C. P. Thakur

Chandreshwar Prasad Thakur, known as C. P. Thakur, is a doctor and researcher whose work on kala-azar changed how the disease is treated, and a veteran politician from Bihar. He was named for the Padma Bhushan in 2024 in the field of medicine, from Bihar ^[1].

Doctor

Thakur was born on 3 September 1931 ^[2]. He topped the 1957 MBBS batch at Patna Medical College, winning several gold medals, and earned the MRCP in Edinburgh in 1962 and in London in 1963 ^[2]. He taught at Patna Medical College as professor of medicine until 1984 and remains an emeritus professor there ^[2].

Kala-azar

Kala-azar, or visceral leishmaniasis, is a deadly tropical disease that was widespread in parts of India ^[2]. In 1982 the World Health Organization invited Thakur to write recommendations on its treatment, and he worked with WHO for more than 35 years on its expert and scientific committees and as principal investigator in trials of new drugs ^[2]. WHO adopted his method of treating kala-azar and the related skin condition that can follow it ^[2].

Public life

Thakur was elected to the Lok Sabha from Patna in 1984, 1998 and 1999, and was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2008 to 2020 ^[2]. He served as a Union minister for portfolios including health and family welfare and water resources, and held senior posts in the Bharatiya Janata Party, including state president in Bihar ^[2]. He has also chaired a Bihar task force on eliminating kala-azar and malaria and is chancellor of the Central University of South Bihar ^[2].