Kishori Mohan Bandyopadhyay

Kishori Mohan Bandyopadhyay (Bengali: কিশোরীমোহন বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় ) (1877 - 1929) was an Indian scientist, social worker and freedom fighter. He worked as one of the laboratory assistants to Ronald Ross in 1898 at the Culcutta Presidency General Hospital. After Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1902 for the discovery of trasnmission of malaria by mosquito, Bandyopadhyay was awarded King Edward VII's Gold Medal in 1903 for his contribution.

Early life and Education

The Bandyopadhyay family was originally from Jessore, now in Bangladesh. The family moved to Panihati, 24 Paragana, West Bengal. Bandyopadhyay was born in Entally area of Kolkata at his maternal grand parents' home. His father Nanilal was a teacher in Sanskrit and Persian literature and languages. His two elder brothers Lalmohan and Haridas were teachers in Bengali and Sanskrit. The family house was called Nilambati. Now part of the house is demolished but the original plaque is still preserved. Bandyopadhyay was educated at Panihati vernacular school. Then he was sent to his maternal grand father's house at Kolkata where he completed Entrance Examination of University of Calcutta and graduated in science from Presidency College.

In February 1898 Ronald Ross was searching for an able assistant, and Bandyopadhyay was able to impress Ross and was recruited.

Social Services

After his award of Gold Medal in 1903 Bandhyopadhyay made social campaigns in villages in Bengal for eradication of malaria. With his magic lantern he made public slide shows to educate villagers about malaria and anopheles mosquito. He joined politics and later campaigned for Bidhan Chandra Roy who contested against Surendranath Banerjee and won.

Kishori Mohan Bandyopadhyay, with friends, founded The Panihati Cooperative Bank in 1927.

Awards and Honors

Ronald Ross received the Nobel Prize in 1902, and to honour the contribution of Bandhyopadhyay Upendranath Brahmachari, Jagadish Chandra Bose, Brajendra Nath Seal, Sivanath Sastri, Surendranath Banerjee, and Prafulla Chandra Roy requested Lord Curzon to give recognition to Bandhyopadhyay. Bandhyopadhyay was given King Edward VII's Gold Medal in 1903 during the Delhi durbar the Duke of Connaught.

On his return from Delhi Bandyopadhyay was felicitated at the University Senate Hall. Bandyopadhyay was disappointed when Ross published his Memoirs, with a Full Account of the Great Malaria Problem and Its Solution in 1923 without mentioning his name. He eventually refused to meet Ross who revisited the Presidency General Hospital in 1927.

Panihati municipality has a street named Kishori Mohan Banerjee Road.

Death

Bandyopadhyay suffered from meningitis for which Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy had to be called for from Calcutta to Panihati. The delay proved to be fatal. He died in July 1929 when there was continuous rainfall for three days.

References

• Saswata Shikidar. Chhan pp 33-39. Horina Horinir. Quark Publishers, Kolkata 700 034. July 2004.
• Malay Roy Choudhury. Chhotoloker Chhotobelapp 106-07. Charchapad Publishers, Kolkata 700 012. January 2010.
• Krishanu Bhattacharya. Panihati Parikrama pp 21. Panihati. 1995.
• Ann H Kelly and Uli Biesel. "Neglected malarias : The frontlines and back alleys of global health". BioSocieties Volume 6 2011. The London School of Economics and Political Science. London. UK.
• Uli Biesel and Christophe Boete. "The Flying Public Health Tool : Genetically Modified Mosquitoes and Malaria Control". Science as Culture. Volume 22. No 1. 2013 ( pp 38 -60 ). Lancaster. UK.

External links

• Gold Medal awarded to Kishori Mohan Bandyopadhyay
• Kishori Mohan Bandyopadhyay's role