Balu Sankaran
Encyclopedia
Balu Sankaran is a Professor, scientist and recipient of Padma Shri
and Padma Vibushan awards. He helped establish an artificial limbs manufacturing corporation and a Rehabilatation Institute.
on 4 September 1926. He graduated with a medical degree from Stanley Medical College
in Chennai
in 1948. He travelled to United States
and England
and received training from Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center during 1951-1955 and Manchester Royal Infirmary
in 1955.
(AIIMS) in 1956. After 7 years as an Assistant Professor, he was promoted to Associate Professor in 1963 and continued with AIIMS till 1967. While working in AIIMS, he conducted basic medical research as a Rockefeller Foundation
fellow at University of Chicago
in USA. After his stint at AIIMS, he accepted a position as Professor in Maulana Azad Medical College
till 1970. He served as a Director of Central Institute of Orthopedics during 1970 till 1978. He was offered to serve as the Director of World Health Organisation in Geneva
in 1981 and remained with WHO till 1987. He also served as the Chairman of the Rehabilitation Council of India between 1992 to 1994.
While working as a Director of Central Institute of Orthopedics, He helped set up the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India
at Kanpur in 1972 and helped establish National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research
at Olatpur near Bhubaneshwar in 1975 and remained Chairman of the Corporation till 1981. He is currently a Professor Emeritus at St Stephens Hospital in Delhi.
award in 1972 for the trauma care and rehabilitation provided to soldiers injured in 1971 Bangladesh war
, while stationed at Safdarjung Hospital. He also received Padma Vibushan award for medicine in year 2007.
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
and Padma Vibushan awards. He helped establish an artificial limbs manufacturing corporation and a Rehabilatation Institute.
Biography
Sankaran was born in Tuticorin, Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
on 4 September 1926. He graduated with a medical degree from Stanley Medical College
Stanley Medical College
Stanley Medical College is a government medical college with hospitals, located in Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Though the original hospital is more than 200 years old, the medical college was formally established on July 2, 1938...
in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
in 1948. He travelled to United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and received training from Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center during 1951-1955 and Manchester Royal Infirmary
Manchester Royal Infirmary
The Manchester Royal Infirmary is a hospital in Manchester, England which was founded by Charles White in 1752 as a cottage hospital capable of caring for twelve patients. Manchester Royal Infirmary is part of a larger NHS Trust incorporating several hospitals called Central Manchester University...
in 1955.
Career
Sankaran began his career as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery in All India Institute of Medical SciencesAll India Institute of Medical Sciences
All India Institute of Medical Sciences is a premier medical college and teaching hospital based in New Delhi, India. The Institute operates autonomously under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ....
(AIIMS) in 1956. After 7 years as an Assistant Professor, he was promoted to Associate Professor in 1963 and continued with AIIMS till 1967. While working in AIIMS, he conducted basic medical research as a Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
fellow at University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in USA. After his stint at AIIMS, he accepted a position as Professor in Maulana Azad Medical College
Maulana Azad Medical College
The Maulana Azad Medical College is a government medical college in Delhi affiliated to University of Delhi. It is named after Indian freedom fighter and first education minister of independent India Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. It is located at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi...
till 1970. He served as a Director of Central Institute of Orthopedics during 1970 till 1978. He was offered to serve as the Director of World Health Organisation in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
in 1981 and remained with WHO till 1987. He also served as the Chairman of the Rehabilitation Council of India between 1992 to 1994.
While working as a Director of Central Institute of Orthopedics, He helped set up the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India
Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India
The Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India is a Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India. Established in 1956, ALIMCO manufactures artificial limbs and rehabilitation aids...
at Kanpur in 1972 and helped establish National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research
National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research
Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research is an autonomous Institute functioning under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment of India. It is located in Olatpur, 30 km from Cuttack...
at Olatpur near Bhubaneshwar in 1975 and remained Chairman of the Corporation till 1981. He is currently a Professor Emeritus at St Stephens Hospital in Delhi.
Awards
He received Padma ShriPadma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
award in 1972 for the trauma care and rehabilitation provided to soldiers injured in 1971 Bangladesh war
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
, while stationed at Safdarjung Hospital. He also received Padma Vibushan award for medicine in year 2007.