Amiya Bhuson Kar obtained his PhD degree (1946) from the University of Edinburgh, UK. His areas of specialization were medical science, reproductive physiology and contraception. He was a Resident Doctor, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA (1946-47); Colombo Plan Fellow, University of Birmingham and London (1955-56), and Head, Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow.

Academic and Research Achievements: Kar's initial research was in physiology, particularly, on the effect of steroids on the reproductive process in experimental animals and demonstration of their antiovulatory and antispermatogneic properties. He was one of the first to investigate the effect of heavy metals on reproduction and his studies found practical application in the development of simple, inexpensive and bloodless method of sterilization of scrub cattle by intraovarian injection of cadmium chloride. His research also extended to experimental and clinical studies on intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUD), with particular reference to their long-term effect on the genital organs on postpartum and post-abortion insertion, and on management of IUD-associated bleeding episodes. His pioneering studies on intra-vas deferens device (IVD) in 1964 and intrafallopian tube device (IFTD) in 1966 stimulated worldwide interest in such devices. His work on the development of post-coital contraceptives for the female resulted in the discovery of potent antifertility activity in a variety of chemical structure, notably in benzofurans, naphthofurans and chromans. His contributions to basic research in reproductive physiology have been noteworthy. His studies on the role of peripheral extragonadal endocrine factors in reproduction and fertility, particularly the thyroid, led to the demonstration of a direct 'thyroprostatic axis', the thyroid hormone being responsible for keeping the prostatic sensitivity to endrogen and estrogen within physiological limits.

Other Contributions: Kar co-authored three WHO monographs and served as a member of the Editorial Boards of several journals including Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy and Indian Journal of Experimental Biology.

Awards and Honours: Kar was a recipient of PN Raju Award of ICMR (1966); National Award from Ministry of Health and Family Planning (1969); FICCI Award (1972); Invention Promotion Board Award (1972); Asiatic Society Medal (1972) and Padma Shri by Government of India (1972). He was a Member of Indian Medical Association and a Fellow of Asiatic Society.