Page 50 - NIS English February 01-15,2023

Personality Sambhu Nath De

HIS PATH BREAKING

RESERACH

Born: 1 February 1915 SAVED LIFE OF

Death: 15 April 1985
CHOLERA

PATIENTS

Cholera was called 'Blue Death' at one point of time because of its high fatality. The disease
used to take the form of an epidemic in no time and villages and villages used to fall in the
grip of it. In the year 1884, a scientist named Robert Koch discovered the bacterium that
causes cholera, but the cure for this disease could not be discovered. Sambhu Nath De an
Indian scientist made a breakthrough which made its cure possible. With his efforts, he saved
millions of lives by discovering the true cause of cholera.
ral Dehydration Solution (ORS) is a treatment. Under this backdrop, Shambhu
very common medicine today which Nath De took a vow to find a proper cure for
Oone can easily make at home. The cholera. Shambhu Nath De, who contributed
scientist whose reserach played a key role significantly in laying strong foundation of
in development of ORS was none other than science and technology in India in the pre-
Sambhu Nath De who was born on 1 February independence period, started researching
1915 in Hooghly district of West Bengal. His cholera after finishing his work. He discovered
father's name was Dasarathi De and mother's that a toxin produced by the bacterium caused
name was Chitreshwari Devi. He had to face dehydration and thickening of the blood,
a lot of difficulties in his studies in the initial which ultimately led to the death of cholera
days due to poor economic condition at home. patients. He had made this very important
Despite this, he did not give up and continued discovery despite facing the problem of lack of
his studies. Later he got selected in Calcutta resources. In the year 1953, he published his
Medical College and due to his interest in research which was a pathbreaking research.
research, he went to London for studies. From ORS was invented only after this discovery.
there he returned to India in 1949 and started Due to Sambhu Nath De's discovery, the lives
working in a medical college in Calcutta. of countless cholera patients around the
It is believed that about 1 crore 80 lakh world were saved. He received international
succumbed to this disease which first recognition for his work. He was also
surfaced in the year 1817. India and other nominated for the Nobel Prize. He died on
countries had to face its outbreak at different 15 April 1985. Every year on 23 September,
time phases. Although the cholera bacterium World Cholera Day is celebrated to make
was discovered in 1884, scientists were people aware of the causes and prevention of
unsuccessful in discovering its proper cholera.

48 New India Samachar February 1-15, 2023