Friends at Hallet Hospital Founded All India Pharmacist Federation
The Story of Friends Whose Struggle Gave a New Direction to the Pharmacist Movement
The year was 2014.
Kanpur’s famous Hallet Hospital…
A group of young pharmacy trainees carrying dreams in their eyes and determination in their hearts.
This is where the friendship of Amit Shukla, Deepak Mishra, Nadeem Quraishi, Arif Khan, Shahnawaj Siddiqie, and Pradeep Chauhan began.
At that time, no one could have imagined that the young friends discussing their future over tea in the hospital canteen would one day become an important part of the pharmacist movement in India.
Hallet Hospital Did Not Just Train Them — It Changed Their Thinking
Long duty hours in crowded wards, medicine distribution responsibilities, emergency rushes, and the harsh realities of the healthcare system matured them very quickly.
They witnessed how pharmacists were expected to handle enormous responsibilities inside hospitals, yet when it came to recognition and respect, they were often ignored.
After exhausting shifts, they would sit together for hours discussing one question:
Why were pharmacists still struggling for dignity and recognition despite playing such a crucial role in healthcare?
Slowly, those discussions turned into a shared mission.
2014: Joining “Pharmacist Foundation”
In 2014, all of them became associated with the “Pharmacist Foundation,” a platform that was gaining attention among young pharmacists at the time.
Under the leadership and guidance of senior pharmacist activists like Vinay Bhartiy and Amit Srivastawa, these young men learned the fundamentals of organizational work and professional activism.
They learned:
How to build an organization
How to unite pharmacists
How to communicate with authorities
How to organize disciplined but impactful movements
These friends worked tirelessly.
They attended meetings, traveled across districts, connected with pharmacists, and raised issues related to the profession.
Gradually, they began to be recognized as energetic young voices within the movement.
When They Began Feeling the Effects of Monopoly Inside the Organization
However, as time passed, things started changing.
The group began to feel that decision-making inside the organization was increasingly being controlled by a few individuals. Grassroots workers were not getting the importance or representation they deserved.
They strongly believed that any organization becomes powerful only when every worker has a voice and leadership remains collective rather than centralized.
Slowly, a thought began growing stronger among them —
if pharmacists truly needed an independent and powerful national voice, then a new platform would have to be created, one that belonged to everyone rather than a select few.
The Most Difficult Decision
Creating a separate organization was not easy.
There were many uncertainties:
Would people support them?
Could they build an organization from the ground up?
Could a movement survive without resources?
But their greatest strength was their friendship and trust in each other.
Whenever one of them felt discouraged, the others stood beside him.
Whenever someone faced pressure, the group protected him.
Whenever one lacked resources, the others contributed whatever they could.
Deepak Mishra often said:
> “An organization should always be bigger than any individual.”
The Birth of the “All India Pharmacist Federation”
After years of struggle, discussions, and organizational experience, these friends, along with their supporters, laid the foundation of a new platform —
the “All India Pharmacist Federation.”
This was not just another organization.
It was the result of years of struggle, sacrifice, friendship, and belief.
The objective of the federation was clear:
To unite pharmacists at the national level
To give equal respect to every worker
To provide a platform for grassroots voices
To secure dignity and recognition for the pharmacy profession
To strengthen the role of pharmacists in the healthcare system
Gradually, the organization began expanding across districts and states.
The Struggle Continued, But Their Friendship Never Broke
Building a new organization came with immense challenges.
There was a lack of resources.
There was criticism.
There was opposition.
But these friends refused to give up.
They traveled in buses for long journeys.
They spent sleepless nights planning strategies.
Many times, they funded programs from their own pockets.
At times, they even faced dissatisfaction from their own families because of the time and energy they devoted to the movement.
Yet one thing never changed — their unity.
Amit Shukla’s strategic thinking, Deepak Mishra’s leadership, Nadeem Quraishi’s organizational skills, Arif Khan’s fearless voice, Shahnawaj Siddiqie’s ability to keep morale high, and Pradeep Chauhan’s grassroots connection together gave strength to the movement.
A Journey That Still Continues
Today, these friends are not just individuals; they have become an inspiration for many young pharmacists.
Their story proves that organizations are not built by positions or titles alone — they are built through trust, sacrifice, friendship, and the courage to stand together during difficult times.
The friendship that began during pharmacy training at Hallet Hospital still stands strong today.
They proved that when intentions are honest and companions are true, no struggle is too great.
People may try to stop such movements, but they cannot break the spirit behind them.
What began in the corridors of Hallet Hospital eventually turned into a movement — one that continues to inspire pharmacists across India even today.