Vinod Prakash Sharma

Vinod Prakash Sharma (6 April 1938 – 9 October 2015) was an Indian malariologist and entomologist, known for his work in vector biology and bioenvironmental control of malaria.[1] Recipient of many awards, including the Padma Shri,[1] he was again honoured by the Government of India, in 2014, by bestowing on him the third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan.[2][3][1]

Vinod Prakash Sharma
Born(1938-04-06)6 April 1938
Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Died9 October 2015(2015-10-09) (aged 77)
New Delhi
OccupationScientist
AwardsPadma Bhushan
Meghnad Saha Distinguished Fellow
Gujar Mal Modi award
Padma Shri
WHO Darling Foundation Prize
GI Inventions Award
Chancellor's Prize
MOT Aiyengar Award
B. R. Ambedkar Centenary Award
Om Prakash Bhasin Award
Ranbaxy Award
M. L. Gupta Trust Award
VASVIK Industrial Research Award
Green Scientist Award
G. P. Chatterjee Memorial Award
Dr. R. V. Rajaram Oration Award
Dr. U. S. Srivastava Memorial Lecture Award
Professor L. S. Ramaswami Memorial Oration Award
Life Time Achievement Award
B. N. Singh Oration Award
B. K. Srivastava Oration Award

Biography

Muir Central College, Allahabad University

Vinod Prakash Sharma was born on 6 April 1938 in Allahabad, in Uttar Pradesh, India.[1] After early education locally, he joined Allahabad University from where he secured MSc in 1960 and DPhil in 1964. In 1965, he left to South Bend, Indiana, USA and joined the University of Notre Dame as a post doctoral research associate, but later, shifted to Purdue University, USA. Sharma returned to India in 1968 and joined Allahabad University, again, to complete his DSc which he promptly did in 1979.[4]

Sharma, presently lives in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi and takes care of his duties as the Distinguished Professor at the Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.[5]

Career

Culicine Mosquito
A Malariologist like Sharma is to be credited for bringing the nation at the frontier of the international scientific community, S. K. Modi, founder of G. M. Modi Foundation, on V. P. Sharma, during the Gujar Mal Modi Award ceremony, We, at The Gujar Mal Modi Science Foundation feel delighted and proud to recognize such invaluable research of our distinguished scientists, and will continue to be committed to carrying forward our efforts and dedication on bringing to light such achievements.[6]
Malaria continues to be among the biggest killer disease in the country, says Dr. V. P. Sharma, and we have to take it head on through research and awareness.[7]

Sharma started his career at the Forest Research Institute, in the high altitude area of Dehradun, as a Pool Officer, in 1969. A year later, he joined the World Health Organization sponsored Indian Council of Medical Research project as a Senior Scientist on genetic control of Culicine mosquitoes, in 1970, where he worked till 1975. The next move was to the Vector Control Research Centre and Malaria Research Unit, in 1976, as the Deputy Director, for a 2-year stint there. In 1978, he joined the Malaria Research Centre, New Delhi as its Deputy Director.[4]

During his stint at the Malaria Research Centre, he started working on the upgradation of the centre and, as a result, the centre was upgraded by the Government of India, renaming it as the National Institute of Malaria Research, in 1982. Sharma was made its first Director, a post from where he retired, in 1998, as Additional Director-General of Indian Council of Medical Research.[4]

On his retirement from the government service, the Indian Council of Medical Research recognised Sharma's services by making him the Meghnad Saha Distinguished Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (India) at the Centre for Rural Development and Technology, IIT Delhi.[4]

He is also leading the Safe Water campaign initiated by National Academy of Sciences, India[7]

Major achievements

We have to create a world order that is sensitive towards the environment, says Dr. V. P. Sharma, and where development is modelled on ecological concerns[8]

Sharma has been credited with many scientific and research achievements. His studies on the chemo and radio sterilisation of male mosquitoes are well documented. He is credited with developing a new technique for sex separation of mosquitoes. He has also worked extensively on the bioenvironmental malaria control which led to many innovations in the subject. He is also acknowledged for his contributions to vector biology.[4][9]

Sharma is known to have developed the Malaria Research Unit, New Delhi into a full-fledged Research Centre, the National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR).[4][7] He has also contributed to the popularisation of science, through his books, journals and education programs.[10][11]

Positions held

Vinod Prakash Sharma has held many positions of importance, by way of recognition and those of responsibility, throughout his career.

Awards and recognitions

Distribution of malaria in the world:[13] Elevated occurrence of chloroquine- or multi-resistant malaria
 Occurrence of chloroquine-resistant malaria
 No Plasmodium falciparum or chloroquine-resistance
 No malaria
  • Padma Bhushan – 2014[2][14][15]
  • Gujar Mal Modi Award – 2013[16][17]
  • Meghnad Saha Distinguished Fellowship[4]
  • Padma Shri – 1992[4][5][8]
  • WHO Darling Foundation Prize – 1999[4][8][18]
  • GI Inventions Award[4]
  • Chancellor's Prize[4]
  • M. O. T. Aiyengar Award[4]
  • B. R. Ambedkar Centenary Award – 2000[4][5]
  • Om Prakash Bhasin Award – 1985[4][5]
  • Ranbaxy Award – 1990[4][5]
  • M. L. Gupta Trust Award[4]
  • FICCI Cash Award – 1998[4][5]
  • Vaswik Award[4]
  • Green Scientist Award – 2001[4][5][8]
  • Best Scientist Award[4]
  • G. P. Chatterjee Memorial Award[4]
  • Dr. R. V. Rajaram Oration Award[4]
  • Dr. U. S. Srivastava Memorial Lecture Award[4]
  • Professor L. S. Ramaswami Memorial Oration Award[4]
  • Life Time Achievement Award by the Indian Society of Malaria and other communicable diseases[4]
  • B. N. Singh Oration Award[4]
  • B. K. Srivastava Oration Award[4]
  • Distinguished Parasitologist – World Parasitologist Federation (WPF) – 2010[5]
  • Gold Medal lifetime Achievement Award – Indian Academy of Environmental Sciences – 2012[5]

Works

Sharma was the Chief Editor of an important journal, the Journal of Parasitic Diseases,[19] which was active in dissemination of knowledge by publishing reviews and research papers on a regular basis. He was also the Chief Editor of the in-house journal of the National Academy of Sciences, India.[5]

He has also published many books on the subjects of bioenvironmental control and vector biology, both in English and Hindi languages.

Books in English

  • K.J. Nath & V.P. Sharma (2008). Safe Water for community health. The National Academy of sciences, India Allahabad publication.
  • P.P. Singh & V.P. Sharma (2010). Human Parasitic Infections of Pharmaceutical and National Health Importance. The National Academy of sciences, India Allahabad publication.
  • V.P. Sharma (2010). Nature at Work: Ongoing Saga of Evolution. The National Academy of sciences, India Allahabad publication.
  • P.P. Singh & V.P. Sharma (2014). Water and Health. Currently under production by Springer India/Germany. The National Academy of sciences, India Allahabad publication.
  • Satyawati Sharma, Santosh Satya, Annushree Malik and V.P. Sharma (2014). Women and Development: Green Technologies. The National Academy of sciences, India Allahabad publication.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Books in Hindi

Apart from the books, Sharma has written over 300 research papers in various national and international journals.[4]

References

  1. Dhiman, Ramesh. "OBITUARY DR VINOD PRAKASH SHARMA" (PDF). National Institute of Malaria Research. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  2. "Padma list". The Hindu. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  3. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  4. "INSA profile". Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  5. "Bhasin award". Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  6. "Free Press Journal". Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  7. "NIMR founder". Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  8. "Green Scientist". Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  9. India, Press Trust of (9 August 2013). "Vector biology". Business Standard India. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  10. "founder NIMR". Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  11. "Contribs". Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  12. "List of Fellows - NAMS" (PDF). National Academy of Medical Sciences. 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  13. "CDC Malaria Distribution". Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  14. "TOI Padma Bhushan". Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  15. "Padma Shri The Hindu". The Hindu. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  16. "Gujar award 1". Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  17. India, Press Trust of (9 August 2013). "Gujar 2". Business Standard India. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  18. "WHO Prize". Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  19. "Journal of Parasitic Diseases".
  20. "Nirdeshak". Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  21. "GM Modi report". 9 April 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  22. "JNU". Retrieved 3 August 2014.
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