AMN /
Eminent scientist and Architect of Modern Biology PM Bhargava has decided to return the Padma Bhusan award in protest against what he called attacks against rationalism and reasoning. Mr Bhargava is the founder-director of the acclaimed research institution “Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology,” in Hyderabad.
Scientists join Writers, Artists in protest against ‘Intolerance’
For his contribution in the filed of science, he was conferred with the covetous award in 1986.
Mr. Bhargava has become the first scientist to return the award. Bhargava’s decision came after 107 senior scientists signed an online statement Wednesday to join the chorus of protests by other scientists, artists and writers.
Apart from this, Wednesday ten eminent filmmakers including Dibakar Banerjee, Anand Patwardhan returned their National Awards in solidarity with the protesting FTII students and against growing intolerance in the country.
Bhargava is widely regarded as the architect of modern biology and biotechnology in India. Educated at Varanasi and Lucknow, he is one of the youngest to have obtained a PhD at the age of 21 and produced four books and has over 125 major scientific publications and over 400 articles and other write-ups in reputed publications all over the world.
He has been advisor to several well-known pharmaceutical and other industries, chairman of three companies and member of the Board of many others. He has been a member or chairman of over 125 major national and international standing committees and has been connected with numerous scientific, social and cultural organizations.
He has been the man behind setting up the world class Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad.
A recipient of over 100 national and international honors and awards including the Padma Bhushan, the Legion d’Honneur and the National Citizens Award (India), Dr Bhargava, who has turned 80, is being conferred the BioSpectrum Life Time Achievement for his over four decades of untiring contributions to biotech development in India.