Mahdi Hasan (21 March 1936 – 12 January 2013) was an
anatomist
Anatomy () is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old science, having it ...
from
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...
, India.
Early life
Hasan was born on 21 March 1936 in Gadayan,
Akbarpur, Ambedkar Nagar
Akbarpur is a city, municipal corporation, tehsil, and the administrative headquarters of Ambedkar Nagar district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is a part of Ayodhya division.
Mythology
According to the ''Ramayana'', Akbarpur is w ...
,
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...
, India. His father, Jawad Husain, was a ''
tehsildar
In India and Pakistan, a Tehsildar or Mamlatdar is a tax officer accompanied by revenue inspectors. They are in charge of obtaining taxes from a tehsil with regard to land revenue. A tehsildar is also known as an executive magistrate of the relev ...
'', posted at
Mohanlalganj
Mohanlalganj is a tehsil and community development block in Lucknow district, Uttar Pradesh, India. It has historically constituted part of the village of Mau (Mohanlalganj), Mau.
History
The eponymous market, called Mohanlalganj, was establishe ...
in Lucknow district, and his mother was Tayyabunnisa Begun. Hasan's father died when Hasan was four years old, and his mother, being ill, was unable to care for him. He was subsequently raised by his brothers, Mr. Bakhshish Hussain and Mr. Ghulam Hussain, IAS.
Education
In 1950, Hasan enrolled in the Christian College at
Lucknow
Lucknow (, ) is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and it is also the second largest urban agglomeration in Uttar Pradesh. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous district and division ...
, where he did his Intermediate. Thereafter, he did his B.Sc. first year from the
Lucknow University
The University of Lucknow (informally known as Lucknow University, and LU) is a public state university based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Founded in 1920, the University of Lucknow is one of the oldest government owned institutions of higher edu ...
and in 1952 he was selected in M.B.B.S. at the
King George Medical College
King George's Medical University is a medical school, hospital, and medical university located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The medical school was raised to a medical university by an act passed by the government of Uttar Pradesh on 16 S ...
. After graduation, he joined the Department of Anatomy as a demonstrator in the year 1958 and worked till early 1963 while completing his post-graduation as well. He moved to the
J.N. Medical College,
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, as an associate professor, where he would spend the bulk of his career.
Career
Hasan spent the majority of his career at the Aligarh Muslim University as a professor. In 1965, he traveled to Germany under the
German Academic Exchange Service
The German Academic Exchange Service, or DAAD (german: Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst), was founded in 1925 and is the largest German support organisation in the field of international academic co-operation.
Organisation
''DAAD'' is a ...
(DAAD) programme where he learned
electron microscopy techniques, and studied
gerontology under Paul Glees at the
University of Göttingen
The University of Göttingen, officially the Georg August University of Göttingen, (german: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, known informally as Georgia Augusta) is a public research university in the city of Göttingen, Germany. Founded ...
. Returning to Aligarh in 1967, Hasan used his knowledge of
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
language to serve as an external examiner of German language students at
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is a public major research university located in New Delhi, India. It was established in 1969 and named after Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister. The university is known for leading faculties and r ...
and Aligarh Muslim University.
Hasan spent many years trying to establish a Brain Research facility at the Aligarh Muslim University. With assistance received from the German government, he succeeded in establishing the first ''Interdisciplinary Brain Research Centre'' in 1980. The Central Electron Microscope Facility was established in 1984.
At the J.N. Medical College,
Aligarh Muslim University, he was chairman of Department of Anatomy for many years apart from being the dean of the Faculty of Medicine and the medical superintendent, principal, and the chief medical superintendent of the hospital. He also served as the dean of students' welfare of Aligarh Muslim University, besides being the president of cricket and football Clubs. He was also the elected president of the Teaching Staff Association, Anatomical Society of India, Indian Academy of Neurosciences, and Indian Gerontology Association.
Hasan delivered scores of lectures at various medical institutions such as the Albert Einstein College, NCTR Jefferson, University of Hawaii, and the Universities of Mainz and Göttingen. He was a member of the Expert Committee appointed by the Government of India to draft the National Education Policy for Health Sciences, which was headed by Prof. J.S. Bajaj during the period of 1988–90. In February 2010, he was appointed a member of the
National Assessment and Accreditation Council
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is a government organisation in India that assesses and accredits Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It is an autonomous body funded by the University Grants Commission and headquarte ...
(NAAC) of the Government of India. He was also an elected Fellow of the
National Academy of Medical Sciences
National Academy of Medical Sciences (India), better known by its acronym, NAMS, is a nodal agency under the Government of India, which acts as an advisory body to the Government in matters related to National Health Policy and Planning and as a ...
(India),
Indian National Science Academy
The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) is a national academy in New Delhi for Indian scientists in all branches of science and technology.
In August 2019, Dr. Chandrima Shaha was appointed as the president of Indian National Science Acade ...
, and
The National Academy of Sciences, India
The National Academy of Sciences, India, established in 1930, is the oldest science academy in India. It is located in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Prof. Meghnad Saha was the founder president.
Fellows
*Suddhasatwa Basu
* Sudha Bhattacharya
* Ch ...
.
Hasan collaborated with colleagues from manifold disciplines like physiology, pharmacology, neurochemistry, pathology, neurology, radiology, otorhinolaryngology, and neurosurgery to study problems of national relevance such as environmental pollution, pesticide
neurotoxicity
Neurotoxicity is a form of toxicity in which a biological, chemical, or physical agent produces an adverse effect on the structure or function of the central and/or peripheral nervous system. It occurs when exposure to a substance – specificall ...
, heavy metal neurotoxicity and hydrocephalus.
Achievements
* Awarded
Padma Shri
Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conf ...
, the fourth highest civilian award by the
Government of India
The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...
in the field of medicine in 2012
* Gold Medal Award was instituted by the Anatomical Society of India in 1990 (continues till date).
* An award was instituted by the Indian Academy of Biomedical Sciences in his name in 2014.
* Awarded Dr. B.C. Roy National Award, for being the Eminent Medical Teacher by
Medical Council of India
The Medical Council of India (MCI) was a statutory body for establishing uniform and high standards of medical education in India until its dissolution on 25 September 2020 when it was replaced by National Medical Commission. The Council grante ...
in 1992.
Death
Hasan died on 12 January 2013 at the age of 76 from natural causes.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hasan, Mahdi
1936 births
2013 deaths
Academic staff of Aligarh Muslim University
Indian neuroscientists
University of Lucknow alumni
Recipients of the Padma Shri in medicine
20th-century Indian medical doctors
Medical doctors from Uttar Pradesh
Fellows of The National Academy of Sciences, India
Fellows of the National Academy of Medical Sciences
Fellows of the Indian National Science Academy
Indian anatomists
People from Ambedkar Nagar district
Indian gerontologists