January 30, 2020
Hello,
The world of science and maternal and child health lost one of our greatest leaders this past week. Dr. Maharaj K. Bhan was a once-in-a-lifetime visionary–Quite simply a remarkable man. He was a world-renowned pediatrician and clinician scientist with a long list of contributions and accomplishments, most notably: the development of a rotavirus vaccine for India; helping to unravel the role of micronutrients, especially zinc, in diarrheal diseases; and chief of India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT), during which time he established several important new institutes, including the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), dedicated to issues central to child health, and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) to link academia and industry.
He was an inspiring leader who had an unusual ability to bring people together and to bring an innovative fresh look to every problem. Of note, he was a particularly strong champion of women. His wife, Girija Bhan, is a successful business woman; his daughter, Shereen Bhan, a rising star in global development; and many, many women around the globe are thankful for his loving mentorship and scientific and moral leadership over the years.
Dr. Bhan often talked about how he loved children and dreamed that every child born in India would have the opportunity for good health, good education, and nurturing care so that they would grow up to be creative, responsible adults. His life was an embodiment of those dreams.
But to those of us who had the great fortune to know “Raj,” as he was known to his close friends, the world has lost so much more. Dr. Bhan was, as his daughter Shereen wrote following his death, “the wisest, sweetest and gentlest man I knew. He dedicated his life to health. He was an incredible father, grandfather, father-in-law, uncle, friend, husband, mentor, and teacher. He has left so many broken hearts behind. We can only hope to keep his legacy alive by staying true to his vision and ideas for the health and well-being of children and their mothers.”
Dr. Bhan had a spiritual calmness and sense of great purpose. He was a rare individual who made those around him better—better clinicians, better scientists, better thinkers, better people. Mostly, I’ll always remember how kind and loving he was. We can all learn from the example of his life well lived. He will be missed.
Below are a few remembrances of Dr. Bhan.
Indian scientist who developed rotavirus vaccine passes away
‘The man on mission’
MK Bhan — the warm and helpful scientist behind India’s rotavirus vaccine
Maharaj Kishan Bhan, the man behind rotavirus vaccine, passes away
Warm regards,
Barbara
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