Late Dr. M.L. Goenka – Founder
Late Dr. M.L. Goenka, the visionary founder of the Institute of Human Reproduction (IHR), pioneered infertility treatment in North East India by establishing the region’s first IVF centre in Guwahati in 1990.
A true trailblazer, he dedicated his life to bringing the dream of parenthood to thousands of couples, delivering more than 10,000 test-tube babies. His journey was marked by relentless perseverance—travelling across India and abroad at a time when infertility treatment was still at a nascent stage. He trained in laparoscopy and hysteroscopy in Bombay (1980), microsurgery in San Francisco (1984), advanced laparoscopic surgery in Germany (1987), IVF at the renowned Bourn Hall Clinic in the UK, and further honed his expertise at Sydney IVF, where he spent three months under Dr. Robert Janson. In 1992, he created history with the birth of North East India’s first test-tube baby, a 52-year-old mother, a remarkable feat that earned recognition in the Limca Book of Records for three consecutive years. Despite the immense challenges of procuring equipment, sourcing culture media, and acquiring knowledge at a time when expertise was rarely shared, Dr. Goenka persevered with grit and dedication.
Dr. Goenka was also deeply interested in stem cell procedures. With his characteristic passion for learning, he began working on stem cell applications at IHR in 2003 and trained rigorously in this emerging field. Although the breakthrough success of the program came after his demise, it stood as a testament to his vision, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to medical innovation. He firmly believed that “Dedicated excellence makes us different,” a principle that continues to guide IHR as it carries forward his legacy of compassion, innovation, and excellence in reproductive healthcare.