DR. CHUNILAL BOSE - A NEARLY FORGOTTEN MEDICAL CHEMIST AND SCIENCE POPULARISER OF BENGAL

an award-winning medical graduate, a brilliant chemist and a pioneering science communicator in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries 1-3 .In medical science, he made admirable contribution in the fields of food adulteration, food poisoning, diabetes, poisons and toxins, small pox, forensic science, etc.More importantly, he was a pioneer in public health awareness movement, preaching for the benefits of sanitation, hygiene and balanced diet especially in rural Bengal.He was also a crusader against the use of narcotics.In recognition of his contributions, the British Government conferred on him the title of 'Roy Bahadur' in 1898.But alas, even such a highly acclaimed scientist, a dedicated science communicator, an ardent social reformer and a prolific author has almost gone into oblivion even to the Bengalis.His 160 th birth anniversary in 1921 went largely unnoticed, and his life and activities are missing from the curricula in schools and colleges.A travel down the memory lane is, therefore, all the more necessary to kindle interest in the biography of Dr. Bose amongst the younger and the older generations alike.The present write-up, a sojourn in the life and activities of this towering personality, is a humble attempt to accomplish this task.