Pune Mourns the Loss of a Medical Pioneer
The medical community in Pune and across India is mourning the loss of Dr Subhash Madhav Nargolkar, one of the city's most respected obstetrician-gynaecologists, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 79. Dr Nargolkar was widely recognized as a pioneer in instrumental delivery techniques in India and had dedicated over five decades to advancing women's healthcare.
A Legacy of Medical Excellence and Innovation
Dr Nargolkar operated one of Pune's oldest private OB-GYN hospitals and was known for his meticulous clinical approach, academic integrity, and deep commitment to patient care. His career spanned more than fifty years, during which he made significant contributions to safer childbirth practices throughout the country.
He was a founder fellow of the Indian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ICOG), which serves as the academic division of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI). Within this pan-India organization of gynaecologists, Dr Nargolkar held the position of vice-president and numerous other important roles. He maintained life membership in multiple national medical associations throughout his distinguished career.
Groundbreaking Research and International Recognition
Dr Nargolkar's educational background included graduation from BJ Medical College and former registrar duties at Sassoon General Hospital. He pursued extensive medical training in Mumbai and the United Kingdom before serving as a consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist at Indira Maternity Home on Jangali Maharaj Road.
His most notable contribution to medical science was his quarter-century-long research on obstetric forceps. Dr Nargolkar authored the acclaimed monograph "Hay's Obstetric Forceps," which detailed his own modifications to the use of Hay's forceps - a crucial instrument employed during difficult deliveries. His expertise earned him invitations to lecture at world congresses in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Singapore, Israel, and Australia.
Senior gynaecologist Dr Ramesh Bhosale, former professor and head of the department of gynaecology at B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, remembered Dr Nargolkar as "a disciplined clinician with a scientific bent of mind and an innovator who pushed for safer obstetric care."
Dr Nargolkar is survived by his wife Dr Ranjana Nargolkar, daughters Gauri and Radhika, son Rohit, and his grandchildren. According to his daughter Gauri, a condolence meeting will be held in his honor at PYC Hindu Gymkhana (AI Hall) in Deccan at 6pm on December 2.
