Most of the history is not very flattering to mention, one of the first names that come to mind in relation to biomedical research and women in science. Cell biologist by training, her major achievements are often related to cancer and cancer genetics research as well as development of vaccine for leprosy. Dr. Ranadive was born in Pune, India in 1917. Thus, her life in all its aspects is a story of great commitment and zeal to learn, educate, achieve, and rectify social evils in turn pushing the frontiers of science. This blog post aims to delve into the different aspects of her life and work, how she influenced the Indian scientific community and her work or the influence that remains eternally.
Early Life and Education
Dr. Kamal Ranadive (neé Samarth) was born on November 8, 1917, to Dinkar Dattatreya Samarth and Shantabai Samarth, and was bright in studies even as a child. The family encouraged her to become a doctor, as her father was a biologist, but Raja Dhananjay was inclined towards research. After finishing her education at Huzurpaga high school, she attended Fergusson College, where she studied Botany and Zoology. In 1943, she gave her M.Sc. degree in cytogenetics from the Agriculture College in Pune.
Her marriage to the mathematician J.T. Ranadive necessitated her shift to Bombay (now Mumbai), which proved to be a turning point in her career. This move helped her meet the prominent pathologist Dr. V.R. Khanolkar, who was the head of the Indian Cancer Research Centre (ICRC), where Dr. Ranadive later served as a Senior Research Officer. Following the leader ship of Khanolkar, she did her Ph.D. dissertation on cancer research at the University of Bombay and graduated in 1949.
Career and Research Contributions
Upon finishing her doctorate degree, Dr. Ranadive went on to receive a postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA under the guidance of Dr. George Otto Gey, who created the world famous HeLa cell line. This exposure included sophisticated research skills in tissue culture and cellular biology. However, even with chances of staying on in foreign lands for work, Dr. Ranadive preferred to vie for the cause of science in India. ICRC hired her services again, where she set up the first Tissue Culture Laboratory in India.
at ICRC, Dr. Ranadive’s research contributed greatly in finding out the association of viruses with cancers especially that of breast cancer and leukaemia. She was amongst the very first scientists to address the question of cancer risk susceptibility and its association with hormones, and viruses. Her work done on animal models also contributed to the understanding behind the genetic aspect of the disease cancer.
Besides, her research on the pathogens of leprosy made it possible to create a leprosy vaccine, which was a substantial contribution to the health of the people of India.
Founding of the Indian Women Scientists’ Association (IWSA)
shadowed in the background of her scientific achievements, Dr. Kamal Ranadive was an outspoken campaigner for women in science. In 1973, with some of her colleagues, she founded the Indian Women Scientists’ Association (IWSA), which sought to assist women scientists who often had difficulty in managing their career aspirations together with family responsibilities. The IWSA created avenues for women towards networking, research and education in a bid to create a space that would enable them to flourish professionally
The association is still relevant today having boastful membership of more than 2000 and 11 branches across India. IWSA provides crèches and lodging facilities for women scientists which has eased the plight of thousands of women who would otherwise have had to give up scientific careers because of the demands of family life.
Dr. Ranadive’s Main Achievements
In recognition of Dr. Ranadive’s talents, she received a number of accolades, which included the esteemed Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award which she was conferred in 1982 for her works in medicine and science. Other awards received by her included the first-ever Silver Jubilee Research Award which was given by the Medical Council of India in 1964 for her outstanding work in the field of cancer research.
Her publication record was striking, with over two hundred scientific writings in oncology, cellular biology, immunology et al. Her discipline and devotion to research were so well-known that colleagues and students remembered that her laboratory at the ICRC was always open, and the activities conducted there took place around the clock.
Work After Retirement
Even after her official retirement in 1989, Dr. Ranadive continued to work for the good of the society. She spent some time working with tribal women and children in Rajur and Ahmednagar districts of Maharashtra, with particular attention to health and nutrition improvement. Her strategies were aimed at reducing the levels of malnutrition and preparing health education programs for women living in the rural areas of India—concentrating on maternal and child health in particular.
And Dr. Ranadive was never willing to let go off both the science and the fight for social justice. She was convinced that national development could not be achieved without scientific research and fought against brain drain – inviting Indian scientists to return back from abroad and do research in India.
Legacy
Dr. Kamal Ranadive Keer passed away on 10th April 2001, carrying with her a vision of science stylish and socially responsible. She not only led the fight against cancer in the Indian subcontinent but also promoted women in science when their merit was barely acknowledged. Her legacy still motivates thousands of women scientists in India and elsewhere.
Dr. Kamal virtually may not be world-renowned as some of her contemporaries, however the impact and importance of Dr. Ranadive’s medical research and women’s rights activism in science remains profound in India.
Conclusion
The tale of Dr. Kamal Ranadive is filled with strong conviction, wisdom, and a commitment toward the profession and society. It cannot be imagined how much she has accomplished starting with the establishment of the very first Tissue Culture Laboratory in India to being one of the founders of the Indian Woman Scientists Association. Her pioneering work on cancer and leprosy opened avenues for many scientific strides that followed, and she even nowadays fights for female scientists in India.
Her story attests that women’s participation in scientific research has always been there and is still there to affect changes in the world. While thinking back on her life and accomplishments, it is apparent that Dr. Kamal Ranadive was more than just a scientist spare. She was a thinker who had a vision about the way knowledge could change people’s lives.
