Coluthur Gopalan: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Indian nutritionist}}
{{Short description|Indian nutritionist (1918–2019)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}}
{{infobox person
{{infobox person
| name              = Coluthur Gopalan
| name              = Coluthur Gopalan
| honorific_suffix  = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|FRS|FRCP|FMedSci}}
| image              = Coluthur_Gopalan.gif
| birth_date        = {{birth date|df=yes|1918|11|29}}
| birth_date        = {{birth date|df=yes|1918|11|29}}
| birth_place        = [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
| birth_place        = [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
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}}
}}


'''Coluthur Gopalan''' [[Royal College of Physicians|FRCP]], [[Fellow of the Royal Society|FRS]],<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ramachandran|first=Prema|last2=Seshadri|first2=Malini|last3=Gopalan|first3=Sarath|date=2021|title=Coluthur Gopalan. 28 November 1918 — 3 October 2019|url=https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbm.2021.0022|journal=Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society|volume=71}}</ref> [[Academy of Medical Sciences|FAMS]], [[FASc]] (29 November 1918 – 3 October 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/doyen-of-nutrition-research-dr-colathur-gopalan-passes-away/article29582479.ece|title=Doyen of Nutrition research Colathur Gopalan no more|first=Somasekhar|last=M|website=@businessline}}</ref> was an Indian [[nutritionist]]. He was responsible for initiating nutrition research in independent India, leading to a number of interventions such as the Integrated Child Development Services, the midday meal scheme for school children, goiter prevention programme, etc.<ref name="auto"/> The burning feet syndrome is also known as [[Burning feet syndrome|Grierson-Gopalan]] syndrome. While the condition was described in 1826 by a British medical officer James Grierson, Gopalan also described this condition in 1946 when he observed it, "chiefly in females between the ages of 20 and 40 years, among the poor in South India".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Grierson-Gopalan syndrome|url=http://www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/1369.html|access-date=2020-07-07|website=www.whonamedit.com}}</ref>
'''Coluthur Gopalan''' (29 November 1918 – 3 October 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/doyen-of-nutrition-research-dr-colathur-gopalan-passes-away/article29582479.ece|title=Doyen of Nutrition research Colathur Gopalan no more|first=Somasekhar|last=M|website=@businessline|date=3 October 2019 }}</ref> was an Indian [[nutritionist]]. He was responsible for initiating nutrition research in independent India, leading to a number of interventions such as the Integrated Child Development Services, the midday meal scheme for school children, goiter prevention programme, etc.<ref name="auto"/> The burning feet syndrome is also known as [[Burning feet syndrome|Grierson-Gopalan]] syndrome. While the condition was described in 1826 by a British medical officer James Grierson, Gopalan also described this condition in 1946 when he observed it, "chiefly in females between the ages of 20 and 40 years, among the poor in South India".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Grierson-Gopalan syndrome|url=http://www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/1369.html|access-date=2020-07-07|website=www.whonamedit.com}}</ref>


== Early life and education ==
== Early life and education ==
He was born in [[Salem, Tamil Nadu]]. He earned an M.D. from [[University of Madras]], and Ph.D. and D.Sc. from [[University of London]].<ref>[http://www.ias.ac.in/php/fell_detail.php3?name=Gopalan&intials=Coluthur&year=29-11-1918 Fellow Profile]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.insaindia.org/|archive-url=https://archive.is/20120716070445/http://insaindia.org/detail.php?id=N66-0288|url-status=dead|title=INSA INDIA - Indian National Science Academy|archive-date=16 July 2012|website=INSA}}</ref> Starting his professional career in nutrition research at the Nutrition Research Laboratory during the British period, he continued there for the next six decades. In the late 1950s, when the Nutrition Research Laboratory moved to Hyderabad and turned to the National Institute of Nutrition, Gopalan took over as director and expanded research to several key areas.
He was born in [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], [[Madras Presidency]], British India.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Mankar |first1=Amar |last2=Kawalkar |first2=Umesh |last3=Gaidhane |first3=Abhay |last4=Shinde |first4=Niraj P |date=2024-08-17 |title=Dr. Coluthur Gopalan: Father of Indian Nutrition Science |journal=Cureus |volume=16 |issue=8 |article-number=e67097 |language=en |doi=10.7759/cureus.67097 |doi-access=free |issn=2168-8184 |pmc=11407698 |pmid=39290916}}</ref> His father was a police officer. At the age of ten he moved from Salem to Madras and joined [[M. C. C. Higher Secondary School|Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School]] and later he joined the [[Madras Medical College]]<ref name="Ramachandran Seshadri Gopalan 2021 pp. 229–248">{{cite journal | last1=Ramachandran | first1=Prema | last2=Seshadri | first2=Malini | last3=Gopalan | first3=Sarath | title=Coluthur Gopalan. 28 November 1918 — 3 October 2019 | journal=Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society | publisher=The Royal Society | volume=71 | date=15 Sep 2021 | issn=0080-4606 | doi=10.1098/rsbm.2021.0022 | pages=229–248| doi-access=free }}</ref> and earned an M.D. from [[University of Madras]], and Ph.D. and D.Sc. from [[University of London]].<ref>[http://www.ias.ac.in/php/fell_detail.php3?name=Gopalan&intials=Coluthur&year=29-11-1918 Fellow Profile]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.insaindia.org/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716070445/http://insaindia.org/detail.php?id=N66-0288|title=INSA INDIA - Indian National Science Academy|archive-date=16 July 2012|website=INSA}}</ref> The [[Bengal famine of 1943|Bengal Famine of 1942]] deeply impacted him and he turned to nutritional research.<ref name=":0" />
 
Starting his professional career in nutrition research at the Nutrition Research Laboratory during the British period, he continued there for the next six decades. In the late 1950s, when the Nutrition Research Laboratory moved to Hyderabad and turned to the National Institute of Nutrition, Gopalan took over as director and expanded research to several key areas.


==Career ==
==Career ==
Gopalan's research led to a midday meal scheme for school children and a goiter prevention programme.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Obituary: Coluthur Gopalan (1918-2019)|url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/obituary-coluthur-gopalan-1918-2019--67079|access-date=2020-08-06|website=downtoearth.org.in|language=en}}</ref> He founded the National Nutrition Foundation, which published ''Nutritive Value of Indian Foods''.<ref name="auto"/> He was a recipient of the civilian honours of the [[Padma Shri]] and the [[Padma Bhushan]].<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6U68ulwpb?url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2014 }}</ref> He set up divisions for clinical research, biochemistry, bio-physics, endocrinology, analytical chemistry, food toxicology and the field units in multi-disciplinary subjects.
Gopalan's research led to a midday meal scheme for school children and a goiter prevention programme.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Obituary: Coluthur Gopalan (1918-2019)|url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/obituary-coluthur-gopalan-1918-2019--67079|access-date=2020-08-06|website=downtoearth.org.in|date=3 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref> He founded the National Nutrition Foundation, which published ''Nutritive Value of Indian Foods''.<ref name="auto"/> He was a recipient of the civilian honours of the [[Padma Shri]] and the [[Padma Bhushan]].<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}</ref> He set up divisions for clinical research, biochemistry, bio-physics, endocrinology, analytical chemistry, food toxicology and the field units in multi-disciplinary subjects.


National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau which is  product of his effort  started the research to tackle problems such as protein energy malnutrition, Vitamin A deficiency, Phrynoderma, Lathyrism, fluorosis and Pellagra.
National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau which is  product of his effort  started the research to tackle problems such as protein energy malnutrition, Vitamin A deficiency, Phrynoderma, Lathyrism, fluorosis and Pellagra.
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He was the director of the [[Indian Council of Medical Research]] there he expanded research into neglected communicable diseases and modernised the working of the council. Three new institutes — Malaria Research Institute; Vector Control Research Institute and Leprosy Research Institute were established to develop and implement preventive and management strategies for these diseases.
He was the director of the [[Indian Council of Medical Research]] there he expanded research into neglected communicable diseases and modernised the working of the council. Three new institutes — Malaria Research Institute; Vector Control Research Institute and Leprosy Research Institute were established to develop and implement preventive and management strategies for these diseases.


Gopalan's works on  Indian foods also are commendable. he  analysed  over 500 Indian foods for their Nutritive Values and published a detailed study report of that. This work was used for calculating dietary in-take of all nutrients. This made India the first developing country to have its own recommended dietary allowances.
Gopalan's works on  Indian foods also are commendable. He analysed  over 500 Indian foods for their nutritive values and published a detailed study report of that. This work was used for calculating dietary in-take of all nutrients. This made India the first developing country to have its own recommended dietary allowances.
 
“NIN today bears testimony to his genius as an architect and father of nutrition sciences in India. Research under his leadership formed the basis of major national nutrition programmes initiated in the 1970s such as ICDS [Integrated Child Development Services] and Massive Dose Vitamin-A and iron supplementation,” said R Hemalatha, director, National Institute of Nutrition.
 
“Gopalan was a visionary institution builder. He viewed medical and nutrition science from a holistic perspective and always wanted to address them taking a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach. His contributions to medical science in general and nutrition science in particular are immense. He, in fact, brought nutrition to centre stage and was instrumental in putting it as an important driver in developmental plans and policies of the country,” said Balram Bhargava, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research. (India Science Wire)


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.neglectedscience.com/alphabetical-list/g/coluthur-gopalan Coluthur Gopalan], neglectedscience.com
*[http://www.neglectedscience.com/alphabetical-list/g/coluthur-gopalan Coluthur Gopalan], neglectedscience.com https://en.m.Bharatpedia.org/wiki/Coluthur_Gopalan#


{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Medicine}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Medicine}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gopalan, Coluthur}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gopalan, Coluthur}}
[[Category:Indian centenarians]]
[[Category:Indian men centenarians]]
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian nutritionists]]
[[Category:Indian nutritionists]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians]]
[[Category:Men centenarians]]
[[Category:People from Salem, Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:People from Salem, Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in medicine]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in medicine]]
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[[Category:Scientists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Scientists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian biologists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian biologists]]
[[Category:Indian fellows of the Royal Society]]

Latest revision as of 09:17, 10 January 2026


Coluthur Gopalan

FRS FRCP FMedSci
File:Coluthur Gopalan.gif
Born(1918-11-29)29 November 1918
Salem, Madras Presidency, British India
Died3 October 2019(2019-10-03) (aged 100)
Kilpauk, Chennai, India
OccupationNutritionist

Coluthur Gopalan (29 November 1918 – 3 October 2019)[1] was an Indian nutritionist. He was responsible for initiating nutrition research in independent India, leading to a number of interventions such as the Integrated Child Development Services, the midday meal scheme for school children, goiter prevention programme, etc.[2] The burning feet syndrome is also known as Grierson-Gopalan syndrome. While the condition was described in 1826 by a British medical officer James Grierson, Gopalan also described this condition in 1946 when he observed it, "chiefly in females between the ages of 20 and 40 years, among the poor in South India".[3]

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

He was born in Salem, Madras Presidency, British India.[4] His father was a police officer. At the age of ten he moved from Salem to Madras and joined Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School and later he joined the Madras Medical College[5] and earned an M.D. from University of Madras, and Ph.D. and D.Sc. from University of London.[6][7] The Bengal Famine of 1942 deeply impacted him and he turned to nutritional research.[4]

Starting his professional career in nutrition research at the Nutrition Research Laboratory during the British period, he continued there for the next six decades. In the late 1950s, when the Nutrition Research Laboratory moved to Hyderabad and turned to the National Institute of Nutrition, Gopalan took over as director and expanded research to several key areas.

Career[edit | edit source]

Gopalan's research led to a midday meal scheme for school children and a goiter prevention programme.[2] He founded the National Nutrition Foundation, which published Nutritive Value of Indian Foods.[2] He was a recipient of the civilian honours of the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan.[8] He set up divisions for clinical research, biochemistry, bio-physics, endocrinology, analytical chemistry, food toxicology and the field units in multi-disciplinary subjects.

National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau which is product of his effort started the research to tackle problems such as protein energy malnutrition, Vitamin A deficiency, Phrynoderma, Lathyrism, fluorosis and Pellagra.

He was the director of the Indian Council of Medical Research there he expanded research into neglected communicable diseases and modernised the working of the council. Three new institutes — Malaria Research Institute; Vector Control Research Institute and Leprosy Research Institute were established to develop and implement preventive and management strategies for these diseases.

Gopalan's works on Indian foods also are commendable. He analysed over 500 Indian foods for their nutritive values and published a detailed study report of that. This work was used for calculating dietary in-take of all nutrients. This made India the first developing country to have its own recommended dietary allowances.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ M, Somasekhar (3 October 2019). "Doyen of Nutrition research Colathur Gopalan no more". @businessline.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Obituary: Coluthur Gopalan (1918-2019)". downtoearth.org.in. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  3. ↑ "Grierson-Gopalan syndrome". www.whonamedit.com. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mankar, Amar; Kawalkar, Umesh; Gaidhane, Abhay; Shinde, Niraj P (17 August 2024). "Dr. Coluthur Gopalan: Father of Indian Nutrition Science". Cureus. 16 (8) e67097. doi:10.7759/cureus.67097. ISSN 2168-8184. PMC 11407698. PMID 39290916.
  5. ↑ Ramachandran, Prema; Seshadri, Malini; Gopalan, Sarath (15 September 2021). "Coluthur Gopalan. 28 November 1918 — 3 October 2019". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 71. The Royal Society: 229–248. doi:10.1098/rsbm.2021.0022. ISSN 0080-4606.
  6. ↑ Fellow Profile
  7. ↑ "INSA INDIA - Indian National Science Academy". INSA.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.

External links[edit | edit source]

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