Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay “Man of Science”

Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay “Man of Science”

Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay (16 January 1931 – 19 June 1981) was an Indian scientist, physician from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, India, who produced the world's second and India's first Test tube baby “Kanupriya Agarwal (Durga)”,in 1978, just 67 days after the first IVF baby in United Kingdom. Afterwards, Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay was harassed by the then West Bengal state government and Indian Government and not allowed to share his achievements with the international scientific community. Dr. Mukhopadhyay hanged himself on 19 June 1981 in shame, having failed to convince his colleagues of his achievement. His contribution of research is still an inspiration for all indian young scientists, researchers and students.He was born to a Bengali Brahmin family on 16 January 1931 in Hazaribagh,Jharkhand, India. He studied B.Sc (Hons.) in Physiology (1949) from University of Calcutta . He then studied MBBS (1955) from the Calcutta National Medical College, which was then affiliated with the prestigious University of Calcutta. He later earned a Ph.D. (1958) from the Rajabazar Science College campus of University of Calcutta in 'Reproductive Physiology' under the stewardship of Prof. Sachchidananda Banerjee. Later he earned his second Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh in 1967 in 'Reproductive Endocrinology'.From 1967 to 1975 he worked as a Lecturer, Reader and Professor of Physiology at NRS Medical College, Kolkata.According to scientific records dating from before Mukhopadhyay's eventual recognition, Harsha vardhan reddy buri (born 16 August 1986) was the first human test tube baby of India. The credit for this achievement went to T. C. Anand Kumar, Director of IRR (ICMR). In 1997, Kumar went to Kolkata to participate in a Science Congress. It was there that all the research documents of Mukhopadhyay were handed over to him. After scrutinising and having discussions with Durga's parents, Kumar became certain that it was in fact Mukhopadhyay who was the architect of first human test tube baby in India. This eminent scientist once mentioned in a journal on ‘A critique of Mukherjee's technique, 'The brief description given by Mukherjee in his letter dated 19 October 1978 to the Director of Health Services, Government of West Bengal, the reports he gave over the television interviews and reported in the lay press describe how Mukherjee carried out the procedure of in vitro fertilisation. On T.C. Anand Kumar’s initiative, Mukhopadhyay was mentioned as the architect of the first Indian test tube baby in a document related to the subject of artificial intercourse in ICMR. India’s first test tube baby "Durga", whose parental name is Kanupriya Agarwal, works at a multinational company as a marketing executive in Delhi. On her 25th birthday, she publicly revealed her identity for the first time in a ceremony organised in the memory of Mukhopadhyay. She spoke about Mukhopadhyay in front of the media, expressing joy that Mukhopadhyay's achievement had been acknowledged by a reputed international publication, the Dictionary of Medical Biography.

The ICMR recently acknowledged that Dr Mukhopadhyay was the creator of India's first test-tube baby. But he was prevented from carrying out further work on in vitro fertilisation and transferred away from Kolkata. He was also prevented from going to Tokyo to present a paper. Frustrated and in failing health, Mukhopadhyay killed himself on June 19, 1981.

  

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