Robert Edwards - Noble Prize and Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay
The scientist behind first test tube baby got Noble Prize for medicine on 2010 where as our own Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay's work was dis honoured in his own state.
Noble Prize for medicine, 2010 has been awarded to Robert Edwards, a British biologist. Robert Edwards, along with Patrick Steptoe developed in vitro fertilization (IVF). On July 25, 1978 the first IVF baby of their research, Louise Brown was born. Millions of couples have become biological parents till then and in future millions will become biological parents using the technique.
In India, Test Tube baby and Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay's name are associated very closely but in a tragic manner. India's first test tube baby 'Durga' was born on October 3, 1978. Durga is the second test tube baby in the world and she is the creation of Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay.
Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyay had done one mistake. He was a doctor of West Bengal. Here good job is not recognized. There are so many other factors working. A man like Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyay with self respect could not compromise with ethics, values. Our State Government of that time was very much active to dishonour the miracle done by Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyay. A committee was formed with so called experts to check the working of Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyay. That was a simply eye wash operation. Actual motive of State Government was something different. The expert committee, without any knowledge about modern reproductive technology interacts with Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyay and gave their verdict that every thing was bogus.
This type of insult after such an achievement was unbearable for Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyay. He committed suicide in his Calcutta residence on 19 June 1981.
Robert Edwards, the architect of first test tube baby has got the award of his work but the architect of first test tube baby, Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyay is killed by us. The unlucky Doctor was born in a politically rotten state. Today we can say that 'it was a mistake'.
