In memorium: Dr. Satyesh Chandra Pakrashi (1930–2019)

Abstract

Dr. Satyesh Chandra Pakrashi, FNA, FNASc, FASc-T, the 2nd President of Archana Sharma Foundation of Calcutta, Kolkata, India left for his heavenly abode on the 26th of January, 2019. He was born in February, 1930 in a well known Zaminder family of East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. He did his matriculation from his family school in 1944 and obtained his MSc. degree from the University of Calcutta in the year 1950. He was awarded Ph.D. degree in Chemistry in the year 1954 under the guidance of eminent scientist Professor (Mrs.) Asima Chatterjee at the University of Calcutta. His work on the structure elucidation of the Rauwolfia alkaloid—yohimbine (alternative form of Rauwolscine) is the basis of the stereo-chemical assignment of the well known tranquillizing drug, reserpine was widely acclaimed. He then proceeded to USA for postdoctoral research and joined the laboratory of Professor Carl Djerassi at Wayne State University, Detroit in 1955. He made significant contributions on Rauwolfia alkaloids, also collaborated with Dr. R.B. Woodward, at the Harvard University, to work on the structures of tetraphyllicin, ajmalidine and rauvomicine. In 1956, he moved to the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York to work with Professor D.S. Tarbell. He synthesized C14 incorporated Benz [α] pyrine, a well-known carcinogen, and studied the application of its metabolites on mouse skin. During his long course of research career, he worked as a visiting Scientist with Professor K Biemann, at MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA in the year 1973. He also collaborated with many other renowned scientists of USA, Germany and Japan. After returning to India he joined Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Kolkata on a first ever US Public Health Research Project (1959–63) and then joined as Senior Scientist in 1963. He served as the Director, IICB, Kolkata during the period 1985 to 1990, and was reappointed as CSIR Distinguished Fellow till 1995. He was also conferred the D.Sc. (honoris causa) by Kanpur University (1996). His academic, research achievements and outstanding contributions in the chemistry of natural products, particularly alkaloids and terpenoids had earned him honors and awards.