- IIMA Archives and Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance join hands to document the people, institutions and milestones behind India’s global pharma rise
- Archive brings together 250+ video stories, 30+ industry leaders, nearly 1,000 resources, rare footage and first-generation founders’ oral histories
- Launched by Union Minister Anupriya Patel at IIMA Healthcare Summit 2026 in Ahmedabad
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, AUG 22
What happens when 125 years of scientific breakthroughs, entrepreneurial audacity and nation-building are rescued from fading memories and transformed into a living digital legacy? India now has an answer.
The India Pharma Archives, a landmark initiative of IIMA Archives and the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), was launched at the IIMA Healthcare Summit 2026 in Ahmedabad, creating the country’s first publicly accessible digital platform dedicated to documenting 125 years of India’s pharmaceutical journey.
Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilisers Anupriya Patel launched the archive in the presence of senior government officials, academicians and industry leaders, marking a significant milestone in preserving the institutional memory of an industry that has helped establish India as the “Pharmacy of the World.”
The initiative goes far beyond preserving old documents. It brings together the people, institutions, ideas, innovations and defining milestones that transformed Indian pharmaceuticals from an emerging domestic industry into a global healthcare powerhouse serving patients in more than 200 countries.
Also present at the launch were Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals; Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA; Pankaj Patel, Chairman, IIMA Board of Governors and Chairman, Zydus Lifesciences; Prof. Amit Karna, Dean – Alumni & External Relations, IIMA; and Manish Gupta, Founder & Chairman, Indegene, among others.
The archive has been developed by IIM Ahmedabad Archives with support from the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, and is designed as a continuously expanding repository rather than a conventional digital museum.
Earlier this year, the landmark coffee-table book The Alchemy of Cure laid the foundation for the initiative. The India Pharma Archives now takes that effort several steps further by bringing together rare historical material from across the pharmaceutical ecosystem, including company histories, archival collections, films and footage, interview transcripts, timelines and advanced search tools.
From forgotten memories to a living archive
One of the most significant features of the platform is its collection of never-before-documented Oral Histories of first-generation pharmaceutical founders.
These first-person accounts provide an intimate window into the challenges, scientific breakthroughs, entrepreneurial decisions, policy battles and leadership journeys that shaped Indian pharma. In doing so, the archive captures not merely what happened, but why it happened and who made it happen.
The archive spans the period 1901–2025 and currently features 250+ video stories, 30+ industry leaders, dedicated company histories, nearly 1,000 documents and resources, rare films and historical footage, oral histories, timelines and a searchable digital repository.
The creators believe that making this collective memory accessible can help students, researchers, policymakers, historians and industry leaders understand the forces that built India’s pharmaceutical strength—and draw lessons for the healthcare challenges of tomorrow.
‘A remarkable story of science, entrepreneurship and global impact’
Speaking at the launch, Dr Sharvil Patel, MD, Zydus Lifesciences and President, IPA, said: “The Indian pharmaceutical industry is a remarkable story of science, entrepreneurship and global impact. The India Pharma Archives celebrates this collective journey and will serve as a platform for new ideas, collaborations, and solutions that address the health challenges of tomorrow.”
Sudarshan Jain, Secretary General, IPA, said the initiative was intended to preserve more than history.
“India Pharma Archives is not only about preserving history; it is about safeguarding the legacy of innovation for future generations,” he said.
According to Jain, the archive will serve as a rich educational resource for students, researchers and policymakers, while showcasing the resilience and breakthroughs that continue to inspire innovation and reinforcing India’s position as a global leader in pharmaceuticals.
At a time when the country is seeking to deepen its role in global healthcare, the India Pharma Archives gives that ambition a powerful historical foundation—ensuring that the next generation does not merely inherit India’s pharmaceutical success but understands the extraordinary journey that made it possible.
