Pushpa Mittra Bhargava

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Pushpa Mittra Bhargava
Born(1928-02-22)22 February 1928
Died1 August 2017(2017-08-01) (aged 89)
NationalityIndian
AwardsPadma Bhushan
Scientific career
FieldsBiology (Biotechnology)
InstitutionsCentre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB)
Websitepmbhargava.com

Pushpa Mittra Bhargava (22 February 1928 – 1 August 2017) was an Indian scientist, writer, and administrator. He founded the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, a federally funded research institute, in Hyderabad. He was outspoken and highly influential in the development of scientific temper in India, and argued that scientific rationalism needed to be cultivated as a civic duty.[1][2]

Life

Early life

Bhargava was born in

Lucknow University for doctoral programme and earned Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry in 1949, at age 21.[4]

Career

After completing Ph.D. at Lucknow University, Bhargava moved to Hyderabad.

Research Fellow and made a transition from chemistry to biology.[5] In 1958, he returned to Hyderabad and joined the same Central Laboratories for Scientific and Industrial Research which was by now taken over by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and named Regional Research Laboratory (now known as Indian Institute of Chemical Technology[6]
) as Scientist B.

Bhargava worked in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, and travelled in over 50 countries.[4] He produced more than 125 scientific publications. Most of his research career was carried out in Hyderabad where he established the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in 1977. He retired from the directorship of CCMB in 1990 to join the newly created CSIR Distinguished Fellowship from which he was relieved in 1993.[4]

Establishment of CCMB

Bhargava set up the

Centre of Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad, Telangana. CCMB is a research organization in areas of modern biology. It was set up initially as a semi-autonomous centre on 1 April 1977, with the Biochemistry Division of the then Regional Research Laboratory (presently, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology), Hyderabad forming its nucleus and Bhargava heading the new Centre.[5] During 1981–82, CCMB was accorded the status of a full-fledged national laboratory with its own Executive Committee and Scientific Advisory Council.[7]

Policy maker in Indian science

Bhargava was a well-known critic of Indian governmental policies, and attained the post of vice-chairman in the

Samir Brahmachari when he authored a report that was critical of the CSIR leadership, alleging corruption, cronyism and nepotism.[12] On 30 October 2009, he wrote a personal letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting him to meet with Ayyadurai and review his report. He stated in his letter: "I have gone through Dr. Ayyadurai's report CSIR Tech: Path Forward and find it to be excellent." He also wrote in his letter that he believed Ayyadurai's criticisms on the functioning of CSIR were valid.[13][14]

Rationalism and science popularisation

Bhargava has long been involved in the promotion of science and rationality and opposing superstition. He has been associated with the Association of Scientific Workers in India (ASWI) which was established in 1946 as a trade union of scientists, one of the main objectives of which was to develop scientific temper.[15]

In 1963, Bhargava, along with

nucleic acids held in the then Regional Research Laboratory at Hyderabad in January 1964.[16]

Bhargava has participated in many debates related to science and superstitions and criticised the deplorable lack of scientific temper in society. He has been one of a few rationalists in India to raise voice against influential religious priests and gurus.[17] His book The Angels, Devil and Science deals with the very subject of scientific temper in India.[18] He played an important role in having scientific temper incorporated as a fundamental duty of the citizens of India, in the 42nd constitutional amendment in 1976. He was one of the key architects of the widely known 'Statement on Scientific temper', issued jointly by a group of liberal, committed and rational high-achievers of the country.[19] The statement issued in 1981, has not only been debated and discussed in several forums, but continues to be referred to in writings and speeches even today.

During the NDA rule in 2000, the Government of India decided to ask universities to introduce academic courses and offer science degrees in astrology.

Public Interest Litigation which was dismissed by the Supreme Court of India.[23][24]

Death

Bhargava died on 1 August 2017, aged 89 at

Awards

Bhargava received Padma Bhushan from the President of India in 1986,[26] but returned it in 2015 as an act of protest against the Indian government's active erosion of spaces for dissent within the country.[27][28]

Books

The books co-authored by Bhargava include:

References

  1. ^ "The Hindu Opportunities : An interview with Dr. Pushpa Mittra Bhargava, recipient of the Padma Bhushan". Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  2. ^ "About CCMB > Profile". Ccmb.res.in. 1 April 1977. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  3. ^ "Architect of Modern Biology – BioSpectrumIndia". www.biospectrumindia.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d "PMB Memoirs: Nine decades of PM Bhargava". PMB Memoirs. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d Kalyane, V.L. "Scientometric Portrait of P. M. Bhargava" (PDF). Lucknow Librarian. 27 (1–4): 42–70. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  6. ^ "CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology". www.iictindia.org. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  7. ^ "CSIR Labs". Council of Scientific & Industrial Research. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  8. ^ "National Knowledge Commission constituted". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 2 June 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  9. ^ "PM reconstitutes National Security Advisory Board". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 11 April 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Cultivation of GM food crops- Prospects and effects" (PDF). Ministry of Agriculture. Government of India. August 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  11. ISSN 0971-751X
    . Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  12. ^ Koshy, Jacob (29 October 2015). "Ex-Padma Bhushan Pushpa Bhargava's Half A Century Of Dissent". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  13. ^ Reddy, Prashant (20 May 2012). "CSIR Tech. Pvt. Ltd: Its controversial past and its uncertain future". SpicyIP. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  14. ^ "Letter from Dr. Pushpa M. Bhargava to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Ayyadurai's report". 30 October 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  15. ^ "International Conference on Science Communication for Science Temper" (PDF). National Institute of Science Communication And Information Resources. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  16. ^ Bhargava P.M. and Chakrabarti C. 2008. Angels, Devil and Science. NATIONAL BOOK TRUST, INDIA
  17. ISSN 0971-751X
    . Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Welcome to National Book Trust India". www.nbtindia.gov.in. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  19. ^ Bhargava, PM (17 January 2015). "Scientists without a scientific temper". The Hindu.
  20. ^ Ramachandran, R (2001). "Degrees of pseudo-science". www.frontline.in. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  21. ^ "Dr. P.M. Bhargava And Others vs University Grants Commission, ... on 27 April, 2001". indiankanoon.org. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Scientists oppose move to introduce astrology courses". The Hindu. 20 April 2001. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Introduction of Vedic astrology courses in varsities upheld". The Hindu. 6 May 2004. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  24. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 March 2005. Retrieved 17 October 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. ^ Koshy, Jacob; Naninsetti, Serish (August 2017). "Pushpa Bhargava, Scientist And Activist, Dies At 89". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  26. ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  27. ^ Mallikarjun, Y. (29 October 2015). "Worried over India's future, scientist P.M. Bhargava to return Padma Bhushan". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  28. Indianexpress.com
    . 2 November 2015.