The idea of forming a national society of anaesthesiologists in India was first mooted around 1944, during a surgical conference in Mumbai, when anaesthesiologists wished to have a common forum.
In 1946, “Ether Day” celebrations consolidated this interest, and by 30 December 1947, the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists was formally founded.
Initially, ISA functioned jointly with the Surgical-Obstetric Society of India.
The first independent annual ISA conference was held in 1965 in Hyderabad, with distinguished invitees from abroad.
Over time, the society evolved: in 2000, it changed its name from “Indian Society of Anaesthetists” to Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists.
The Society started as joint organisation with the Surgical-Obstetric Society of India. The founder members of the Society were
Dr Ambardekar G.S.
Mumbai
Dr Bhargava V.B.
Mumbai
Dr Talwalkar G.S.
Mumbai
Dr Barat H.G.
Calcutta
Dr Chatterjee S.K.
Calcutta
Dr Sur P.B.
Calcutta
Dr Bakshi S.K.
Delhi
Dr Dhameja P.D.
Delhi
Dr Satyendra Singh
Delhi
Dr Chandrasekhar N.
Delhi
Dr Prasad N.
Delhi
Dr B.N.Sircar
Mumbai
The torchbearers of the office were Dr M.N.Desai (President), Dr B.N.Sircar (Hon Secretary) and Dr G.S.Talwalkar (Hon. Treasurer), (1949-51).
1949
Ist Annual Conference
The First Annual Conference of ISA through the combined society was held on 23rd and 24th December 1949 at Seth G.S.Medical College, Mumbai. The Society has been holding Annual Conferences regularly from 27th to 30th December since 1949 until 1964 along with Association of the Surgeons of India.
The Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists hosted the First Independent Annual National Conference at Hyderabad in 1965. Prof. Dr T. C. Gray and Prof. Dr R. Macintosh from UK attended the first conference as special invitees of the Government of India.
1956
WFSA
In 1956 Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists joined the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) as a founder member.
1972
Silver Jubilee & Golden Jubilee
1972 and 1997 were the Silver Jubilee and Golden jubilee years of the formation of ISA respectively which were commemorated at Trivandrum (1972) and Delhi (1997). The Silver Jubilee & Golden Jubilee Conferences were held in 1975 & 2002 at Madras & at Coimbatore (GOLDCON 2002) respectively.
1978
5th Asian - Australasian Regional Congress
In September 1978, the 5th Asian-Australasian Regional Congress was held at New Delhi and the Conference was inaugurated by the President of India.
1981
CME
The Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programmes was started along with the Annual Conference in 1981 at Chandigarh under WFSA initiatives (Dr T.C.K. Brown).
1991
SACA
The South Asian Confederation of Anaesthesiologists (SACA) was formed in November 1991 and Dr (Mrs). V.M.Divekar of ISA was selected as the first SACA President. SACA meets once in two years in one of the member countries at Bangladesh / Sri Lanka / Pakistan / India / Nepal / Maldives. In 1999 Chennai (Madras) India, hosted the fourth SACA meet.