U N Brahmachari: Scientific Achievements and Nomination for the Nobel Prize and the Fellowship of the Royal Society of London

Bengal produced a number of high rank scientists, but ignored their history. One such unsung hero is Upendra Nath Brahmachari (1873–1946). Brahmachari discovered pentavalent antimonials, Urea Stibamine for the treatment of kala-azar in 1922 long before the discovery of penicillin. In the history of chemotherapy his contribution stands as major landmark. The drug effectively countered the epidemic of kala-azar during the late twentieth century in the vast track of the Gangetic plain and the Brahmaputra valley. The discovery testifies the monument of labor, knowledge and amply rewarded the clinical success it had attained. He was nominated for the Fellowship of the Royal Society of London, as well as Nobel Prize. The present communication1 gives a short review about his life and scientific work.

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