Kamal Ranadive, an Indian scientist and Padma Bhushan awardee, has been highlighted in a Google doodle. On November 8, 2021, she will turn 104 years old.
Dr. Ranadive is seen in a lab with a microscope and test tubes in this doodle by guest artist Ibrahim Rayintakath. "I wanted to make a piece that feels lively to look at, that would match Kamal's personality. My initial thoughts were around bringing this out, at the same time highlighting her field of achievements," said Rayintakath.
Dr. Ranadive was born Kamal Samarath on this day in 1917 in Pune. She earned a PhD in cytology, the study of cells, after graduating from medical school and working as a researcher at the Indian Cancer Research Center (ICRC).
Dr. Ranadive created the country's first tissue culture laboratory at ICRC after a small period at Johns Hopkins University.
As the head of the ICRC and a pioneer in animal modelling of cancer development, Ranadive was among the first Indian researchers to propose a relationship between breast cancer and genetics, as well as to uncover linkages between cancers and certain viruses.
Dr. Ranadive continued his pioneering work by studying Mycobacterium leprae, the bacteria that causes leprosy, and assisting in the development of a vaccine. The Indian Women Scientists' Association (IWSA) was created in 1973 by Dr. Ranadive and 11 colleagues to assist women in scientific professions.
She has almost 200 scientific articles on cancer and leprosy under her name.
She returned to rural Maharashtra after retirement to train women as healthcare professionals and provide health and nutrition education.
In 1982, she received the Padma Bhushan award for her contributions to medicine. On the 11th of April, 2001, Dr. Ranadive died.
