Srish Chandra Seal obtained DSc (1980) from University of Bombay. He worked as Professor of Epidemiology, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata; Chairman, Indian Institute of Family Welfare and Health Education; and later Emeritus Medical Scientist, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) (1970-73).

Academic and Research Achievements:Seal made notable contributions in the areas: epidemiology and immunology, health and socio-economic surveys, and community medicine. His greatest success was on plague, which has been eradicated in India. Another important contribution of his was on cholera by discovering cholera exotoxin. A vaccine prepared from this, cholera toxo-vaccine, could help eradicate this disease. He also did much work on epidemic dropsy, which has been conquered. Seal also developed a ‘Rural Health Service Scheme’ in which all primary health centers were brought under WHO’s ‘Health for all by 2000 AD’.

Other Contributions: Professor Seal served as Member of the WHO Plague Research Committee (1981) and Indian Forces After Care Fund Committee of Indian Red Cross Society (West Bengal Branch) (1982) ; Chairman, Population Education and Family Welfare Institute, Kolkata (1983); and President, Alumni Association of Medical Social Workers of West Bengal (1967, 1968).

Awards and Honours: Professor Seal was conferred the Coates Medal by University of Calcutta (1952); Dr BN Ghosh Memorial Lecture by University of Calcutta (1971); BC Dasgupta Memorial Oration (1973); Leadership Recognition in Public Health by American Public Health Association (1981); and Dr TS Tirumurti Memorial Lecture Award by INSA (1987). He was elected Fellow of the Asiatic Society, National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad, Indian Public Health Association, Indian National Institute of Ecology, American Public Health Association (Honorary Fellow), American College of Physicians (Honorary Fellow); President, West Bengal Voluntary Health Association, Rural Welfare Society, Diamond Harbour, and Indian Public Health Association; Foundation Fellow, International Medical Science Academy (Chairman, Kolkata Chapter); and President, Medical and Veterinary Section, Indian Science Congress (1963).