Noted scientist Bhargava no more
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology was a result of his vision
Eminent scientist Dr Pushpa Mitra Bhargava, 89, passed away on Tuesday. He was on dialysis for the last one month and breathed his last at 5.45 pm at his residence in Dharmpuri Colony near Uppal. He is survived by his son Mohit and daughter Vaneeta, who are settled abroad. His wife died last year.
His close friends say Dr Bhargava’s health started to deteriorate last year.
Dr Bhargava's pioneering vision and efforts led to the founding of the Hyderabadbased Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), an eminent institution for research in basic biology and its applications for the benefit of society. He was working in the Biochemistry division of the then Regional Research Laboratory (now the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology), when he convinced the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to establish a separate institute, and CCMB was formed on April 1, 1977.
P.M. Bhargava was born in Ajaymeru (Rajasthan) on February 22, 1928 in a middle-class family that moved to Varanasi when he was 10 years old. He did his schooling and intermediate in Uttar Pradesh and then did his UG (BSc), PG (MSc-Organic Chemistry) and PhD (Synthetic Organic Chemistry) from Lucknow University.
The remarkable thing was he obtained his PhD at the age of 21 after which he moved to Hyderabad.
Dr P.M Bhargava’s outspokenness earned him admirers and foes in equal measure.
The best example of his forthrightness was his decision to return the Padma Bhushan in 2015 for what he termed as growing intolerance in the country under the Narendra Modi government.
He did not mince his words while announcing his decision. He called for a ban on the RSS for fanning a sense of fear among minorities and Dalits.
“The government must change its way of functioning as it is going on a path laid by Hindu religious autocracy,” he had said, citing the reason for joining the protest by intellectuals, writers, filmmakers and social activists from across the country.
While there were some who congratulated him for the decision, some others like actor Anupam Kher strongly criticised him. Kher had said, “Some more usual suspects who never wanted Modi to become PM in the first place have joined the Awardwapsi gang. Jai Ho.” But whether praised or critiqued, the fact remains that with Dr Bhargava’s passing, a void has been created in the scientific community that would be hard to fill.
Retired professor and activist G. Haragopal said, “Dr Bhargava’s passing away will leave a void in the intellectual world but his courageous conviction which was a rare quality will truly be missed. Democratic India that is going through winds of change needed a voice to fight for the masses and his voice was one of the strongest. He was the first person to resign from the post of the Vice-Chancellor, stating that he did not like the way the commission was working. His resignation raised quite a few eyebrows. But his conviction in what he believed was right was unshakeable. He put forth ideas and stood by them with no desire for power or position. He was a truly a great scientist and courageous gentleman.”
Dr Lalji Singh, who worked with him at CCMB said, “Dr Bhargava used to say whatever was in his mind without thinking about consequences. He used to say what he felt. This landed him in trouble on a few occasions. However, he was very accessible to subordinates and young scientists and took several steps to ensure best of facilities were available for research at CCMB.”