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DR C.R. Pillai is about 60 years old and has never suffered from malaria. He says, “My wife got it, but I didn’t.” Which is surprising, considering the emeritus medical scientist at the National Institute of Malarial Research (NIMR) has been surrounded by thousands of samples of malarial parasites for over 38 years now. For Pillai, everyday routine at the Malarial Parasite Bank at NIMR consists of squinting through a lens to label the organisms, feeding them regularly and monitoring their status.
His wife Dr C. Usha Pillai-who passed away in 2005—was his constant companion. “We spent a lot of our time here,” says Pillai. Pointing to a neighbouring table with a microscope, he says, “She always sat here. We never took holidays. We even worked on weekends, but we liked being here.”
The lab, on the whole, looks benign, with a few tiled tables, chairs, microscopes and test tubes, but it is the storage canisters and the temperature-controlled vaults that hold the answer to a possible vaccine for malaria. Parasites from all over the country are cryopreserved at minus 196 degree Celsius in this lab, which houses 832 isolates of human malarial parasites. Fifty-three major research organisations from across the country use the bank for research.
“Stored in liquid nitrogen with cryopreservatives, parasites can live for a hundred years in a frozen state. They can then be revived and cultivated in the laboratory. There is also in-vitro cultivation of malarial parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum, where a thin layer of infected and non-infected erythrocytes (blood cells) is cultured in a medium at 37 degree Celsius in a carbon dioxide atmosphere,” says Pillai. The words flow fast; the passion for parasites is evident in his tone as he explains how they have been a part of his life.
The bank was established in 1992, but Pillai’s relationship with parasites goes back to the 1970s. A Keralite, he completed his MSc in Kollam before pursuing his PhD in medical microbiology from Delhi University. “There was a resurgence of malaria in the country in 1974-75, when I was working at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases. The bank was established later with the support of the then director of NIMR, Dr V.P. Sharma and Dr. N.K. Ganguly. This is a unique set-up of its kind in India.”
Spending a lifetime looking after parasites as if they are your own is not easy. “The medium has to be changed daily and they have to be monitored for healthy propagation,” says Pillai. Imagine catering to high-maintenance, disease-causing organisms. But Pillai’s line of thought explains his dedication. He says, “They have been around for a million years or more. They have to be given respect.” His wife would have agreed.
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Its indeed an honour to meet a scientist rather a person who is an idol of dedication and inspiration. I had the opportunity to met sir on 29th and 30th September, 2009.I came here with the aim to culture and maintain the parasites for my PhD work. But in these two days which i consider as golden moments, I learnt to love respect and devote for the Plasmodium parasites. I'll remember for my whole life his famous quote at the end of my training - "What I explained is just the tip of an iceberg. You need to explore the rest.Your knowledge should not be confined in you and you should decipher it to others that might benefit mankind." May God usher on him all the happiness. I would consider myself fortunate if I can be able to devote myself for atleast a small part of his dream.-----Sougata Ghosh
It was really a golden moments in my life which i have spent with him during my training under him (June -july 2009). His experience which he had shared with me , has boosted AND ENCOURAGED me to go far forward in my Research life. Thank you very much. I am really lucky and also feel proud to say that "i know CR PILLAi sir and I got invitro cultivation of PF -training under him". God wish his all happiness and good health.------------- Harsha R Kashyap
A true dedication of acouple we can see in parasite bank,now the days it is very difficult to find such wonderful people,who dedicated theire life to the mankind.i met Dr.usha only one time in her lab but that memmory still evergreen in my heart,Dr.usha was his right hand and they spent great time together in office also iam remembering her with tears.i appreciate express india for this article
Very very true about Dr. Pillai and Late Madam Usha. I have close interaction with them for a decade. Our need for the parasites and training of my students are through NIMR under the guidance of Dr. Pillai. He cares the Plasmodium sps. better than his children. If we ask he will tell they are grown up and they can look after themselves but the parasites can not. We are really worried once he retires what will happen to the parasite bank... because I can't expect anybody to have this much dedication and can give this much care for the maintenance of this parasite bank. I hope more people will follow his way of dedication for the work... including me. All the best. Media should bring out these kinds of write-ups.
His honest dedication to monitoring parasite is hopefully giving a MALARIA FREE WORLD.
It's really an inspiring and truly dedicated work done by the couple. The efforts put in by them would be beneficial to many researchers and to the country. The article would also inspire many young researchers to work in the field of Parasitology and vaccine development. I hope and wish that he still continues to work and get more accolades for his silent work.
I bow my head to the Dr. Pillais for heir dedicated and selfless services rendered to these wonderful small creatures. Even working on weekends with parasites shows their love for work which is rarely seen. Establishing cultures of Plasmodium and their maintenance is itself a Herculean task and above all establishment of a Parasite Bank, one and only of its kind in India is a GREAT GREAT contribution done by the couple. Hats off to both of them! This is indeed a biggest gift to India and I am sure this article will inspire many young people to learn a lot from Dr. Pillais. I appreciate and congratulate the Express India for bringing this article to the knowledge of common man.
Dr.Pillais work was brougfht ti light.It is a rare ocurrence both husband and wife working in the same profession and working together a life time to establish a knowledge center so that the future generation will be able to carry on productive work from this Resource material.I wsh this Express article will bring scientist from all corners of the world to enjoy this great resource.This is a big gift to the India as well as to the Humanity.
This is a story of a lifetime dedication of a super couple. Thanks Expressindia for publishing this. Dedication and consistent effort are two great qualities that the Pillai couples epitomize. It is apparent that Dr. Pillais have in their own way contributed to the scientific world of microorganisms, establishing cultures and helping to propagate these microscopic forms thus enabling future research work in the field of vaccines and drug development. I truly appreciate their contribution and simplicity. I hope Dr. Pillai gets get many more accolades and nation-wide recognition for all his accomplishments!!
the story of wonderful world of germs was interesting and unique in the sense that a scientific couple getting a chance to work in the same area with unique interest and able to set up asuch a priceless collection of parasites from our country. This center ia a MINE of information providing the innumerable possibilities of future researh work and drug development in the area of Malarial infections and preventive strategies.I wonder why so far nobody has noticed this important work done by Dr.pillai and Usha Pillai and give them a recognition for their lifetime efforts .Hope atleast the Express will take up this matter seriously.Dr.Pillai pl accept my whole hearted thank you for your silent contribution to our Nation.Bharat Mata will be proud of you.Jai Hind.
I personally congratulate Expressindia for bringing this article to the public. Many Students, scientists and citizens may not know the struggle for maintaining the parasite bank. I knew Dr. Pillai and Dr. Usha Pillai personally, who are behind this malaria parasite bank. My lab is one of the many labs which depends on the suuply of the parasites from Dr. Pillai. Infact my research scholars undertake training under Dr. Pillai before starting research in my Lab. Without their support I would have not started research in Cerebral Malaria. Even today Dr. Pillai is kind enough to train my students and supply parasites.My lab is one of the few labs who has seen the struggle of this couple even in holidays to feed parasites and to propagate cultures for the next generations. The article didnot mention one more important aspect, this good couple used to donate their own blood to feed parasite and culture them. The researchers in this area must acknowledge their efforts.
Great work and dedication as shown by Dr Pillais. The work reminded me of Curie couple. As per WHO statistics every thirty seconds one person is dying due to malaria. We need more and more Dr Pillai's in this field to work and come out with some solutions to curb the menace of malaria from this globe. He and his late wife are certainly role models to all young scientists working in the field of medical entomology or malariology. Kudos Dr C R Pillai!!!
The life of a scientist couple may be ordinary like a layman’s, but the attitude pervades through their life makes them extraordinary. They contribute silently to the mankind without expecting any reward because their work is their life. Those people are endangered in our society nowadays; scientists with civic sense like Dr. C.R. Pillai are role model not only for young scientists but also for those who want to help others by helping themselves.
This is indeed marvellous!!reading this article, one can actually come 2 know the dedication and sincerity chittappan has shown just for making others life better!!Its wonderful to see that great works are being appreciated by all,all the time!!I know that i'm no one to make even a comment on this!!Chittappan's life is something which should be looked upon for imbibng inspiration and aiming high in life!! one could not just be like him by simply working for a few hours, or days,or years!!but for acheiving something in life a trigger is necessary!!Indeed chittappan's life is one!!
A really inspiring example of true dedication. Basic research and drug discovery in India is still rudimentary and needs to come up in a bigger way. Dr. Pillai's dedication is a good example for the scientific community.
The couple could have worked like any other couple to earn a living by doing their respective job.Here one can see that the Pillai couple while doing their routine jobs, they have strived to collect malarial parasite stamps from various parts of india and did sought the help of their superiors to set up a Parasite bank so that the resarch work on Malarial parasites can get a quantem jump in the future.I congratulate Pillai couple for their Vission and the authorities and the government to for giving the needed support.Good wrk indian express
I am a Nigerian with Dr C.R . Pillai at the Parasite bank as a Postdoctoral fellow. Dr Pillai is more like a father to me. It is always a thing of joy to meet such a person so kindhearted, humane and totally dedicated to research. I am sure it is his kindheartedness that extended to the malaria parasites (the “GERMS”). I never met his late wife, although I have a picture of her and the whole Pillai family in my own family album now, I learnt she was equally very hardworking. The Parasite Bank is a testimony to this and one hopes this will be kept up when he is fully retired.God bless you sir.Dr(Mrs) Olajumoke Morenikeji Senior LecturerDepartment of ZoologyUniversity of IbadanNigeria.