Cardiology as a speciality was being practiced in many of the Western countries from the third decade of this century. India did not stay far behind at that juncture for Cardiology was fast becoming a priority in Indian scenario as well.

1. It was in 1946, an early summer evening, some of the doyens of Medicine in India were travelling by a train to Asansol in West Bengal to attend the State conference of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). It was like any other summer evening in this part of the country, replete with clamour of men and women engaged in their livelihood, the whistle of the engine and the muttering of the wheels grinding against the track.. Beyond the window one could see the roads that 'spread out like a tedious argument'. The evening was drawing in with the darkness descending like a 'patient etherised upon a table'. And then there were political unstabilities round the corner. But nothing seemed to deter these gentlemen inside the compartment. For it was a historical moment and they were discussing formation of the Cardiological Society of Bengal. The Cardiological Society of Bengal was thus born on the 11th April, 1946 with Dr. B.C. Roy, the legendary physician (who later on became the Chief Minister of West Bengal) as its first President.
   
   Two years passed by and on the 11th January, 1948, the eminent physicians of India met in Calcutta and decided to form a National Society of the Cardiologists. The decision was conveyed to all the physicians of India interested in Cardiology. The response was overwhelming. And thus the Cardiological Society of India (CSI) was born on the 4th April, 1948 at Calcutta ? a long march to a glorious future was flagged off !
   
   

2. It is interesting to note that the CSI was established one year earlier than the formation of the American College of Cardiology and the International Society & Federation of Cardiology (ISFC). The first Executive Committee Meeting of the CSI was held at Calcutta with Dr. B.C. Roy as the President ; Dr. A.K. Bose, Dr. J.C. Gupta and Dr. K.S. Mathur of Agra as the Joint Secretaries. In the first few years of its existence the Society received untiring services from Dr. U.P. Basu, Dr. A.K. Bose, Dr. J.C. Banerjea, Dr. R.J. Vakil (Mumbai), among others. The stalwarts who graced the prestigious post of the President of CSI in the early years were as follows : Dr. B.C. Roy of Calcutta - (1948-1950) ; Dr. Sunil Chandra Bose of Calcutta (elder brother of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose) - 1951; Dr. U.P. Basu of Calcutta - 1952; Dr.(Col.) Amir Chand of Delhi ? 1953; Dr. J.C. Banerjea of Calcutta ? 1954, Dr. R.J. Vakil, Mumbai ? 1955.
   
   The first official conference of the CSI was held in 1950 at Calcutta in conjunction with the All India Medical Conference. It was in 1954 that the CSI decided to have its Annual Meeting along with that of the Association of Physicians of India (API).
   The second decade of its existence was a record of steady progress of the CSI with both membership and scientific activities growing immensely. The most important achievement at this stage was the successful organisation of the 5th World Congress of Cardiology in 1966 at New Delhi under the leadership of Dr. S. Padmavati with Dr. K.K. Datey of Mumbai as the Chairman of the Organising Committee and Dr. D.P. Basu of Calcutta as the President of the CSI. The CSI continued having its Annual Meeting with API upto 1976. In the meantime the Silver Jubilee of CSI was held at Calcutta in 1973. During this period of 30 years, the organisational activities of the CSI, the membership strength, research work, scientific achievements, - all had grown to a height that necessiated a separate conference for the Society. Accordingly after 1976 joint Annual Meeting the CSI dissociated itself from API and instead organised its Annual Meeting with the Association of the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons of India (ATCVSI).
   
   

3. The First Joint Conference of the CSI & ATCVSI was held at Srinagar in 1979. The Joint Annual Conference of the CSI & ATCVSI provided a common platform for the Cardiologists and the Surgeons to interact more closely and inculcate a feeling of belonging to the same family. But as happens with any other family, expansion of the latter often leads to separate establishments of its members to meet the growing demands without any ill feeling for the other members.
   
   The ATCVSI, thus decided to go alone after the Joint Conference with CSI at Madras in 1989. From 1990 the Cardiological Society of India is having its own Conference every year.
   
   The Scientific Council of the CSI is responsible for formation of various sub-committees to help the growth and development of different sub-specialities like, Preventive Cardiology, Rheumatic Heart Disease, Electrophysiology, Non-invasive Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, etc. etc. To take stock of the situation in relation to the prevalence, nature and application of newer methods of the treatment and prevention ? a National Registry of various cardiac disorders have also been formed. The Scientific Council thus played an important role to foster research, educative, preventive and other scientific programmes.
   
   The official journal of the CSI, the Indian Heart Journal had its modest beginning in 1949 in Calcutta. The regular publication of the Journal began in 1949 with Dr. J.C. Banerjea as its Hon. Editor. The Journal underwent much improvement in quality and get-up under the able editorship of Dr. Shantilal J. Shah of Mumbai who remained its Hon. Editor from 1971 to 1981. The Indian Heart Journal at present has achieved international standard and recognition.
   
   The Cardiological Society of India is an active member of the International Society & Federation of Cardiology and Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology and also SAARC Society of Cardiology. The present membership strength of the Society including overseas members has crossed two thousand five hundred.
   
   

4. We look forward to seeing a more active, prosperous and purpose oriented CSI. Let one who writes the history of the CSI 50 years from now be more proud than I am today.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT :

• We Acknowledge with thanks the information collected from an article by Prof. D.C. Ghosh on the history of the CSI and Prof. A.K. Maity, Prof. Manotosh Panja for their help.

• We specially thank Mr. J. Chatterjee, the Ex-Office Superintendent, Mr. Ranjit Basu, Office Superintendent, Mr. Manoj Banerjee, Mr. Subrata Roy Mitra, Mr. Debasish Das and Ms. Sutapa Mukherjee of the CSI Head Quarters for their all-round assistance.