MASONIC POLY CLINIC ASSOCIATION OF EASTERN INDIA

The Masonic Polyclinic Association of Eastern India is a charitable organisation founded, financed and run by freemasons in Calcutta and is located at 19, Park Street, Kolkata -700 016. The Foundation stone was laid by the late Most Worshipful Brother Prof. Dr. M. S. Thacker, OSM, the then M. W. the Grand Master, Grand Lodge of India, on 9th October 1974. Preparations to make the clinic an operational one was made at a hectic pace on the land released by the Bengal Freemasons’ Trust Association and it was formally declared open to the public at a solemn function on 23rd March 1975 by the then Grand Master of Grand Lodge of India Most Worshipful Brother The Hon’ble Chief Justice K. Veeraswami. The Poly Clinic is registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act. The main building constructed on the land was dedicated to the memory of Late Bapuji Bejanji Khory, who donated the base capital. In November 1992, an annexe was opened with donation from W. Bro. Shankar Ladia and was christened “W. Bro. Shankar Ladia Annexe”. The Eye Dept. was named after the memory of late W. Bro. Pulin Ch. Daw at the request of his family, who donated capital for this purpose. In principle, it was decided to dedicate each Department in the name of our members who donate to the cause.

The Brethren of the Masonic fraternity had donated liberally during its formative period. Donations from overseas Lodges were also received for its upkeep. However, funding has dried up over the past few years. To overcome the running financial problems due to development and upgrading activities at the Polyclinic, an evening clinic was started. This was a shot in the arm for the Polyclinic, as the money received by way of donation was ploughed back both to run the Day Clinic and to meet the rising cost of maintenance. The Polyclinic has to depend on it’s own resources as no substantial amount of donation is now forthcoming from any source

A number of seminars, workshops and medical discourses have been held to popularize the Polyclinic, where eminent Physicians, Surgeons and public figures participated.

The following departments are now in operation and manned by reputed Medical Specialists:

Additional services available are Blood Sugar Testing, Blood Pressure testing etc. Efforts are being made to revive the Pathology Department.
The clinic runs from 9.00 A.M. to 4.00 P.M. (Day clinic) and from 4.00 P.M. to 8.00 P.M. (Evening Clinic). Regular Staff are available at the clinic to help the patients and the doctors.

On the morning of 27th December, 2008 with the Inauguration of the new Dental Clinic at the Masonic Polyclinic Association of Eastern India dedicated to the memory of Late Rai Bahadur Lalit Mohan Singh Roy CIE, JP by W.Bro. Ambarish Singh Roy. The Dental Clinic was inaugurated by M.W. Bro. Justice Devinder Gupta, OSM, Most Worshipful the Grand Master in the presence of R.W. Bro. Sisir Kumar Ghosh, the dignitaries and the inauguration was attended by an overwhelming number of Brethren and their families. Most Worshipful the Grand Master inspected the Dental Clinic’s facilities and hoped that it would run successfully in the near future. He also praised the brethren for taking this initiative in the right direction. Members of The Millennium Lodge No. 327, who are paired with Lodge Good Fellowship No. 71 in Calcutta, announced the donation of a new Dental Chair to the newly inaugurated Dental Clinic.

On 28th December, 2009, a Free Eye Camp which was sponsored and organized jointly by three Centenary Lodges, Lodge Good Fellowship No. 71, The Sir Andrew Fraser Lodge No. 72 and The St. Mary Lodge No. 75 at the Masonic Polyclinic Association of Eastern India was inaugurated by M.W. Bro. Justice Devinder Gupta, OSM, Most Worshipful the Grand Master. Over 200 patients from the general public who had registered earlier were treated and diagnosed for their eye-related ailments and free spectacles were given to those in need of them. A few cases were found serious enough to warrant surgery. They were given appointments for such surgery to take place free of cost at an eye hospital under the supervision of W.Bro. Dr. Amit Paul. Many family members and wives of the Brethren of these three lodges participated in the eye camp. Food packets were also distributed to all the patients who had participated in the eye-camp. The eye camp which was under the direct supervision of the Polyclinic’s Secretary W.Bro Raja Mookerjee and Treasurer, W.Bro Prakash Khanna was a resounding success.

The Polyclinic which is a non-profit making organization treats approximately above 2500 patients annually. The clinic has the capacity to treat double this number and all concerned are still striving to find greater response from the poor section of the population. At the recently concluded Annual Meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge of Eastern India at Varanasi, R.W. Bro. Sisir Kr. Ghosh, Right Worshipful the Regional Grand Master himself donated Rs.10,000/- towards the Polyclinic and urged the Brethren to become life members or Patrons of the Association. R.W. Bro. Capt. Dr. Balaram Biswakumar, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Master-Elect of the Grand Lodge of India also enrolled as a Patron by a generous donation of Rs. 5000/-. Right Worshipful the Regional Grand Master has also announced that a ‘Patron’s Jewel’ shall be presented to the newly made patrons at the next Half Yearly Meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge of Eastern India. Substantial number of brethren who were present have pledged donations for this purpose, some of which has already been received.

Brethren are requested to assist the organisation and help the needy. Any donation or active help from a generous brother will be thankfully received and faithfully applied.