Dr. G.M. Dhaar, one of the most respected and pioneering figures in the field of Community Medicine in Jammu and Kashmir, passed away on June 10, 2026. He was 91.
Born in 1935 in the historic Aali Kadal area of Srinagar, Dr. Dhaar belonged to a respected and distinguished family from downtown Srinagar.
Son of Haji Ghulam Hassan Dhaar, he obtained his MBBS degree from Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, in 1959. He was the first postgraduate in Public Health/Community Medicine from Jammu and Kashmir, having earned his MD from the prestigious King George’s Medical College.
Dr. Dhaar began his career as a Medical Officer at SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, where he had the opportunity to work closely with some of the foremost leaders of medicine in the state, including Prof. Ghulam Rasool, Prof. Ali Mohammad Jan, and Prof. Harbhajan Singh. He later rose to become Professor and Head of the Department at Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar.
A dedicated teacher, researcher, and institution builder, Dr. Dhaar established postgraduate training in Community Medicine at GMC Srinagar and mentored scores of postgraduate students. He was widely regarded as the “Father of Community Medicine” in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the early 1980s, he played a pivotal role in the development and establishment of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) during its formative years. He shouldered several important administrative responsibilities, serving as Coordinator of Manpower Development, Member of the Apex Selection Committee of SKIMS, Ex-officio Additional Secretary, Medical Education, and Chairman of Community Medicine.
Dr. Dhaar also served as Health Officer and later Administrator of Srinagar Municipality. He was the inaugural advisor for the introduction of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Rehbar-i-Sehat programmes in Jammu and Kashmir. His contributions to national health initiatives were significant, particularly in the smallpox eradication campaign and malaria control programmes.
In recognition of his outstanding services, he was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine. His magnum opus, Foundations of Community Medicine—a nearly 1,000-page comprehensive treatise on the subject—was published by the internationally renowned Elsevier Ltd.
Dr. Dhaar is survived by his family, including his son, Dr. Irfan Robbani Dhaar, former Principal of SKIMS Medical College and currently Professor of Radiodiagnosis at SKIMS; and his son-in-law, Dr. Omar Javed Shah, former Director and Ex-officio Secretary to the Government and Dean of SKIMS.
His demise marks the end of an era in the medical history of Kashmir. Colleagues, students, and admirers remember him as a visionary, dedicated teacher, and institution builder who played a seminal role in shaping public health and medical education in the region.
Greater Kashmir extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prays for eternal peace to the departed soul.
