The vision and foresight of a few senior physicians in Delhi were instrumental in the establishment of the “Delhi Branch, Indian Rheumatism Association” (DBIRA) in 1969. Under their guidance, the branch flourished, and in 2003 the “Delhi Rheumatology Association” (DRA) was formally established and registered with the Registrar of Societies, Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. DRA is therefore one of the oldest branches of the Indian Rheumatology Association (IRA) and, arguably, among its most active.

The primary objectives behind establishing a Delhi branch or chapter were: (1) to create awareness about rheumatology among physicians at a time when the specialty was virtually non-existent in India, and (2) to promote advances in the management, training, and research of rheumatic and connective tissue diseases.

Over the years, DRA has consistently strived to fulfil these objectives through several academic and outreach initiatives:

• Conducting regular clinical meetings—initially quarterly and now monthly—where rheumatology units present clinical cases on a rotational basis, fostering active academic discussion.
• Organising the annual “Rheumatology Update,” aimed primarily at physicians and non-rheumatologists, to familiarise them with the latest developments in the field. This highly popular event is attended annually by approximately 250–300 delegates.
• Holding patient-awareness programmes on occasions such as World Arthritis Day.
• Organising the annual “Mid-Term CME in Rheumatology,” initiated following the introduction of the DNB Super-specialty programme in Rheumatology across institutions in the Delhi NCR. This CME is primarily intended for practising rheumatologists and DNB trainees.
• Instituting travel and research bursaries to support younger colleagues and rheumatologists in training, enabling them to attend major international conferences and the national annual rheumatology conference (IRACON). These bursaries also provide valuable financial assistance to DNB students for their research and thesis projects.

At present, five institutions continue to offer the DNB programme in Rheumatology: Army Hospital (R&R), Apollo Indraprastha Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Medanta Medicity, and Max Super Speciality Hospital. Since 2008, a total of 44 students have completed the programme, while 14 trainees are currently enrolled.

Prof. Hari Vaishnava, Prof. (Mrs) S. Sachdev, Prof. P. D. Gulati, Prof. A. N. Malaviya, Dr G. G. Mansharamani, Dr M. N. Passey, and Prof. S. N. A. Rizvi—senior physicians and faculty members at leading teaching institutions in Delhi—were the guiding forces behind DBIRA. Dr K. L. Wig, the then Director of AIIMS, New Delhi, and a renowned physician, served as its first Patron, while Prof. Hari Vaishnava was the first Chairman and President. The branch was inaugurated by Prof. R. G. Robinson, then President of SEAPAL (as APLAR was then known).

The DBIRA/DRA has hosted the Annual Conference of the Indian Rheumatology Association (IRACON) on three occasions:

• 1993— Organising Secretary: Dr Ashok Kumar; Chair: Prof. A. N. Malaviya
• 2003— Organising Secretary: Prof. Rohini Handa; Co-Chairs: Dr M. N. Passey and Dr S. J. Gupta
• 2025— Organising Secretary: Dr B. D. Pandey; Chair: Prof. Rohini Handa

The logo of DRA (Figure 1) was designed by Drs Ashok Kumar and A. N. Malaviya during IRACON 1993. The Qutub Minar symbolised Delhi, the pentameric IgM represented the structure of rheumatoid factor, and the swan alluded to the characteristic swan-neck deformity seen in rheumatoid arthritis.

The Presidential Medal (Figure 2) was introduced by Drs S. J. Gupta and Rohini Handa to symbolise the authority and prestige of the office of the President, while also reminding the wearer of the duties and responsibilities entrusted to each incumbent, guided by the enduring principle of ‘service before self.’ The medal is conferred upon the incoming DRA President by the outgoing President during the formal installation ceremony.

 Dr M. N. Passey, while serving as President of DRA, sadly passed away in 2002. In his honour, the DRA instituted the “Dr M. N. Passey Award for Distinguished Services” under the aegis of the Indian Rheumatology Association. Recognised as the highest accolade conferred by the IRA, the award honours outstanding contributions to Indian rheumatology and is presented during the opening ceremony of each IRACON.

[https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09733698241264442]

DRA has progressed steadily over the decades from a fledgling organisation into a vibrant and dynamic association comprising nearly 125 trained rheumatologists from the Delhi NCR region. We acknowledge and honour the dedication and tireless efforts of our seniors and predecessors (Figure 3), whose contributions laid the foundation for our present achievements. We also celebrate the accomplishments of our peers and younger colleagues. The spirit of collegiality, scholarship, and continuous evolution continues to define our Association.

May we always be granted the strength and wisdom to apply our knowledge in the service of patients with rheumatic diseases, whose resilience remains a constant source of inspiration.

We gratefully acknowledge the secretarial support provided by Shri Amarjeet Singh to DRA since 2002. He continues to serve as the administrative backbone of the Association. We also acknowledge the contribution of Dr Atul Kakkar, who provided several photographs from his coffee-table book, Joint Venture: Delhi Rheuma Chronicles.

Fig 1 : DRA Logo

Fig 2 : Presidential Medal

Figure 3: Presidents and Secretaries of DRA