Sir Ronald Ross Institute Of Parasitology
Encyclopedia
Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Parasitology is a malaria
research institute located in Hyderabad, India
. Established in 1955, the institute is a division of Osmania University
. The institute is named after Sir Ronald Ross, Nobel Prize
winner in medicine.
in 1893. Though he was a surgeon by qualification, Ross was attracted towards research in tropical diseases, especially malaria
. During his posting, he worked on his research from a laboratory in the old Begumpet
military hospital building. Built in 1895, this building was surrounded by marshes which proved rather helpful for his research experiments. It was in this building on August 20, 1897 that he made the discovery of the malarial parasite inside the body of a mosquito. His study confirmed that mosquitoes were the carriers of malaria parasite. For his work in demonstrating the life-cycle of the parasites of malaria in mosquitoes, and thus establishing the hypothesis of Laveran
and Manson
, Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize
in 1902.
In 1955, Satyanarayan Singh, a Professor of Zoology
at Hyderabad's Osmania University
acquired the building from the then Deccan Airlines and established the Malaria Research Institute in this building. Research scholars from Osmania University
and Osmania Medical College
worked here until the building was taken over by the Airports Authority of India
. A pilot training center was setup in this building. Former Prime Minister of India
, Rajiv Gandhi
, was trained in this building. In 1979, Osmania University took over the building and continued research here.
, the local civic agency, installed a marble tablet in appreciation of Ross’ achievement. In 1997, about 700 scientists from 30 countries gathered at this building to commemorate the centennial of Ronald Ross' discovery. On this occasion, the building was renovated at the cost of by the British High Commission. Being a heritage building, the Archaeological Survey of India
granted 6.5 lakhs for its further development. In addition, a plan was announced to convert the facility into a center of excellence and develop the landscape around the building. Despite spending money on renovation, the building was not properly maintained.
In 2008, the state government
formed a committee for the restoration, conservation and promotion of the building as tourist destination. A grant of 40 lakhs was to be utilized for developing a horticulture
park and relocation of airport offices. Upon the completion of restoration, the local tourism department
was set to promote the building and its heritage as a destination for national and international tourists. Despite several attempts to revive the facility, the building lies secluded and devoid of academic or research activity and without steady source of financial support. Lack of political will and lack of bureaucracy was blamed for its current state.
Bodies like the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
and researchers from University of York
have expressed interest in attaching themselves with the institute.
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
research institute located in Hyderabad, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Established in 1955, the institute is a division of Osmania University
Osmania University
Osmania University , , since 1918, is a public university located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established and named after the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It is one of the oldest modern universities in India. It is the first Indian University to have Urdu and...
. The institute is named after Sir Ronald Ross, Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine administered by the Nobel Foundation, is awarded once a year for outstanding discoveries in the field of life science and medicine. It is one of five Nobel Prizes established in 1895 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, in his will...
winner in medicine.
History
Sir Ronald Ross was posted as a general duty medical officer to the regiment stationed in SecunderabadSecunderabad
Secunderabad popularly known as the twin city of Hyderabad is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh north of Hyderabad. Named after Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, Secunderabad was founded in 1806 AD as a British cantonment...
in 1893. Though he was a surgeon by qualification, Ross was attracted towards research in tropical diseases, especially malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
. During his posting, he worked on his research from a laboratory in the old Begumpet
Begumpet
Begumpet is a neighborhood in Hyderabad, India.-History:Begumpet is named after the daughter of the second Nizam, Basheer Ul-Unnisaa Begum , who received it as part of her wedding dowry was married to the second Amir of Paigah The Shums ul Umra Amir e Kabir 1...
military hospital building. Built in 1895, this building was surrounded by marshes which proved rather helpful for his research experiments. It was in this building on August 20, 1897 that he made the discovery of the malarial parasite inside the body of a mosquito. His study confirmed that mosquitoes were the carriers of malaria parasite. For his work in demonstrating the life-cycle of the parasites of malaria in mosquitoes, and thus establishing the hypothesis of Laveran
Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran
Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran was a French physician.In 1880, while working in the military hospital in Constantine, Algeria, he discovered that the cause of malaria is a protozoan, after observing the parasites in a blood smear taken from a patient who had just died of malaria.He also helped...
and Manson
Patrick Manson
Sir Patrick Manson was a Scottish physician who made important discoveries in parasitology and was the founder of the tropical medicine field....
, Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine administered by the Nobel Foundation, is awarded once a year for outstanding discoveries in the field of life science and medicine. It is one of five Nobel Prizes established in 1895 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, in his will...
in 1902.
In 1955, Satyanarayan Singh, a Professor of Zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
at Hyderabad's Osmania University
Osmania University
Osmania University , , since 1918, is a public university located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established and named after the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It is one of the oldest modern universities in India. It is the first Indian University to have Urdu and...
acquired the building from the then Deccan Airlines and established the Malaria Research Institute in this building. Research scholars from Osmania University
Osmania University
Osmania University , , since 1918, is a public university located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established and named after the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It is one of the oldest modern universities in India. It is the first Indian University to have Urdu and...
and Osmania Medical College
Osmania Medical College
Osmania Medical College originally Hyderabad Medical College is a medical school in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was founded in 1846 as the Hyderabad Medical School making it one of the oldest medical schools in the world. It is presently affiliated to the NTR University of Health...
worked here until the building was taken over by the Airports Authority of India
Airports Authority of India
The Airports Authority of India is an organization working under the Ministry of Civil Aviation that manages most of the airports in India. The AAI manages and operates 126 airports including 16 international airports, 89 domestic airports and 26 civil enclaves. The corporate headquarters are at...
. A pilot training center was setup in this building. Former Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
, Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India . He took office after his mother's assassination on 31 October 1984; he himself was assassinated on 21 May 1991. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took office at the age of 40.Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira...
, was trained in this building. In 1979, Osmania University took over the building and continued research here.
Restoration of the building's heritage
In 1935, the Secunderabad Cantonment BoardSecunderabad Cantonment Board
Secunderbad Cantonment Board is the civic administration agency for the city of Secunderabad, India.Large parts of Secunderabad city and some parts of the Hyderabad city come under the jurisdiction of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board due to the large military presence, existing right from the...
, the local civic agency, installed a marble tablet in appreciation of Ross’ achievement. In 1997, about 700 scientists from 30 countries gathered at this building to commemorate the centennial of Ronald Ross' discovery. On this occasion, the building was renovated at the cost of by the British High Commission. Being a heritage building, the Archaeological Survey of India
Archaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India is a department of the Government of India, attached to the Ministry of Culture . The ASI is responsible for archaeological studies and the preservation of archaeological heritage of the country in accordance with the various acts of the Indian Parliament...
granted 6.5 lakhs for its further development. In addition, a plan was announced to convert the facility into a center of excellence and develop the landscape around the building. Despite spending money on renovation, the building was not properly maintained.
In 2008, the state government
Government of Andhra Pradesh
Government of Andhra Pradesh is the government for the state of Andhra Pradesh in South India.It is an elected government with 294 MLAs elected to the legislative assembly for a 5 year term.-Executive:...
formed a committee for the restoration, conservation and promotion of the building as tourist destination. A grant of 40 lakhs was to be utilized for developing a horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
park and relocation of airport offices. Upon the completion of restoration, the local tourism department
Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation
Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation is a state government agency which promotes tourism in Andhra Pradesh, India....
was set to promote the building and its heritage as a destination for national and international tourists. Despite several attempts to revive the facility, the building lies secluded and devoid of academic or research activity and without steady source of financial support. Lack of political will and lack of bureaucracy was blamed for its current state.
Bodies like the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene was founded in 1907 by Sir James Cantlie and George Carmichael Low. Sir Patrick Manson, the Society's first President is generally acknowledged as the father of tropical medicine. He passed the presidency on to the Nobel laureate Sir Ronald Ross ,...
and researchers from University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
have expressed interest in attaching themselves with the institute.