Coluthur Gopalan. 28 November 1918 — 3 October 2019

Abstract

Gopalan was a brilliant medical student. The Bengal famine of 1942 made him decide to devote his career to ‘the investigation and mitigation of the nutrition-related problems of Indians, especially those of the disadvantaged sections’. He was the first Indian to win a Nuffield Foundation research scholarship to study in England in 1946. In less than three years he had earned a PhD as well as a DSc in nutrition. He returned to India and joined the Nutrition Research Laboratory in Coonoor. His studies over the next decade showed that, contrary to the global belief, both kwashiorkor and marasmus were manifestations of protein energy malnutrition. His research studies on improving the nutritional status of pregnant women and children with food supplementation led to the initiation of India's Integrated Child Development Scheme and Mid-day Meal programmes. India's National Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme and Massive Dose Vitamin A Supplementation Programme were also initiated on the basis of the studies he led. As Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research he created institutions to undertake research in the areas of neglected tropical diseases and medical statistics. He initiated the National Talent Search Scheme to ensure adequate human resources for medical research. After he retired, he set up the Nutrition Foundation of India, to continue with policy and operational research studies on the triple burden of malnutrition. He initiated the setting up of the Nutrition Society of India and the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies to improve networking among nutrition scientists. In reply to a query on his major contributions, he said: ‘I helped to get Nutrition Science in India the recognition it deserved, and I built institutions that will serve the people of India long after my lifetime.’