SUMMARY- DR C K ATAL2000 RRL-Jammu (IIIM_CSIR) GROUP photo

BACKGROUND

Prof. Dr C. K. Atal (1928- ) who is among one of the foremost internationally based multidisciplinary modern Pharmacognosists was born in Lahore, prepartition India on 4 November, 1928. He received the B. S. (B. Pharm 1949 batch from Medical College Amritsar) and his M. Pharm from Punjab University, Amritsar (later relocated to Chandigarh, India). His major/ Ph. D. degree was done from Connecticut University, USA in Pharmacognosy (study of medicinal plants) and his major advisor was world renowned Professor Arthur E. Schwarting. Dr Schwarting encouraged a multidisciplinary approach to science, research and teaching among student scholars and also changed the scenario in Pharmacognosy globally by introducing new revolutionary modern teaching concepts and modern scientific classification.

Under his advisor’s influence, Dr. Atal adopted this modern and multidisciplinary approach, which laid the foundation of significant internationally recognized multidisciplinary work done by him in his career. In 1957, he accepted a faculty position as Chairman at the University of Nebraska, USA, department of biosciences medical centre and obtained resident status (green card) in USA. However going against the trend of brain drain he returned to India in 1958 and continued his work in India and internationally, while based in India. In India, Dr. Atal also propagated and revolutionized Modern Pharmacognosy in research and teaching following on the footsteps of his guide and inspired a generation of scientists and students in pursuing the overlooked subject of Pharmacognosy in India. He also accepted several internationally based United Nations consultancies for several years.

INTRODUCTION

Professor Dr. C. K. Atal, an internationally based and reputed scientist, is renowned all over for his outstanding original contributions and pioneering work in a wide field of natural products, plant sciences and medicinal plant based disciplines. He is one of the uncommon multidisciplinary scientists, whose contributions have had major global impact in a wide variety of fields. He established a distinguished career having international scientific ramifications and impact, and his services have been sought by many major world organizations globally. He is one of the topmost “modern Pharmacognosists” of India, and in the words of Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India, “a distinguished pioneer of modern Pharmacognosy in India, who revolutionized Pharmacognosy as a subject, as a teacher and researcher in India,” at the first Prof. G. P. Srivastava award citation. Due to the multidisciplinary range and depth, particularly a rare combination of knowledge of two sciences, chemistry and botany, he has produced enormous research / publications (about 450 to 550 or more) in national and international journals. These include chemistry of natural products, essential oil bearing plants, fixed oils from plant and sources, survey screening of raw materials, introduction and experimental cultivation of plants, tissue culture studies, synthetic chemistry, and pharmacological investigations of plant principles. Having a workaholic nature and a capacity of speedy multi-tasking, he has produced enormous volume of significant work in many spheres of sciences.

He is an award winning visionary, multidisciplinary scientist, thinker, scholar, researcher, discoverer, drug developer, author, writer, teacher, guide, examiner and an excellent administrator all combined in one. Besides, his other qualities include being a multi linguist, historian, poet, artist, art patron, connoisseur, critic, and collector.

He has travelled internationally to about 30-35 countries including multiple visits as a mission consultant to numerous major world organizations like various UN organizations, British council. PAHO, OAU, USFDA, Governments of Burma, Bangladesh, Vietnam, West Indies, Africa, SAARC, USA, Soviet academy, Polish academy ,UK, France Germany and various international universities etc. He has been a member of several governing bodies constituted by the Government of India. He was a core member of the Indian advisory team of top four senior most directors and DG of CSIR, headed by Prime minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi on scientific matters.

He is a pioneer and a visionary who has remained well ahead of his time. He has introduced modern thoughts, technologies, discovered new revolutionary concepts, produced several significant drug discoveries, revolutionized Pharmacognosy in India on modern thoughts and established industries internationally as consultant. Institute RRL has several patents to its credit directly based on his works. He has immensely contributed to the socioeconomic status of India and also other countries by pioneering research and technology development leading to successful industrial benefit. He has several “first reporting in the world” in science. He has been a world authority on Crotalaria and its toxicity, produced serial publications on it, and was invited to USA as consultant for WHO, USFDA / PAHO (USA) on crotalaria, food adulteration and toxicity. He has written several books including world reference books used globally and used in post graduate teaching courses in Pharmacy colleges. He has been a very popular teacher and guide and produced forty PhD students which include distinguished students. He has been recognized as a PhD guide by the various Universities, while the Department of Chemistry, Jammu University has awarded him the honorary professorship. He has also been associated with teaching at USA (Associate Prof.) Nebraska and Connecticut, Punjab University, Chandigarh (as Head, Pharmacognosy), RRL Jammu (as Director) and also students of BITS, Pilani sent to RRL, Jammu.

As Director of institute RRL, Jammu, he transformed it into a modern internationally recognized multidisciplinary research institute which produced several award winning contributions and discoveries in a wide base of sciences. It became a landmark institute in the region, acquired one of the topmost positions among the forty laboratories of CSIR in India, and also got elevated on the international maps where significant work has been done. RRL became a leader in Biotechnology as well as one of the premier institutes in essential oils and aroma chemicals in India, being comparable to highest international standards. RRL achieved respect as a leader in research on medicinal /aromatic plants, its conservation, genetic improvement, development of herbal drugs, its quality control, standardization, industrial biotechnology, resolution of racemic drugs, fermentation technology, natural product chemistry, chemical technology, etc. Plant breeding, propagation, introduction of new species, domestication technology and other plant science brought fame to the institute and a big boost to the economy of the country. The very first Indian Ethnopharmacology team was launched at RRL in 1985 to preserve the threatened traditions of tribals. He has been on board of the prestigious international Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Ireland, published by Elsevier. Significant drug development research resulted in revolutionary path breaking discoveries and concepts like plant bioenhancers and plant immunomodulators for the very first time in the world. As a result the world’s first bioenhanced anti tubercular formulation “Risorine/kit” was dedicated to the Indian nation by science and technology minister of India and CSIR on world Tuberculosis day on 24th march 2011, who also presented the drug same day to Philanthropist Mr. Bill Gates (Chairman, Microsoft) as safer and economical TB drug for poor masses. Anti Urolithiatic drug Debilysin and anti arthritic drug Sallaki found international market (Byelorussia, Ukeraine, Europe and other countries). Apart from Rauwolfia discovered by Col. Sir R. N. Chopra in late forties, Sallaki (launched in 1982) became the second important scientifically proven single plant based major herbal marketed drug in India in five decades based on Indian system of medicine (Ayurvedic and Unani).

In pursuit of national goals for rural development, rural research and development yielded numerous revolutionary rural oriented programmes, significant socioeconomic rural benefits and resultant recognition and awards like FICCI award, UN award of grants and many other awards. Contributions in essential oils have significantly helped transform the socioeconomic status of the rural masses of India and essential oil industry of India as well as also internationally, like in Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam, and also by formulation of projects as UN consultant for Africa (UN projects). Efforts of RRL under Dr.Atal firmly established and economically transformed the Indian mint industry from being a minor to being a giant producer as we see it today, a sort of green revolution in mint in India(ably supported by other agencies in India too later) .This was achieved by widespread introduction of superior variety of Japanese mint along with development of technology for bold crystal of mint for first time in India. This was the first serious effort in India at such endeavor. Dr. Atal introduced the prized and expensive Hops successfully for the first time in India which established the first successful Hops industry in India with significant beneficial impact on imports. As a prominent member of Sadasivan committee, he helped to rescue/stabilize troubled Indian tea industry from stiff international competition by recommendations. Remote areas of India were provided with technology and development projects, like the innovative Borax extraction plant (PUGA valley project, Ladakh ,which was covered by BBC news) using innovative geothermal energy and also use of other alternate sources of energy by introducing solar dryers at Ladakh and Kargil. Anti Pollution and Environment conservation projects were implemented as early as the seventies and eighties, when awareness and concerns on the subject was much less. Examples include, use of environment friendly alternate sources of energy like geothermal energy (Ladakh) and solar energy (solar dryers) in the agriculture/rural industry. Pollution /waste management projects like conversion of forest waste into utilizable end products (Himachal government pine needle fiberboard project, the first of its kind in the world,) were implemented. Similarly conversion of manmade waste into useful animal feed prevented environment pollution (apple pomice project, river Jhelum, Kashmir, horse division of army) with added economic and employment benefits. Munchen (Munich) University invited him as a solar energy consultant. Introduction and large scale promotion of fast growing tree species in the rural belts facilitated and encouraged mass forestation. Socioeconomic, educational, scientific and humanitarian events were held by the institute for the masses focusing on superstition, modern science, training workshops, education, science and technology, research benefit, targeting all strata of society like institutions, individuals, women, rural, small scale and others. In 1971, emergency blood donation camps for war casualities, evacuation sorties for stranded civilians at Akhnoor border, Jammu, followed by post war Army welfare benefit event were held.

As United Nations consultant, he successfully formulated and implemented multiple multimillion US dollars projects in south East Asia with time bound precision and within budget. Several UN consultancies (UNIDO, WHO, BRITISH COUNCIL etc) in several countries (Trinidad, Tobago, Vienna, Vietnam, USA, Africa and Bangladesh) led to successful socioeconomic impact in those countries. The multidisciplinary competent performance at RRL finds mention in the United Nations recommendation letter from head office Geneva, justifying awarding these multiple UN projects simultaneously to Dr. Atal, a rare occurrence in view of concerns of risk of failure and enormous expenditure at stake involved in the projects.

He has been an able and competent administrator with legendary trouble shooting habits and instincts. He has been a dominant leader in all endeavors, scientific or extracurricular, as head of the institute or as consultant to major organizations. He has helped the distressed and always encouraged hard work and talent. In the words of his colleagues he has been a colossus of a human being.

 

CHAIRMAN, ASSOC . PROF GRADE, MEDICAL CENTRE, BIOSCIENCES DEPT , JESUIT CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY, OMAHA, NEBRASKA, USA

 

HONORARY PROFESSORSHIP UNIVERSITY OF JAMMU, CHEMISTRY DEPT, INDIA

 

HEAD, DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSY, UIPS, PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH, INDIA

 

DIRECTOR RRL, JAMMU, KASHMIR, (NOW CALLED IIIM) CSIR , INDIA , 1ST DIRECTOR OF CSIR COMPLEX ( IHBT) , HIMACHAL, INDIA

 

UNITED NATIONS CONSULTANT-, UN HEAD OFFICE , - GENEVA AUSTRIA (CHEMICAL TECHONOLOGIST)UNDP , UNIDO,

 

UNITED NATIONS CONSULTANT - HEAD OF UN PROJECTS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA IN VIETNAM (CTA)

 

CONSULTANT TO OTHER UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATIONS (WHO, FAO, ETC ) - USA , AFRICA BANGLADESH

 

MISSION CONSULTANT TO SEVERAL WORLD BODIES, UNIVERSITIES, INSTITUTIONS , ORGANISATIONS ETC

 

DRUG DISCOVERY BASED MEDICINE RELEASED BY INDIAN GOVT. ON WORLD TB DAY 2011 AND PRESENTED TO WORLD DIGNITARY MR. BILL GATES OF MICROSOFT

 

INTERNATIONAL BASE FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN USA ,VIETNAM,

 

OTHER SHORT INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCIESINTERNATIONAL STANDING -

 

VISITED 30-35 COUNTRIES FOR CONSULTANCIES, ADVISORY, LECTURES ETC

 

WORLD AUTHORITY ON CROTALARIA AND IT’S TOXICITY. CONSULTANT TO USA, UN ,WHO, PAHO, USFDA FOR CROTALARIA AND OTHER FOOD ADULTRATIONS

 

MEMBER OF GOVERNING BODIES, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, CONSULTANT CSIR DELHI.

 

MEMBER OF SEVERAL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES/ PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS

 

ESTABLISHED RRL JAMMU AS WORLD CLASS PREMIER INSTITUTE IN ESSENTIAL OILS , BIOTECHNOLOGY , PLANT SCIENCES, DRUG DEVELOPMENT

 

SEVERAL AWARDS , HONORS AND RECOGNITION IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY FIELDS

 

AUTHOR , WRITER , EDITOR OF SEVERAL BOOKS, UN COMPILATIONS INCLUDING TWO WORLD REFERENCE BOOKS

 

ENORMOUS MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL JOURNALS IN SEVERAL FIELDS ON EDITORIAL BOARD OF INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, ELSEVIER

 

DISTINGUISHED TEACHER, EXAMINER & GUIDE - PRODUCED 40 PhD STUDENTS INCLUDING DISTINGUISHED SCIENTISTS , AWARD IN TEACHING,STUDENT IN USA

 

SEVERAL FIRST REPORTINGS IN WORLD ON SCIENCESEVERAL FIRST REPORTINGS IN INDIA

 

MULTI DISCIPLINARY SCIENTISTMULTI-TASKING

 

VISIONARY PIONEERING WORK IN PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

VISIONARY PIONEERING WORK IN AYURVEDA,

LISTED IN TOP PIONEER RESEARCHERS OF INDIA IN CURRENT SCIENCE, NO 97, VOL 8, 25 OCT 2009 AND ELSEWHERE

 

VISIONARY AND PIONEER -

 

SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYAPTI AWARD FOR REVOLUTIONISING PHARMACOGNOSY AS A SUBJECT IN INDIA

BASKET OF DRUGS DISCOVERED, RESEARCHED, DEVELOPED AND LEADING TO MARKETING IN INDIA & INTERNATIONALLYDISCOVERY OF NEW REVOLUTIONARY DRUG CONCEPTS (PLANT BASED BIOENHANCERS AND PLANT IMMUNOMODULATORS FROM RASAYANAS IN AYURVEDAWORK ON OTHER TRADITIONAL HEALING SYSTEMS, ETHNOPARMACOLOGYPLANT SCIENCES LIKE ECONOMIC PLANTS, MEDICINAL PLANTS, AGRICULTURAL PLANTS, FRUITS, ESSENTIAL OIL PLANTS, FRAGRANCES, DYES PIGMENTS, PERFUMERY, AROMA CHEMICALS ETC

AWARD WINNING RURAL DEVELOPMENT WORK (INDIA AND ALSO INTERNATIONALLY),FICCI AWARD ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT GIVEN BY PRESIDENT OF INDIA EDUCATION OF SOCIETY -REMOVAL OF SUPERSTITION, EDUCATION OF SOCIETY ON SCIENCE , WORKSHOPS ON SCIENCEDEVELOPING REMOTE AREAS OF INDIA –THROUGH R&D

R&D FOR THE BENEFIT OF POOR AND ILL POPULATIONENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION -FOREST AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AND ITS CONVERSION INTO USEFUL PRODUCTS

POPULARISING ALTERNATE SOURCES OF ENERGY,FAST GROWING TREE SPECIES CONTRIBUTIONS IN NON WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS , MINOR FOREST PRODUCTSFORMULATING PROPOSALS AND IDENTIFICATION OF VIABLE PROJECTS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES INTERNATIONALLY (UN) AND IN INDIAESTABLISHING FIRST ETHNO PHARMACOLOGY CENTRE IN INDIA, FOR BENIFIT OF TRIBALS, TRADITIONAL METHODS

SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF INDIA THROUGH ESTABLISHMENT OF SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL INDUSTRIES AS A CONSULTANTSOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONALLY THROUGH ESTABLISHMENT OF SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL INDUSTRIES AS UN CONSULTANT ESTABLISHING MULTI MILLION DOLLARS UN INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONALLY AS CSIR AND UNITED NATIONS CONSULTANT / PROJECT HEAD

 

ESTABLISHING NUMEROUS INDUSTRIES IN INDIA AS CONSULTANT , CONTRIBUTIONS IN REVOLUTION OF MINT AND HOPS INDUSTRY IN INDIA

 

SOCIAL SERVICE , FOR WAR VETRANS/ WIDOWS, BLOOD DONATION CAMPS , PARTICIPATED IN FREEDOM STRUGGLE AS A TEENAGER EXCELLENT ADMINISTRATOR AND AN EXCELLENT HUMAN BEING

 

COMMENDABLE PEER REVIEWSFECILITATED BY SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY, DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST OF INDIA

 

COMMENDABLE PEER SCIENTIFIC REVIEWSORIGINAL RESEARCH ON ART & HISTORY , MULTILINGUIST, ART CRITIC AND COLLECTOR, MANY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

 

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