The man who pioneered In-Vitro-Fertilisation.
Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay, the man behind India’s first In vitro fertilisation was born on 16th January in 1931. He had named his ‘creation’ DURGA. Yes, Durga, no secular name was chosen for his success. He graduated from Kolkata Medical College in 1955 and later earned a degree in reproductive physiology in 1958. He also did his Post Graduation from Edinburgh University.
In the year 1978, Robert Edward created history by developing IVF techniques that created millions of babies around the world. Just 10 weeks after this feat Dr. Mukhopadhyay made his own contributions to the technique and baby DURGA was born. He was the first in the world to use hormones to stimulate ovaries to make extra eggs, the first to harvest oocytes (eggs) through (a relatively easy) transvaginal route and the first to freeze & thaw human embryos before transplanting them into a woman’s uterus.
Yet, this genius was heckled, humiliated and ridiculed by the medical fraternity and victimised by bureaucracy of both India and WB for months. The then Bengal govt had appointed a panel headed by a radio-physicist with a gynaecologist, a neurophysiologist & a physiologist as members, to examine the claims by Dr. Mukherjee. The CPM led Bengal govt was just a year old then.
None of the panelists had the insight into the modern science of reproductive technologies. What was then the Bengal government’s rationale in appointing an expert from a “totally alien” field to head the panel? They said that the embryo experiments in Calcutta did not have approval from any ethics committee. There was no culture of seeking approvals at the time though! They also claimed documentation was not enough. Though Dr Mukhopadhyay had presented papers on IVF on several occasions before.
Dr. Mukhopadhyay along with his colleague Dr. Sunit Mukherji, a cryobiologist & Dr. Saroj Kanti Bhattacharya, a gynaecologist had insufficient means to carry out their experiments. In a small flat with basic apparatus & a refrigerator he carried out the then most advanced reproductive technology. The Left government of Bengal ridiculed and questioned his means and methods. The Congress government at the centre did no better, they banned him from presenting his papers abroad (like Kyoto University).
Dr. Mukhopadhyay was rewarded with insults and suicide for his achievement by the over zealous governments.
Dr. Mukhopadhyay had to face social ostracisation and bureaucratic negligence too. The so called modern ideologist govt of Bengal, the CPIM, clouded his achievements in ethical & moral controversies. They even denounced Mukhopadhyay’s claim that he had created history in India. He was subjected to repeated questioning by the panel. The panel said the doctor’s work was bogus.
In 1981, the genius was transferred to Regional Institute of Ophthalmology as professor of electrophysiology. The govt prevented him from presenting his works in scientific meetings, denied him leave to write up his results. Adding to this, the transfer to a department where he had no expertise was the last straw for Dr. Mukhopadhyay. The transfer letter was dated 5th June, 1981. Dr. Mukhopadhyay gave up fighting for his rights & against the system on 19th July 1981, 44 days after the transfer order was issued. Dr. Mukhopadhyay hanged himself.
Much of Dr. Mukhopadhyay’s work was published much later by Dr. T C Anand, Director of IRR (ICMR) in 1997. It was because of Dr Anand, Dr. Mukhopadhyay was formally introduced in ICMR as the architect of the first Indian test tube baby. DURGA or Kanupriya Agarwal first spoke about her creator in front of the media in 2003. Thus ended the humiliation of Dr. Mukhopadhyay.
Spare a thought for Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay’s wife, Namita. That fateful day she returned from school and found the hanging body of her husband with a note “I CAN’T WAIT EVERYDAY FOR A HEART ATTACK TO KILL ME.”
She is paralysed & battling with ignominy & neglect. Namita is now confined in a bed, any recognition of her husband rarely brings any smile on her face. Though Department of Reproductive Physiology in NRS Medical College has been renamed after this great stalwart, it is too late for Mrs Mukhopadhyay. 30 years too late.
Some mistakes are too expensive. And there are many such incidents of the marxist govt in their 34 yr rule. The marxist government of Bengal had done irreparable damage to all spheres of Bengali life. Right from education to human life, they have played with the future of Bengalis.
Wandering Rani 
Thank you so much
LikeLike