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| Founder |
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Prof. M. Viswanathan - THE RELENTLESS CRUSADER AGAINST DIABETES |
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Prof. M. Viswanathan who has been acknowledged
as the "Father of Diabetology" in India passed away on 1st March 1996
after carrying a relentless crusade in the areas of diabetes care and research
for 50 years. We briefly highlight his achievements and place on record his
contributions as a clinician, teacher, researcher and administrator. The
centres of Excellence viz., Diabetes Research Centre and M.V. Hospital for
Diabetes established by him with his vast knowledge and wide professional
experience, as an internationally recognised leading research scientist in
diabetes will endure as standing monuments to his memory and greatness.
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| Medical Education |
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Prof. Viswanathan entered Stanley Medical
College, Chennai, in 1940 and took his medical degree in 1946. In 1942, during
the Quit India Movement young Viswanathan, with his selfless idealism and
patriotism, hoisted the Indian tricolour in the Stanely Medical College Hostel. He was
duly expelled from the hostel and it was Prof. K.C. Paul, an eminent physician
of the college and the hospital who provided him with food, shelter and
emotional support for a few weeks. That was the beginning of a productive
relationship that was destined to change the very concepts of diabetes care and
research in our country. Prof. Viswanathan graduated in 1946 and worked as a
House Physician under Prof. K.C. Paul. Soon, he entered Madras Medical Service
as Asst. Physician and Asst Prof. of Medicine in Stanley Medical College. His
devotion to his profession, his idealism, keen and discerning intellect and
above all his capacity for sincere hardwork and organisational skills, and a
passionate commitment to ameliorate the suffering of diabetic patients with
complications so impressed Prof. K.C. Paul that he entrusted the task of
setting up and running the first organised diabetic clinic in India to young
Dr. Viswanathan.
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| Diabetes Research Centre |
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Prof. Viswanathan left government service in
1971 with a view to realise his potential as a researcher and academic in the
field of diabetes care and research. In 1972, the Diabetes Research Centre, a
non-profit organisation, solely devoted to research was established. Its growth
has been phenomenal and this has been possible only because of the zeal,
enthusiasm, dedication and qualities of professional and administrative
leadership of its Founder Director. In 1975, it was recognised by the ICMR and
in 1983 it was given due recognition by the Department of Science and
Technology, Government of India. In the words of Paul Zimmet of Australia an
internationally respected WHO Consultant in Diabetes, "The Diabetes
Research Centre is an outstanding example of how pursuit of a dream and
excellence produces exotic fruits. There are few centres in the world that can
match the all-round capabilities of your Centre in -- Care, Education, Research
and Prevention. This blend enhances each of these areas and I would say the
Diabetes Research Centre in Madras is one of the World's finest diabetes
establishments and also its best kept secret."
Diabetes Research Centre is now acknowledged by leading diabetologists all over
the world as a glittering seat of learning and research. In 1988 Prof.
Viswanathan as the President of Diabetes Research Centre instituted the DRC
Gold Medal Oration Award. This award is conferred every year on a distinguished
scientist in the field of diabetes care and research. The recipients of this
award include the internationally known diabetologists and researchers Dr.
Malcolm Nattras of U.K., Prof. Maarja Riitta Taskinen of Finland, Prof. Steven
M. Haffner and Prof. Peter H. Bennett of the USA and Prof. Jaakko Tuomilehto
and Prof. Eva Tuomilehto of Finland.
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| Research in Prevention of Diabetes Mellitus |
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Prof. Viswanathan has published more than
250 peer reviewed research papers and articles in various prestigious National
and International Journals. These include papers of collaborative research
projects with various international research institutes including London
University Hospital, U.K., Karolinska Institute, Sweden and other leading
research centres in the US and Australia. In addition, Prof. Viswanathan took
up a mega research project entitled "Primary Prevention of Diabetes"
but unfortunately could not complete the same due to his untimely demise. The
research data collected and over 35000 family registries maintained by him, as
part of this ongoing project, on further follow up and progression of the
project are expected to throw light on inheritance, bio-chemical and clinical
course and strategies for prevention of diabetes mellitus.
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| Personal Qualities and Mission in Life |
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Prof. Viswanathan combined erudition,
scholarship and talent with sterling character. He had a very fine sense of
humour. He had four great ambitions. His first ambition was, "that
something had to be done to alleviate the suffering of the diabetic patient...
that "every person having diabetes should be helped to live his normal
span of life in health." The second ambition was to establish diabetology
as a medical discipline in our country. The third ambition was that the basic,
clinical and epidemiological research in this field done in India must be of
the highest quality and should receive international recognition. The fourth,
and in a sense the most important ambition, was that diabetes should be
prevented and conquered. In his lifetime he achieved the first three ambitions.
As mentioned earlier, he has left behind an unfinished mega project,
"Primary Prevention of Diabetes". The scientific staff of the DRC
working on the information and research data gathered by him will pursue and
endeavour to ensure that this project is brought to fruition.
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