Renowned scientist Pushpa Mitra Bhargava passes away

Pushpa Mitra (PM) Bhargava, a veteran molecular biologist and a ardent critic of Genetically Modified crops, passed away on 1 August 2017 following a prolonged illness. He was 89.

Bhargava was the Founder-Director of Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB).

About Pushpa Mitra Bhargava
• Bhargava was born in Ajmer, Rajasthan.

• He studied at Theosophical College, Lucknow and Queen's College, Varanasi and completed his BSc in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in 1944.

• He obtained his MSc in organic chemistry in 1946 and received his PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from the Lucknow University.

• He went to the USA in 1953 and worked as a project associate at a laboratory for cancer research.

• He was one of the leading scientists who led to the discovery of 5-fluorouracil, an anticancer drug.

• He founded the CCMB in 1977 as an institution for research in basic biology and for seeking its application for the benefit of society.

• He opposed the approval of Genetically Modified (GM) crops in India and called for a moratorium of at least 15 years on genetically modified crops in the country.

• Bhargava is a recipient of over 100 national and international honours and awards, including the Padma Bhushan in 1986 and the Legion d'Honneur in 1998 of France.