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Upendranath Brahmachari Biography

Upendranath Brahmachari was a renowned Indian scientist and

a prominent medical practitioner of his era. This biography of

Upendranath Brahmachari provides detailed information about

his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Quick Facts

Also Known

AsDr. Upendranath Brahmachari

Famous as Scientist

Nat ional ity Indian

Religion Hinduism

Born on 19 December 1873 AD

Zodiac Sign Sagittarius

Born in Jamalpur

Died on 06 February 1946 AD

Education University of Calcutta, Presidency University,

Kolkata


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Image Source : http://www.ebharat.in/profile/upendranath-

brahma

Rai Bahadur Sir Upendranath Brahmachari was a renowned

Indian scientist and a prominent medical practitioner of his era.He had a remarkable personality and his most outstanding

research contribution was the discovery of Urea Stibamine, an

organic antimonial compound, which played a vital role in the

treatment of Kala-azar, a protozoal infection. After gaining a

firm foundation in mathematics and chemistry, he decided to

study medicine after which he joined the Provincial Medical

Service. Later, he was appointed as a teacher at the CampbellMedical School, where he spent the most productive time of his

life and performed his groundbreaking research regarding the

treatment of Kala-azar. During the years of his service and even

after retirement, he remained actively connected to various

spheres in the University of Kolkata. He was associated with

almost all the known scientific and literary organizations at

Kolkata and took a keen interest in humanitarian and culturalactivities. He also played a significant role in the formation of

the worlds second Blood Bank at Kolkata. He was the founder

of Brahmachari Research Institute which became successful in

the fields of both research and manufacture of medicine. He had

an insatiable thirst for knowledge and as a teacher and medical

practitioner, his contribution to the society is invaluable

Childhood & Early Life

Upendranath Brahmachari was born on December 19,

1873 in Jamalpur, Bihar, to Nilmony Brahmachari, a


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physician in East Indian Railways, and his wife, Saurabh

Sundari Devi.

He received his early education from the Eastern Railways

Boys' High School, Jamalpur. Then he attended the

Hooghly Mohsin College and obtained a Bachelors

degree, with honors in Mathematics and Chemistry, in

1893.

Thereafter, he studied Medicine with Higher Chemistry

and passed his Masters degree from the Presidency

College, Kolkata, in 1894.

Later, he enrolled at the University of Calcutta from where

he earned his MD degree in 1902. In 1904, he earned PhD

for his thesis on Haemolysis.

Career

In 1899, he started his medical career by joining the

Provincial Medical Service where he was appointed a

teacher of Pathology and Materia Medica. In 1901, he

became a physician in the Dacca Medical School.

In 1905, he became a teacher in Medicine and Physicianat the Campbell Medical School, Kolkata. He served there

for many years, carrying out most of his research work on

Kala-azar and made his monumental discovery of Urea

Stibamine.

In 1923, he took the position of Additional Physician in the

Medical College Hospital. Around 1924, he founded the

Brahmachari Research Institute at his own residence in

Kolkata.

In 1927, he retired as a physician from the government

service. After retirement, he served as the Professor of

Tropical Diseases at the Carmichael Medical College,

Kolkata.

Later, he served as the Chairman of the Blood TransfusionService of Bengal. He played a crucial role in establishing

the world's second blood bank in Kolkata, in 1939.

He was in charge of Tropical Disease Ward at the


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National Medical Institute. He also served as the Head of

the Department of Biochemistry and an Honorary

Professor of Biochemistry at the University College of

Science, Kolkata.

He became a Member of the Council of Kolkata School of

Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Indian Research Fund

Association, and Zoological Garden, Kolkata.

He was the first Indian to become the Chairman of the

Managing Body of the Indian Red Cross Society of the

Bengal Branch.

Major Works

He made outstanding contributions to medical science,

particularly in the treatment of Kala-azar by discovering

Urea Stibamine. It had no painful effects and was an

effective substitute for the other antimony-containing

compounds in the treatment of the disease.

He is also notably remembered for his pioneering work in

the treatment of dermal leishmaniasis, malaria, the old

Burdwan fever, quartan fever, blackwater fever,cerebrospinal meningitis, filariasis, leprosy and syphilis.

Awards & Achiev em ents

He received the distinguished Griffith Memorial Prize

from the University of Calcutta, and was also honored with

the Sir William Jones Medal by the Asiatic Society of

Bengal.

In 1921, he was given the prestigious Minto Medal by the

Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

In 1924, he was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal,

1st Class, by the Governor General Lord Lytton. He also

received the title of Rai Bahadur for his diverse works.

In 1929, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in the

category of physiology and medicine.

In 1934, he was conferred a Knighthood by the British

Government.

He was an Honorary Fellow of State Medical Faculty of


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Bengal and the International Faculty of Science, London.

He was awarded several fellowships from prestigious

institutions such as the Royal Society of Medicine,

London, and the National Institute of Sciences, India.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1898, he married Nani Bala Devi and raised a family

with her.

He died on February 6, 1946, at the age of 72.

upendranath brahmachari 5855

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