The story of the Bombay Orthopaedic Society begins much before its formal birth in 1965; in an era when the seeds of organised orthopaedic education in India were just beginning to germinate.

In 1953, the World Health Organisation sent a medical team to India, and among them was Sir Henry Osmond-Clarke, an orthopaedic surgeon of great eminence. His visit stirred curiosity and excitement in the young discipline of orthopaedics that was still finding its identity in the country. A few years later, in December 1958, Sir Harry Platt - one of the great names in world orthopaedics came to Mumbai to attend the Association of Surgeons of India (ASI) annual conference. These visits were not mere events; they were sparks that ignited the imagination of Indian surgeons, especially in Mumbai, which was then emerging as the country’s medical capital.

At that time, the city of Bombay was blessed with towering figures who laid the foundations of modern orthopaedic surgery in western India. Dr. R. J. Katrak, Dr. M. G. Kini, Dr. A. K. Talwalkar, Dr. K. T. Dholakia, Dr. K. S. Masalawala, Dr. (Miss) P. K. Mullaferoze, and Dr. M. V. Sant. Their commitment, skill, and vision gave the specialty both direction and dignity.

As the 1950s drew to a close, a younger group of surgeons. Dr. M. A. Vali, Dr. G. S. Chawara, Dr. R. M. Bhansali, and Dr. J. C. N. Joshipura joined the growing orthopaedic fraternity. They were full of enthusiasm and yearned for more structured academic activities. Acting on a shared impulse, the city’s orthopaedic surgeons began to meet once a month in the evenings to discuss cases and share experiences. These informal gatherings became the first true academic meetings of Bombay’s orthopaedic community; a humble beginning that would one day grow into something far greater.

Soon after, more surgeons like Dr. S. K. Bhulchandani, Dr. J. C. Taraporevala, Dr. K. V. Chaubal, and Dr. L. N. Vora made Bombay their professional home. With over a dozen active orthopaedic surgeons, the city was ready for an organised academic body.

In 1961, the Orthopaedic Section of the ASI (which would later evolve into the Indian Orthopaedic Association) instituted the Johnson & Johnson Traveling Fellowship. Dr. A. K. Talwalkar was instrumental in conceptualising this fellowship; a visionary step that reflected his remarkable wisdom, diligence, and persuasive leadership. Each year, the visit of the J&J fellows to Mumbai became a festival of learning and camaraderie, filled with case discussions, teaching sessions, and warm social gatherings that strengthened professional bonds.

By 1964, the city’s pride swelled when Dr. R. J. Katrak was elected an Honorary Fellow of the British Orthopaedic Association - the first Indian to be so honoured. The entire orthopaedic fraternity of Mumbai gathered on the lawns of Seth G. S. Medical College in January 1965 to felicitate him. The event, rich with affection and respect, became a turning point. A generous fund was raised through contributions from the fraternity and amidst that atmosphere of celebration and unity, a collective decision was made: to form a formal organisation dedicated to orthopaedic education and fellowship.

Thus, in 1965, the Bombay Orthopaedic Society (BOS) was born; one of the earliest such societies in India, second only to the Orthopaedic Section of the ASI. A formal constitution was adopted, and the first Executive Committee was constituted: