Permanent Pictorial Cancellation inaugural day covers

Description: Christian Medical College, Vellore (CMC Vellore) is a distinguished medical institution situated in Vellore. It was established in 1900 by Ida Sophia Scudder, a committed medical missionary linked with the Dutch Reformed Church in the United States. Dr. Scudder was born in 1870 in Tindivanam, Chennai. In 1891, she recognised the urgent lack of healthcare services for women and children in India. At that time, cultural and religious norms often prevented male doctors from treating female patients. Deeply moved by this situation, she resolved to become a doctor so she could care for women and also train other women to serve as healthcare professionals. In 1900, she founded a one-bed dispensary in Vellore, which marked the modest beginning of the institution. 

She worked tirelessly to promote women’s medical education and healthcare until 1938. In that year, owing to a government regulation that only universities could confer medical degrees, her medical school was upgraded to a college and affiliated with the University of Madras. The college began offering the MBBS programme in 1942. It continued to expand its academic courses with the introduction of laboratory technician programmes in 1945, postgraduate medical courses in 1950, and Master’s degree programmes in nursing in 1969. Over the years, many dedicated doctors, scholars, and leaders have contributed to the growth and excellence of CMC Vellore, making it one of India’s top centres for medical education, research, and healthcare.