear weapons from earth. It is in this context, that the doctors in India took initiative to form an association of medical professionals, which would work for a peaceful non-violent world free of nuclear weapons and also check on proliferation of small arms. The Hippocratic oath “I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure. I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sounds of mind and body as well as the infirm” acts as a guiding star for the doctors to realize their duty towards society and work for peace, harmony and prevention of war & violence as their moral and professional obligation. Health is dependent on various factors pertaining to nutrition hygiene etc. and is thus responsibility of the society as a whole. Therefore, only a holistic and concerted effort by the society as a whole that can improve the health. ORGANISATION:It is in this context that the Indian Doctors For Peace And Development (IDPD) an affiliate of International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) was established in the year 1984 as National Association of Indian Doctors for Prevention of Nuclear War (NAIDPNW) at its first conference held in Patna. Later its name was changed to Indian Doctors For Peace And Development (IDPD). Several leading medical personalities have headed the organization. Dr K L Wig former Director of the AIIMS was the founder president. Dr.P.N.Chhuttani, Director of Post Graduate Institute for Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh was 2nd President. Dr Shyamal Sen a leading Neurologist of international fame from Kolkata was 3rd President. Dr C M Habibullah from Hyderabad,yHyderabadmmHhh a pioneer in the field of Gastroenterology was the next President. Presently Dr L S Chawla founder Vice Chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot (Punjab) and also member of Executive Committee and Post Graduate Committee of the Medical Council of India is heading the organization. ACTIVITIES:With the motto ‘Health for All’ IDPD has been in the forefront to organise medical fraternity for this purpose. We have been informing the medical personnel and other sections of society about health consequences of war and violence particularly the nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction through seminars, meetings, audiovisual projections, media reporting, posters, painting competitions etc. IDPD has also actively campaigned against all types of violence like communal violence, caste violence, violence on female sex; We have campaigned for abolition of female foeticide. Promotion of healthy environment has also been an area of activity of the IDPD. We have also actively worked to provide relief during disasters. We have also undertaken health awareness campaigns from to time to time on the issues related to health. CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS:
Presently we have units/active contacts in 19 states. THE STUDENTS' WINGThe students' wing was formed on 29th February 2004, in the post-seminar discussion following the seminar on War, Violence and Health- A South-AsianPerspective, in New Delhi.Students from all parts of India participated in the seminar and Ms. AnkitaChoudhry, a student of Medical College, Nashik, was selected as the President of the same for the year 2004-2005. Regional student representatuves were also appointed so as to spread the mission to all corners of the country and involve the educated youth in large numbers. |
Learn more about this vibrant chapter below, or by clicking the links to the left. 
The National Student Representatives for IPPNW-Students India are 