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| OBITUARY |
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| Year : 2012 | Volume
: 44
| Issue : 1 | Page : 148 |
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Tributes to a teacher and mentor: Prof. P. Sen
A Ray1, SK Bhattacharya2
1 Department of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
2 Department of Pharmacology, University College of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| Date of Web Publication | 14-Jan-2012 |
Correspondence Address:
A Ray
Department of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
How to cite this article:
Ray A, Bhattacharya S K. Tributes to a teacher and mentor: Prof. P. Sen. Indian J Pharmacol 2012;44:148 |
 Prof. Parantapa Sen, formerly Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology, University College of Medical Sciences, and Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi, passed away on 11 December, 2011, after a brief illness.
Prof. Sen was born in Bogra, Bengal (undivided India) in 1934. He graduated in medicine (M.B.B.S.) from the prestigious Calcutta Medical College in 1958, and completed his postgraduation (M.D.) in Pharmacology from the University of Bihar in 1963. He then proceeded to University of Odense, Denmark, and completed his Ph.D and postdoctoral studies under the guidance of Prof. Nirmal Chakravarty. He served as faculty member in many reputed institutions namely Maulana Azad Medical College and University College of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi. He joined the UCMS as Professor and Head of Pharmacology in 1975 and superannuated from the same institute in 1994. During this period, he occupied many prestigious academic and administrative positions, viz. Head, Para-clinical Depts. (Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology and Forensic Medicine), University of Delhi and Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi. In view of his outstanding contributions in the field, he was elected as Fellow of National Academy of Medical Sciences (FAMS) and Fellow of the College of Allergy and Applied Immunology (FCAI). Subsequent to his retirement, he continued his passion for academia and served as Professor of Pharmacology, Al Fateh University, Tripoli, Libya, and Professor of Pharmacology at College of Medical Sciences, Nepal. He was actively involved in various academic and administrative activities relating to medical education and research till he breathed his last. He was a life member of IPS and contributed to its activities both at the national and Delhi branch level. He was the Organizing Secretary of the IPS Conference in 1976 and an active member of the Organizing Committee of the Asian Congress of Pharmacology in 1985.
Prof. Sen was a teacher and researcher of the highest order. The meticulous manner in which he prepared and delivered his lectures has been widely acclaimed by all his students across four decades, who still remember him for his extraordinary teaching abilities. He had a novel and innovative approach to pharmacology research. He was instrumental in setting up state-of-the-art research facilities at the UCMS and guided several faculty members and students to achieve highest levels of excellence in biomedical research. He specialized in the areas of immunopharmacology and neuropharmacology and an integration of both the specialties. His work on histamine and its neuropsychopharmacology attracted international attention and he was invited to Japan and Canada to present it. He worked on immunomodulation by herbal drugs and his pioneering research was widely acclaimed at the highest level. He later directed the activities of the Stress Research group that was set up in his department and developed several international research collaborations. He published extensively in national and international journals and was the author of a textbook in Pharmacology. His mentoring qualities were of the highest order and under his stewardship the department grew up to become one of the most prolific research centers in the country. It was during his tenure that research from the department led to awards like Acahri Prize, Uvnas Prize, Young Asian Pharmacologist prize, etc. Many of his students are presently occupying important positions in reputed institutions both in India and abroad.
Prof. Sen was a thorough gentleman and an extremely humble human being. Despite his monumental achievements, his humility and dedication to work were exemplary. He will be dearly remembered by all his students and colleagues as an affectionate and beloved teacher who gave his best to his students till the last day and as a person of highest integrity, honesty and sincerity. The fraternity of Pharmacology and the Indian Pharmacological Society has lost one of its stalwarts. Prof. Sen leaves behind his bereaved wife, two daughters and one son, all of whom are well established in life.
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