This unsung hero's research led to a breakthrough that revolutionized the field of medicine and healthcare.
India has a rich history of having exceptional geniuses and scientists who have made significant contributions to the world. From the visionary APJ Abdul Kalam to the Nobel laureate CV Raman, these individuals have left an indelible mark on the scientific community. However, there was a scientist from history whose name may not ring a bell to many, yet his groundbreaking discovery played a crucial role in saving the lives of millions on Earth.
Back in the day, Dr Upendranath Brahmachari was a leading doctor and scientist in Bengal who had studied at prestigious institutions like Presidency College and the University of Calcutta.
After completing his graduation in the field of mathematics and chemistry, he changed his path to studying medicine and surgery. It resulted in securing his MD in 1902 and PhD in 1904.
Later, he worked at the Dhaka Medical School and then the Campbell Medical School in Calcutta. During his tenure, he undertook the challenge of finding a cure for the deadly disease known as kala-azar or black fever, a fatal parasitic epidemic that had killed millions in many countries. The parasitic disease would blacken a person's skin and viciously attack critical organs like the liver and spleen. In the absence of treatment, it often led to death.
Dr Brahmachari dedicated 20 years of his life to find a cheap cure without side effects. Despite working in a room with no electricity and poor water supply in 1920, he discovered Urea Stibamine.
This discovery witnessed a tremendous change in the fortunes of humanity. It transitioned the 90% mortality rate due to the menacing black fever to a 90% success rate in battling the disease.
He then made sure that many hospitals received his cure for free to fight the epidemic. This was even before penicillin was discovered.
This unsung hero's research led to a breakthrough that revolutionised the field of medicine and healthcare. His other notable works involved establishing Asia’s first blood bank in 1935.
Dr. Brahmachari was an acclaimed scientist, so much so that he was considered for the prestigious Nobel Prize not once, but six times.
Once in 1929 alongside the famous Sigmund Freud and five times in 1942. Despite such groundbreaking discoveries, he could never take the esteemed award home.
However, it was suspected that his ethnicity may have been the prominent reason for him being overlooked at an esteemed forum. Dr. Brahmachari was never a part of scientific institutions such as the Royal Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. A defamation campaign allegedly hindered his acceptance into the Royal Society.
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