Google on Monday honoured Indian Cell biologist Dr Kamal Ranadive to mark her 104th birthday anniversary with a special doodle. Dr Ranadive is known for revolutionary cancer research and her service to build a more equitable society through science and education.
Today’s Google doodle is illustrated by India-based artist Ibrahim Rayintakath, showing Dr Ranadive looking at a microscope.
Kamal Samarath, better known as Kamal Ranadive, was born in Pune on November 8, 1917. It was her father who encouraged her to pursue education in medicine which inspired Ranadive to excel in academics. But it was biology in which she found her interest.
Dr Ranadive received her doctorate in cytology, the study of cells in 1949 while she was working as a researcher in the Indian Cancer Research Center (ICRC). After receiving a fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, Dr Ranadive returned to Bombay and the ICRC.
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Dr Kamal Ranadive established India’s first tissue culture laboratory.
Google Doodle page says: “As the director of the ICRC and a pioneer in animal modelling of cancer development, Ranadive was among the first researchers in India to propose a link between breast cancer and heredity and to identify the links among cancers and certain viruses. Continuing this trailblazing work, Ranadive studied Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes leprosy, and aided in developing a vaccine. In 1973, Dr Ranadive and 11 colleagues founded the Indian Women Scientists’ Association (IWSA) to support women in scientific fields.”
Ranadive had actively encouraged Indian students and Indian scholars staying abroad to return to India and put their knowledge to work for their communities, Google statement writes. She retired in 1989 and after retiring she worked in rural communities in Maharashtra where she trained women as healthcare workers and provided health and nutrition education.
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“The IWSA now has 11 chapters in India and provides scholarships and childcare options for women in science,” Google’s statement
Dr Kamal Ranadive’s contribution to the health field and education is still influential to students who work as scientists even today.
She was awarded Padma Bhushan (the third highest civilian award) for Medicine, in 1982 honouring her groundbreaking research in cancer and has also received the first Silver Jubilee Research Award in 1964, of the Medical Council of India.