Thiruvananthapuram – Dr. Madhava Bhattathiri, a distinguished scientist, educator, and a former member of the Nobel Prize jury, passed away at the age of 97 at Chengannur Idavoor Math. A globally recognized authority in medical biochemistry, Dr. Bhattathiri resided for many years at Idavoor Math, Paipinmood, Thiruvananthapuram.
A key figure in scientific research, he was part of the five-member jury that selected the 1985 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry. Dr. Bhattathiri earned his Ph.D. in diabetes research and held academic positions in prestigious universities across the United States and Canada.
Born in Chengannur, Thiruvananthapuram, he graduated in Chemistry from University College, Thiruvananthapuram, and pursued his postgraduate studies in Biochemistry at Nagpur University, where he secured first rank. In 1960, he was awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Texas, USA, and later became a member of the National Research Council of Canada.
Dr. Bhattathiri collaborated with Nobel laureates Frederick Banting and Charles H. Best, renowned for their discovery of insulin. He also worked under the guidance of Nobel laureate Bernardo José during his advanced research in diabetes. A Life Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London, he contributed extensively to the field of medical biochemistry through his research and academic leadership.
Over the course of his illustrious career, Dr. Bhattathiri served as a faculty member at leading universities in the USA, Canada, and the UK. He was actively involved with the Inter-University Council for Higher Studies in Medicine, London, and played a pivotal role in establishing medical colleges in Malaysia, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. His expertise led to his appointment as Head of the Biochemistry Department during the formation of these institutions.
Dr. Bhattathiri also worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN), where he contributed to global health initiatives. As a UN mission member, he played a crucial role in the development of medical education in several developing nations.
He is survived by his wife, Malathi Bhattathiri, and children Madhuri, Dr. Manu, and Dr. Malini. His daughters-in-law are Damodaran Namboothiri, Neena Bhattathiri, and Srikanth.
The funeral will take place at Shantikavadam, Thycaud, on Friday at 4 PM.
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.