Renowned scientist P M Bhargava passes away
Navneet Kumar Gupta
Renowned scientist Pushpa Mittra Bhargava, the founder-director of CSIR-Centre for Cellular Molecular Biology (CCMB), died 1st august. He was 88. Popularly known as P M Bhargava, had been suffering from multiple health problems for some time now.
Born on February 22nd, 1928 at Ajmer in Rajasthan, Dr P M Bhargava was considered to be the architect of the modern molecular biology and biotechnology in India. He completed his BSc in Maths, Physics and Chemistry in 1944 from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, MSc in Organic Chemistry from Lucknow University in 1946 and did his PhD in Synthetic organic chemistry. After that, he worked as a professor at Lucknow University and Osmania University.
In 1958, he went to McArdle Memorial Laboratory for Cancer Research, at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in the United States on postdoctoral fellowship.
There he developed his inclination towards biosciences and he started working on the famous anti-cancer drug, 5-fluorouracil.
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He returned to India in 1958 and started working as a scientist in the regional research laboratory in Hyderabad.
In 1977, he established the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad. He also majorly contributed towards Genetic Engineering, Neurology and Origin of Life.
More than 125 papers of Dr Bhargava have been published on the subjects of Chemistry and Biosciences.
He has been the vice president of the National Knowledge Commission and has been a member of National Security Advisory Board.
Dr Bhargava worked towards promoting scientific thoughts and eradication of myths. He was great science communicator. He was associated with Vigyan Prasar science video programme also. He played important role for the establishment of Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
Dr Bhargava has been awarded with more than 60 national and international awards during his scientific journey. Among them are Watumull Memorial Prize for Biochemistry in 1962, Padma Bhushan in 1986, National Citizen’s Award of India in 1988 and the highest civilian award of France, Legion d’ Honour.
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Navneet Kumar Gupta is a science communicator working as a Project Officer (Edusat) in Vigyan Prasar-National institute of Science communication under the Department. of Science & Technology. Govt. Of India. He has deep interest in popular science writing for general public through Print and electronic media. Besides his twelve books, he has written more than 200 popular science articles. He has edited/authored/co-authored more than 10 books. He have been awarded six National Awards including Rajbhasha Award, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India He has had a long stint as Associate Editor, VIPNET news - a popular science magazine. You may contact him at - ngupta@vigyanprasar.gov.in