The Indian Chest Society was formed in the year 1980. A few foresighted respiratory medicine specialists couriered the idea. The lead was taken by Dr. S.R. Kamat, the then Chief of the Department of Chest Medicine at the K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai. The core group involved in the planning and promoting of this society consisted of Dr. P.G. Kamath, Dr. J.C. Kothari and Dr. A.C. Shah from Mumbai, Dr. C.V. Ramakrishnanan from Chennai, Dr. C.N. Deivanayagan from Chennai Dr. K.J.R. Murthy from Hyderabad and Dr. Samir K. Gupta from Kolkata. The office of the society headquarters started functioning from K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai.