Upendranath Brahmachari: Revisiting a Forgotten Bengali Scientist behind Cure of Kala-azar

Kala-azar, or visceral leishmaniasis, was once a widespread problem in the Bengal Presidency of British India, encompassing present-day Indian states such as Bengal, Bihar, Assam, and Odisha. The disease was prevalent along the Ganga and Brahmaputra River regions. Upendranath Brahmachari, born on December 19, 1873, emerged as a pioneering figure in the field of medicine, particularly noted for his groundbreaking work in combating Kala-azar in 1920. Upendranath Brahmachari discovered urea stibamine which revolutionized the treatment of Kala-azar. This discovery achieved a cure rate exceeding 90% with minimal side effects. His research also extended to identifying post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis, subsequently known as Brahmachari Leishmanoid. Despite nominations for the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1929 and 1942, Brahmachari’s enduring legacy in tropical therapeutics and biochemistry remains underappreciated.