“The rise of Katihar Medical College against all odds”

He never accepted to be a victim of circumstances. Instead of bending on his knees, Ashfaque chose to fight a battle.

Those were struggle days. Kosi region was crying for better health facilities as there were no private or government hospital. Education was a matter of concern.  The then State Government of Bihar had left the region ignored. It was Ahmad Ashfaque Karim, who decided to set up a medical college in the backward Katihar district with a vision to provide quality higher education to the deprived but deserving students.
     When Ashfaque and others approached the Education Department to issue a NOC (No Objection Certificate) to establish the Katihar Medical College, they find the government reluctant to permit despite of the provisions of law under article 30(1) of the Constitution which permits minority communities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. However, the reluctance has not defeated Ashfaque strong will power and his mission to do something for the betterment of the masses. He moved to Supreme Court of India which justified the establishment of this college and directed the B.N Mandal University, Madhepura to affiliate the college.

It has been 28 years of the establishment of the institution. As of date, more than 20 batches have already passed out from this college. They are serving the mankind all across the country. What a tremendous triumph of Ahmad Ashfaque Karim who was once denied to issuance of a NOC!

Story Behind Katihar Medical College

It was never a win-win situation for Ahmad Ashfaqe Karim but his hard labor and dedication turned the fate of lakhs of lives in Kosi region. During 1984, he was going through the reports of Sunil Mukherjee Committee and the Mudaliyar Committee submitted in 1977. Both the committees had recommended either to establish a medical college in Katihar or to shift the Nalanda Medical College to Katihar so that the downtrodden and ailing people of the area could get better health services. 

Inspired by the reports, young Ashfaque in his twenties, decided to set up a Medical College in katihar, one of the most educationally backward dominated districts of Bihar.

In compliance with the then existing rules, Al-Karim Educational Trust was formed. Karim Sahab got elected as the Chairman of the Trust and it was registered under Societies Registration Act. Now, the idea for establishment of Katihar Medical College started taking a concrete shape.

The biggest challenge was to find an appropriate piece of land at Katihar. However, with the active help of Md. Mubarak Hussain, MLA and Sri Satya Narayan Biswas, Ex Minister, one plot of 35 acres of land was acquired to build the college premises. The construction of college & hospital building started under the guidance of Janab Ahjmad Raza Karim Rahmani.

The trust has decided to take few buildings on rent at Patna till the completion of construction work in Katihar. Doctor S.M Nawab, renowned surgeon and former Principal of Darbhanga Medical College became the first Principal of newly established KMCH. Two other retired Professors of PMCH, Dr. D.N Tiwari, Professor of Anatomy & Dr. P.K Agarwal, Professor of Biochemistry also joined the college.

15^th October, 1987 was the day when notice for the admission of first batch of MBBS course in KMC was issued and published. Ashfaque Karim and the whole team were on planet nine as they had created history with establishing the first minority medical college of Bihar at Katihar district of Kosi region.

Since then, the institution has grown leaps and bound. It turned as bless to the students, especially of Kosi region who were bound to go through the hardships to get higher education. Many of its students are working in the premier hospitals in India and abroad. Katihar Medical College has been serving the humanity since its inception and will continue the same in future.