Emblem as serpentine staff, Hamsa, book, two branches with leaves and Sanskrit inscription-tamasoma jyotirgamaya which is part of a prayer for enlightenment from ‘brihat aranyako upanishad’.

Meaning of the inscription is ‘lead us from darkness to light’ (Tamassu=darkness; Jyothi=light). The other two stanzas of this mantra are=asatoma sadgamaya (from ignorance to truth) and mrithyorma amrutangamaya (and from death to eternity). The medical emblem of two snakes intertwined around a staff originated from Greek mythology. The staff of Aesculapius (God of medicine) stands for healing. Ancient Greeks considered the staff as a badge of honor and noblemen carried a staff entwined with garlands or ribbons. The garlands were later interpreted as snakes. Another reasons for adding snake is that serpent represents wisdom. Christ adjured his disciples to be as wise as snakes. The staff of Hermes (messenger of gods) has two snakes entwined around a staff with wings. Aesculapius staff has a single snake and no wings.

Whatever the reason snake or snakes intertwined around the staff became a medical symbol. Hamsa bird represents purity and book stands for knowledge. Tree or branches with leaves represent prosperity.

Our principal Dr.B.S.Surti devised Gandhi medical college emblem. Dr.Surti had very distinctive personality. He was always dressed in white clothes and he performed every obstretic emergency in his unit. This was no mean feat since two units conducted more than 10000 deliveries per year at Gandhi hospital. He had largest experience of cesarean sections and if he could not get a hospital ambulance for emergencies he would come in his antique cars, which was a site to watch.