DR. HARGOVIND KHURANA LIFE STORY : –
Born : – 9 January 1922, Raipur, Multan (now in Pakistan)
Death : – November 9, 2011, Concord, Massachusetts, USA
For his work : –
The Molecular Biology
Institutions : –
The MIT (1970–2007), University of Wisconsin, Madison (1960–70), University of British Columbia (1952–60), University of Cambridge (1950–52), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich (1948– 49), Punjab University, Liverpool University
Famous work : –
The first to demonstrate the role of nucleitides in protein synthesis
Awards : –
The Nobel Prize in Medicine (1968), Girdner Foundation International Award, Louisa Foundation International Award, Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research, Padma Vibhushan
Dr. Hargovind Khurana was an Indian-American scientist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1968 for demonstrating the role of nucleitides in protein synthesis. He was given the award jointly with two more American scientists. In 1968, Dr. Khurana was also given the Lucia Grötz Horwitz Award along with Dr. Nirenberg.
Hargovind Khurana was born in Raipur (Multan, now in Pakistan) in British India, but in 1966 he took American citizenship.
Early Life And Education : –
Hargovind Khurana was born on 9 January 1922 in a place called Raipur (District Multan, Punjab) of undivided India. His father was a Patwari. Hargovind was the youngest of four sons of his parents. Despite the poverty, Hargovind’s father paid attention to the education of his children, due to which Khurana concentrated his attention on studies. His father died when he was just 12 years old, and under such circumstances his elder brother Nandlal took care of his education. He got his early education in a local school. He was the D.A.V. of Multan. Also studied in high school. He was a talented student since childhood, due to which he got equal scholarships.
He received his BS-C from Punjab University in 1943. (Hons) and in 1945 MS-C. (Honors) degree. Mahan Singh was his inspector in Punjab University. After this he went to England for higher education after getting a scholarship from the Government of India. In England, he was Professor Roger JS at the University of Liverpool. Did research in beer care and earned a doctorate degree. Subsequently, he again received research from the Government of India, after which he was involved in exploration with Professor V. Prelog at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (Switzerland).
Career : –
Even after higher education, Dr. Khurana could not find any suitable job in India, so he moved back to England in 1949 and worked with Lord Todd at Cambridge University. He lived in Cambridge from 1950 to 1952. After this he worked both in teaching and teaching in the renowned universities of K.
In 1952, he received a call from Columbia University of Vancouver (Canada), after which he moved there and was made the chairman of the Department of Biochemistry. While staying in this institute, he started research work in the field of genetics and gradually his papers began to be published in international journals and research journals. As a result, he became very popular and received many honors and awards.
In 1960, he was awarded the Gold Medal at the ‘Professor Institute of Public Service’ Canada and was also awarded the ‘Merck Award’. After this, in 1960, Dr. Khurana was appointed as Professor in the Institute of Enzyme Research at the University of Wisconsin, USA. In 1966, he took American citizenship.
In 1970, Dr. Khurana was appointed Alfred Sloan Professor of Chemistry and Biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Since then in 2007, he has been associated with this institution and has earned a lot of fame.
Nobel Prize : –
Dr. Khurana played an important role in laying the foundation of the subject of gene engineering (biotechnology). Dr. Khurana was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medical Sciences in 1968 for understanding the language of genetic code and for its role in protein synthesis. Dr. Hargovind Khurana was the third person of Indian origin to receive the Nobel Prize. The award was presented to him jointly with two more American scientists, Dr. Robert Holle and Dr. Marshall Nirenberg. All three had a D.N.A. Clarified the structure of the molecule and also stated that the DNA. How does it synthesize proteins?
After the Nobel Prize, the US granted him membership of the National Academy of Science (this honor is given only to specific US scientists).
Dr. Khurana continued his studies, teaching and research work in the United States and Taman students from abroad and abroad received his doctorate.
To honor Dr. Khurana’s work in the field of medicine, the Viscosin Madison University, Government of India and the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum jointly launched the Khurana Program in 2007.
Awards And Honors : –
Dr. Hargovind Khurana was awarded many awards and honors for his research and work. In all these, the Nobel Prize is paramount.
In 1968, he received the Nobel Prize for Medical Sciences
In 1958, he was awarded the Merck Medal of Canada
In 1960, the Canadian Public Service awarded him a gold medal
Danny Hahnemann Award in 1967
Dr. Khurana was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1969, awarded the Locker Federation Award and Lucia Grass Hari Witz Award in 1968.
Punjab University, Chandigarh has completed DS-C. Awarded an honorary degree
Personal Life : –
In 1952, Dr. Hargovind Khorana married Esther Elizabeth Sibler of Swiss origin. The Khurana couple had three children – Julia Elizabeth (1953), Emily Ann (1954) and Dave Roy (1958). His wife fully supported Dr. Khurana’s research and teaching work. Esther Elizabeth Sibler died in 2001.
The death : –
On November 9, 2011, this great scientist breathed his last in Massachusetts of America. He is survived by his daughter Julia and son Dave.
