AndrewJordan: created a entry more to come

2026-03-15T05:10:54Z

created a entry more to come

New page

{{Short description|Indian social worker (1909-1991)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = T. N. Jagadisan
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1909|10|2|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Tachchakkadu, [[Madras Presidency]] (now [[Tamil Nadu]])
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1991|06|28|1909|10|2|df=yes}}
| education = B.A. (Hons.), English, [[University of Madras]]
| occupation = Social worker, educator
| known_for = Advocacy for leprosy care and rehabilitation
| notable_works = ''Fulfillment Through Leprosy'' (autobiography)
| awards = {{Awards|[[Padma Shri]]|1957}}
}}
'''T. N. Jagadisan''' (2 October 1909 – 28 June 1991) was an Indian social worker, educator, and advocate for leprosy care and rehabilitation.

== Early life ==
Jagadisan was born on 2 October 1909 in Tachchakkadu, a village near [[Chidambaram]] in [[Madras Presidency]] (now [[Tamil Nadu]]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=M |first=Serena Josephine |date=2023-10-13 |title=T.N. Jagadisan: The man who made a mark in leprosy care in Tamil Nadu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-jagadisan-the-man-who-made-a-mark-in-leprosy-care/article67415564.ece |access-date=2025-01-19 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He completed his B.A. (Hons.) in English from the [[University of Madras]].<ref name=":0" /> He then began his career as a teacher at institutions such as [[Madura College|Madura College (Madurai)]], [[Union Christian College, Aluva|Union Christian College (Aluva)]], and [[Annamalai University|Annamalai University (Chidambaram)]].<ref name=":0" /> At Annamalai University, Jagadisan was mentored by [[V. S. Srinivasa Sastri]], whose guidance inspired his commitment to public service.<ref name=":0" /> Diagnosed with non-infective leprosy in his youth, he experienced firsthand the stigma associated with the disease.<ref name=":0" /> This personal struggle motivated him to dedicate his life to improving the lives of leprosy patients.<ref name=":0" />

== Leprosy care ==

=== National contributions ===
In 1943, Jagadisan joined the [[British Empire Leprosy Relief Association]], which later transformed into the Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh after India's independence.<ref name=":0" /> He was a founding member of HKNS and served as its Organizing Secretary from 1950 to 1966.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh |url=http://hkns.in/ |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=HKNS.IN}}</ref> He worked to promote scientific leprosy treatments and reduce societal discrimination against patients.<ref name=":0" />

In 1946, he established the Kasturba Kushta Nivaran Nilayam in Malavanthangal, one of India’s high-prevalence leprosy regions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prof. T.N.Jagadisan |url=https://kasturbagandhijal.in/founder/ |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=KASTURBA GANDHI JAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=ILSL - Internacional Journal of Leprosy and other Mycobacterial Diseases- OBITUARY- T. N. Jagadisan October 2, 1909-June 28, 1991 |url=http://ijl.ilsl.br/detalhe_artigo.php?id=MTMwNw==&secao=OBITUARY# |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=ijl.ilsl.br}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Former President of India : K R Narayanana |url=http://www.krnarayanan.in/html/speeches/others/jan05_98.htm |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=www.krnarayanan.in}}</ref> The center provided medical care, rehabilitation, and vocational training, aiming to reintegrate patients into society.<ref name=":0" /> Jagadisan worked with national leaders like [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and [[Thakkar Bapa]], who supported leprosy care as a part of India’s broader social and developmental goals.<ref name=":1" /> In 1949, the Government appointed Jagadisan as the Honorary Leprosy Prevention and Relief Organizer in the Rural Welfare Department.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Report of rural welfare department 1951 |url=https://www.tamildigitallibrary.in/admin/assets/book/TVA_BOK_0059301/TVA_BOK_0059301_Report_of_rural_welfare_department_1951.pdf |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=Tamil Digital Library}}</ref>

=== International contributions ===
Jagadisan’s efforts extended across India, where he promoted leprosy control programs and trained workers.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Prof T N Jagadisan {{!}} International Leprosy Association - History of Leprosy |url=https://leprosyhistory.org/database/person198 |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=leprosyhistory.org}}</ref> He also represented India at global platforms:

* 1958: Chaired a session on social aspects and rehabilitation at the VII International Congress of Leprology in [[Tokyo]].<ref name=":2" />
* 1963: Chaired a similar session at the VIII International Congress of Leprology in [[Rio de Janeiro]].<ref name=":2" />
* 1965: Chaired the Leprosy Section at the Pan Pacific Conference of the Royal Society for Rehabilitation of the Disabled in [[Japan]].<ref name=":2" />

Jagadisan’s international engagements, including visits to France, Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland, fostered collaborations that enhanced India’s leprosy programs and raised global awareness.<ref name=":2" />

== Publications ==

* ''Leprosy and the Social Worker'' (1952)<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Bedi |first=Freda Marie Houlston |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5oc-Rps3njMC |title=Social Welfare |date=1988 |publisher=Publications Division |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Mahatma Gandhi Answers the Challenge of Leprosy'' (1965)<ref name=":3" />
* ''Builders of modern India: V. S. Srinivasa Sastri'' (1969)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jagadisan |first=T. N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BfA9AAAAMAAJ |title=V. S. Srinivasa Sastri |date=1969 |publisher=Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India |language=en}}</ref>

== Recognition ==
Jagadisan emphasised treating leprosy as a medical condition, advocating for policies that balanced scientific treatment with human compassion.<ref name=":0" /> His initiatives significantly reduced leprosy prevalence in regions like South Arcot District.<ref name=":0" /> He received several honors for his work:

* [[Padma Shri]] (1957)<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1EEqAQAAMAAJ |title=India News |date=1957 |publisher=Information Service, Embassy of India |language=en}}</ref>
* Silver Medal from [[Pope Paul VI]] (1967)<ref name=":1" />
* International Gandhi Award (1988)<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2e5AAAAIAAJ |title=The Indian Journal of Social Work |date=1989 |publisher=Department of Publications, Tata Institute of Social Sciences |pages=256 |language=en}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
Jagadisan died on 28 June 1991.<ref name=":1" /> His autobiography, ''Fulfillment Through Leprosy'', chronicles his life and contributions, serving as a lasting testament to his work in leprosy care and advocacy.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Jagadisan, T. N. (1988). Fulfilment Through Leprosy. India: Kasturba Kushta Nivaran Nilayam.
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Social Work}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jagadisan, T. N.}}
[[Category:1909 births]]
[[Category:1991 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in social work]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:Social workers from Tamil Nadu]]

T. N. Jagadisan - Revision history

AndrewJordan: created a entry more to come