DR N CHOWDHURY , PAU

After his name, I have tagged him belonging to PAU. But was he belonged really to PAU ? How we decide a person belonging to certain institute or a place ? Obviously either he has graduated, or post graduated from that place or have served the place ,irrespectively whether he merged himself with the culture of that place. In that sense, Dr Chowdhury belonged to PAU as he served this institute , first as Associate Professor of Parasitology and later as Professor of Parasitology and held charge of Head of the Department of Veterinary Parasitology for some time. As this was his last destination from where he took retirement, we may tag him as belonging to PAU. But was he really belonged to PAU ? Scrutiny of his biodata reveals as if he was a cosmopolitan scientist who perhaps felt uneasy at the serving place and was trying to run away to take solace  at some other place.

This great Indian scientist did his graduation in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry from Assam Veterinary College, Guwahati  and did his MVSc in Parasitology from Mathura Veterinary College under Dr BP Pandey-the renowned  Indian Parasitologist of twentieth century. Both Dr JP Dubey, USA and Dr BB Bhatia,Pantnagar were his colleagues as all were doing MVSc under Dr Pandey ,at that time. After wards ,Dr Chowdhury joined Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar as a Research scholar for a short period. Then he went to Belgium under some international scholarship and did his DSc. He also visited Japan  under promotion of science and developed great bond with  DR I Tada, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu university, Fukuoka, Japan which culminated in acting of the latter as co-editor for the book “Helminthology”.

The desire of Dr Chowdhury to understand the subject at international level led him to become member or fellow of societies of Veterinary Parasitology, Belgium, Japan and America . Not satisfied from that he became member of World Association for Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology. Though at some time , he became life member of Indian society of Parasitology and that of Indian Association for Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology.

I met Dr N Chowdhury first time in 1981 at IDPL, Hyderabad where both of us were candidates for the post of Senior Biologist, equivalent to Associate Professor. I could not join this post for some reason while Dr Chowdhury joined PAU in 1982 as Associate Professor of Parasitology. Dr Chowdhury came more close to me when he was writing a chapter “ Helminths of domesticated animals in Indian subcontinent” in his book “ Helminthology” (Published in 1994) . He was interested particularly in my review articles on Stephanofilariasis, schistosomiasis incognitum and nasal schistosomiasis. As the latter article was not handy till that time, I send him rough manuscript of the article.

Those who have read this chapter in his book will appreciate how meticulously  Dr Chowdhury has provided authentic information on the subject. I have no hesitation in stating that his chapter is a milestone in reviewing all the relevant literature on helminths in domestic animals in Indian continent that happened after about twenty or thirty years when our predecessors have written on checklist of helminths of domestic animals and alike important articles.   In 2001 , came another important book ‘Helminths of Wild life” of Dr Chowdhury. This was again a first attempt to deal with parasites of wild life at global level.

Then came the difference of opinion which I developed not with Dr Chowdhury but with some of my fellow scientists. I was of the opinion that Dr Chowdhury should be elected as fellow of Indian Parasitology Societies as he has written important books and they are sufficient to recognize this scientist. He has already established his international credentials by inviting international scientists of different institutes  to write chapters for his two books.

However, there were two difficulties. First was that for considering fellowship of the society or academy Dr Chowdhury should apply for the same  in a prescribed format or at least  making an application in that respect. Dr Chowdhury refused to apply as by that time he has retired from services of PAU and this suffix was of little value to Dr Chowdhury . Perhaps, there was a hidden message that this will give credentials to your society to elect a distinguished scientist as their fellow.

Another fact was that the societies have developed a format where the judge has to give marks for every achievement of the candidate scientist like degrees, experiences, research papers , books published, society activities made by the scientist and so on. And the scientists are awarded fellowship on their mark basis.

On this selection basis, I have remarked (though I have remained a judge for the selection of follows for some years) . Thanks God ! our Goswami Tulsidas has not applied for the fellowship otherwise he could not get this coveted title as he has written  “Ramcharitmanas” only to his credit (others are short booklets) or case of Meera Bai or alike personality would have rejected by our Indian scientific academies  .

But Dr Chowdhury was more bitter and outspoken than me. He was highly critical of the standards of so many professionals . He felt pain that these persons are not advancing our science and are engaged only in private works- counting their bank balance or type of car or house ,they are possessing .  I remember how much critical he was when one distinguished Parasitologist constituted  young scientist award on his own name, when he was not only alive but active in his service career. I agreed with Dr Chowdhury that this is against our Indian culture. But we have to keep mum at certain places where we are helpless –in my opinion at least this scientist came forward to encourage our young scientists . We have not taken “theka or contract ” to improve each and every one and we should see ourselves – we should avoid the work which we do not like. But Dr Chowdhury was hard to convince and he has written letters to the distinguished persons where he differed . I came to know about these facts as Dr Chowdhury sent a copy of such few letters to me also.

Now  , he is no more. When I look back at his achievements , I feel the Indian scientific fraternity has not done justice to Dr Chowdhury. He could not get from them what he deserved most . Our some scientists have not liked his critical character though that is important for improving ourselves or at least assessing ourselves. This has long back  been narrated by our poet Kabir das  “nindak niyare rakhiye, angan kuti chawai, binu pani bin sabuna, nirmal kare subhaw.” ( keep your critic close to you; give him shelter in your courtyard. Without soap and water he cleanses your character).

I pray Almighty God to give peace to the soul of  my dear friend Dr N Chowdhury.

Dr PD Juyal , Vice Chancellor of Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary University, Jabalpur was associated with Dr N Chowdhury as Dr Juyal was also Professor and Head of Parasitology, PAU and has close acquaintance than me with Dr Chowdhury. Therefore, I requested him to provide an authentic brief of Dr Chowdhury which he very kindly did and I am copying  the same as under 

CHOWDHURY, NIRMALENDU ; BVSc , MVSc, DSc; 

Born on 1st February, 1942,Karimganj, Assam (Father late R.M.Chowdhury) , Married with Mrs Amita Chowdhury and blessed with a daughter. Did BVSc from Guwahati Veterinary College, MVSc from UP College of veterinary science , Mathura; DSc from State university of Ghent, Belgium ; Kumamoto university medical school, Japan;

Served  in 1969-70 as Research scholar at IVRI, Izatnagar; state univ of Ghent 1971-75; Associate Professor at Assam Agriculture University 1975-80; Associate Prof at PAU,Ludhiana 1982-87; Professor of Helminthology 1988-2002 (Head of the dept for some time ) . Retired in the year 2002 from PAU, Ludhiana and settled there 

He was research fellow of CSIR and ICAR 1969. Belgium Ministry of Education 1970; Japan society for promotion of science 1980.

Fellow of Belgian society of Parasitology; ex member Japan society for parasitology, American society of Parasitology. Member Indian Society of Parasitology, World association for advancement of veterinary Parasitology;

He has edited and published the book "Helminthology" in 1994; Helminths of wildlife (2001), Perspectives of Helminthology(2001). 

He contributed 5 book chapters and 35 research papers, 1 review paper. He won many awards and was a distinguished international Parasitologist.

Dr N Chowdhury expired on 24th March 2016. We condole his death and pray to the Almighty for eternal peace to his soul  and to give courage to his family to bear this loss.

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