DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY
PRESIDENCY COLLEGE
(1900-2006)
The
subject of Human Physiology has always been considered a subject of great
promise and potential to scientists and research workers of various disciplines
all over the World for more than two hundred years now. However, in India, the
subject with great prospect launched its journey exactly 106 years ago at
Presidency College, Kolkata under an able stewardship of Prof. Subodh Chandra
Mahalanobis.
In
fact, the years 1900 – 1913 are demarcated as the first phase in the history
of the department and the period of inauguration of the subject in India. Dr.
Mahalanobis returned from England to India in 1900 and joined the Provincial
Bengal Educational Service. He was posted at Presidency College as the Head of
the department of Biology, which at that time comprised of Human Physiology and
Botany.
In
1902, study of Human Physiology started as a separate course at Presidency
College, which was officially recognized in 1903 by the University of Calcutta.
On
Founders’ Day 20th January 1913, the new building for science
subjects, later named as Baker Laboratories, was formally inaugurated and the
Department of Human Physiology was transferred to its present site in the second
floor of this new building. In 1915, affiliation in M.Sc. in Human Physiology
was given to this department by the University of Calcutta.
In
1923, another milestone event of this department was the visit to this
department by Nobel Laureate E.H. Sterling. Around that time the Head of the
Department was Dr. Narendra Mohan Basu, who was a man of far-sight and high
motivation.
The
Physiological Society of India (PSI) which was formed in 1934 was mainly due to
his untiring effort and rock-hard determination. Prof. S.C. Mahalanobis, his
immediate predecessor as Head of the Department of Human Physiology, Presidency
College, Kolkata was the first elected President of PSI. Under the tutelage of
Dr.N.M. Basu another significant development of Human Physiology took place in
the year 1935, when Human Physiology was first introduced as a separate section
in The Indian Science Congress.
In
1938, the postgraduate department of Physiology of Calcutta University shifted
from this college premises to its current location at Raja Bazar, 92, A.P.C.
Road, Kolkata – 700 009.
In
1939, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, as Vice-chancellor of Calcutta University
convened a historic meeting and took two important resolutions in favour of this
department : (a) PG teaching in Physiology at Presidency College should continue
as before; and (b) University should not open Honours course in Physiology as
this was running at its best at Presidency College.
In
1944, Nobel Laureate and the then Secretary of the Royal Society of England Sir
A.V. Hill visited the department.
From
1947 to 1959, the department was under the able stewardship of Prof.
Sachchidananda Banerjee, the first D.Sc. in Physiology from Calcutta University.
More than 25 students obtained their Ph.D. degree during that period working
under Prof. Sachchidananda Banerjee and published more than 75 original research
articles in journals of international repute.
In
1960, Dr. Achintya Kumar Mukherjee joined the post of Professor and Head of the
Department. He was an able administrator, popular teacher and research worker.
Many students and doctors obtained their Ph.D.degree working under him.
In
1983, he became the Principal of Presidency College and served for another 4
years. Dr. Haripada Chattopadhyay worked as an interim Head of the department
from 1984-1987. In 1988, Dr. Chandan Mitra joined the post of Professor and Head
of the Department. In 1991, the
department celebrated the Birth centenary of former Head of the Department late
Dr. N. M. Basu. A whole day symposium was organized on this occasion. In 2001,
the department celebrated 100 years of UG teaching in this department as well as
in India. A symposium was organized
on “The Global Prospect and Potentiality of Human Physiology as a basic
science in academics and research”. During that celebration, Centenary
Postgraduate Wing was inaugurated. In 2001, the department was affiliated for
independent postgraduate teaching.
In 2004, the department was given full academic autonomy for postgraduate teaching. It does not require any fresh mention about the academic excellence of this department since its beginning. It has glorious past, throbbing present and prosperous future.
Home Conference Details Instructions to Author Registration Form Programme Details Contact
Presidency College Department of Physiology About Kolkata