The ‘Indian Radiological Association’ took its birth in 1931 in Calcutta with late Dr. Ajit Mohan Bose as founder President and Dr. Subodh Mitra as founder Secretary. The first meeting was held on 21st April, 1931 in Calcutta and Capt. M. Mukherjee, Dr. N.B. Ghosh and Dr. Moitra attended the meeting.

In March 1937, the Indian Radiological Association was registered under Act XXI of 1860, with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies, Bengal Registration No. 6644 (1936-37) with a total membership strength of 24.

The first Annual Congress of Radiology was held in 1946 at Madras under the Presidentship of Dr. M.D. Joshi and Secretary Dr. Rama Rao. At that time there were 130 members of the association.

The change in the name of the Association: It was felt right that there has been tremendous change in the modalities of imaging all over the world and our Association must effectively reflect by naming a name which will speak for itself. Therefore, the Indian Radiological Association became The Indian Radiological & Imaging Association. The Journal and the College were also renamed accordingly to IRIA and ICRI.

IRIA started constructing its building in 1993 and completed in 1995 which was inaugurated by 5th May 1995 by Prof. J.S. Bajaj in Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi.

Indian Journal of Radiology was born in 1947, under Joint Editorship of Dr. P. Rama Rao and Dr. K. Manjunath Rai. Excellent scientific papers and material were published and circulated to all the members. Our IRIA has won many awards for excellence in medical publishing awarded by Govt. of India and rated as best Journal amongst all medical Journals in India. Our Journal got international Code No. ISSN-0970-20 16 and new guidelines to authors were prepared and given and it is printed in Mumbai. Every year four issues are published by IJRI.

It was established as a teaching (academic) wing of the Association in 1976 by Late Prof. P.K. Haldar and Dr. K.N. Kamdar. Prof. P.K. Haldar was the first Founder Chairman of the college followed by Dr. K.N. Kamdar. During initial period of six years activities were mainly confirmed to day’s teaching and Annual Congress of IRA.

Under Chairmanship of Dr. Samir Banerjee, a new chapter started and linked with Royal Colleges of Radiologists, London, U.K. It was in that period few centers in India got recognized for R.C.R..

Prof. N.G. Gadekar – Key Note Address (Memorial Oration) and Prof. Mihir Mitter Memorial Oration were instituted under the umbrella of ‘Indian College of Radiology & Imaging’ in 1988 & 1991 respectively. These orations are awarded to the Radiologists of the country who have excellence in academics as well as in teaching and developing the science of Imaging. Dr. Harnam Singh Mid-Term ‘CME Session’ was introduced with the donation from Dr. Harnam Singh, 2 days mid-term CME is named after him, recently Prof. V.P. Lakhanpal Gold Medal has been introduced for the best academic contribution in the field of Radiology and Imaging.

Many more awards were introduced in the college, e.g., Best Research Paper Award, Dr. Rao Award instituted by Dr. Prasanna Rao. Every year, a prize is given by ICRI, selected by Executive Committee and approved by General Body, ICRI. Credit or CME is prepared by ICRI recommended by Prof. Kakarla Subbarao and approved by ICRI and IRIA.

Now almost every State has State Branches to conduct scientific activities and coordinate with the Central Office. Members of Defense, Railway, and Central Services are enrolled directly. Many City branches are formed for academic purposes to improve academic standards and educate the radiologists and post-graduate students. More and more activities are held in all major cities and also in districts and smaller towns.

Dr. R. Rishi was the first renowned radiologist of Central India and he established the Department of Radiology in M.G.M. Medical College and M.Y. Hospital, Indore. He was also the first to start private X-Ray Clinic in the city.

In 1974, Indore was the venue for the Annual conference of IRA under the chairmanship of Dr. M.S. Dwivedi. Around 450 Radiologists were delegates in this conference. The first meeting of I.R.I.A., M.P. State branch was held in Bhopal, the capital city of M.P., and Dr. P.N. Sharma was elected as first President and Dr. R.K. Jain as first Secretary to I.R.I.A. M.P. State Branch. Dr. M.S. Dwivedi, Dr. Mahesh Rawat, Dr. O.P. Tiwari, Dr. M.S. Gujaral, and Dr. A.S. Rathore were among the few founder members. Gradually the organization grew in terms of members and activities.

In the year 2000, IRIA M.P. again hosted the National conference at Bhopal; Dr. R.K. Jain was the Organizing Chairman. In 2013, the National Conference of IRIA was conducted at Indore with Dr. O.P. Tiwari as the Chairman, Dr. R.K. Sodani as Secretary, and Dr. Pushpraj Bhatele as Treasurer. Annual conferences of I.R.I.A., M.P. State Chapter are being held every year in the month of March at different venues of the state as decided by the state general body and executive committee meetings. Dr. R.R. Rishi oration honor is given to eminent radiologists of the country during annual conference since 1997. Gold Medal for best-proffered paper is also given every year to upcoming P.G. Student/young radiologist of the state.

On the national level, Dr. R.K. Jain became the President of the prestigious association in 2001. Dr. A.S. Rathore, Dr. O.P. Tiwari, and Dr. Arvind Jain held the post of vice president., R.S. Maitra, Dr. S. Shivram and Dr. Pushpraj Bhatele were the joint secretaries in the years passed. Dr. Rajendra Sodani and subsequently Dr. Pushpraj Bhatele has been elected as the Treasurer of the association.

IRIA MP State Branch together with IRIA Jabalpur has taken on lease an official premises at IMA Building Jabalpur and now onwards our official work shall be carried out through this address.

One of the first and foremost Radiologists of Central India, Dr. Ram Rishi passed his DMRE from Cambridge University in the year 1933.

He was the first Medical Superintendent of MY Hospital in Indore and was instrumental in setting up and starting of the MGM Medical College at Indore taking lots of personal efforts to convince the political class to start the facility at Indore.

He set up the first Private Radiology practice at Indore. He was a dedicated practitioner and loved his work of Diagnostic Radiology. A thorough gentleman by nature, Dr. Ram Rishi was an excellent player of Bridge and used to be invited by the Royal Family of Holkar State to play. He loved partying and used to enjoy with family and friends every often.

His dedicated work resulted in the development of Radiation ill effects. Dr. Ram Rishi was loved by one and all for his command over the subject and is remembered even to this day for all his contributions to the medical field in Central India.