The iconic King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEM Hospital), which has earned a strong reputation in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and across India for nearly a century, is set to be renamed as “Kaushalyashreshtha Eklavya Memorial Hospital.”
However, despite the proposed name change, the hospital is likely to continue being popularly referred to as “KEM,” as the abbreviation derived from the new name remains the same.
The proposal to rename the hospital was put forward as part of an effort to preserve indigenous heritage and remove remnants of colonial influence. Maharashtra’s Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Minister, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, informed Lokmat that he had written to the Chairperson of the Mumbai civic body’s Public Health Committee recommending the change from “King Edward Memorial Hospital” to “Kaushalyashreshtha Eklavya Smarak Hospital.”
Following this, the proposal was included in the agenda of the Public Health Committee meeting. The committee has approved the proposal and forwarded it to the Municipal Commissioner for further consideration and feedback.
Public Health Committee Chairperson Harish Bhandirge confirmed that the proposal was discussed and approved during the meeting and has now been sent to the Commissioner for review.
While the renaming move reflects a broader push toward cultural reclamation, the familiar “KEM” identity is expected to remain intact in public usage.