Tag Archives: Women Empowerment

Branolia Health, Branolia Heroes, Kulekhara, Kulerron, Livonia

Nobel Prize Winners Study the Fluctuating Levels of Oxygen in the Blood: How can Ayurveda contribute to it?

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With every fleeting second, as one is delving deeper into the varied branches of science, so is he reaping the benefits of novel scientific developments, technological advancements and discoveries and these inventions are signals of mankind putting their best foot forward towards a generative and a productive future ahead. One such progressive step has been taken in the field of medicine and physiology, by three veteran scientists, William G. Kaelin, Gregg L. Semenza and Peter J. Ratcliffe who have received the highest accolade for their impressive discovery in the field of medicine and physiology, that is the Nobel Prize, for their authentic discovery of tracking the adaptation of cells in accordance with the changing levels of oxygen in the bloodstream.

Oxygen is an essential element that exists in nature in the purest form. It plays an important role in sustaining living organisms. The study conducted had highlighted the molecular mechanisms monitoring the activities of the genes, in accordance with the fluctuating levels of oxygen in the blood. However, these fluctuating levels of oxygen in blood, at times, may create a condition of low oxygen diffusion. Haemoglobin, which are proteins identified as oxygen carriers of the body, are unable to accommodate sufficient oxygen in them to be circulated all over the body, on account of low oxygen diffusion rates and this will hinder the oxygen supply to the tissues. These conditions induce Hypoxia, a condition exhibiting low oxygen content in the body tissues. This would lead to adverse changes in cellular metabolism as Hypoxia, debilitates the oxygen content in the cells, subsiding cellular metabolism and gene expression in the cells. Hypoxia is also responsible for various respiratory diseases, neural and heart disorders in the body. Hypoxia is one of the many causes inducing malignant tumors in the body. For an expanding mass of tumor, the demand for oxygen is much more than its supply. The deficit in the oxygen supply induces the tumor cells to grow distant from the vascular system, hindering the diffusion of oxygen and this situation culminates in a fatal hypoxic environment. However, this remarkable study on oxygen detecting mechanisms, lays down potential guidelines, for healing diseases resulting from a dearth in the oxygen supply to the tissues of the body, thus repressing the growth of tumors around the breast, colorectal areas and pancreas which later on aggravates into cancer. However, the ancient Indian healing system of Ayurveda has devised ways to counter the effect of Hypoxia. Withania Somnifera, commonly known as Aswagandha, identified by Ayurvedic experts, as one of the essential components of Ayurvedic concoctions, works wonders in replenishing oxygen content in the blood and eliminating Hypoxia. It escalates the growth of RBC’s(red blood cells) in the body and since RBC’s are responsible for carrying oxygen all over the system, it ensures the healthy functioning of the cardiorespiratory system. It assists in the regulation of aerobic respiration and the cardiorespiratory processes function actively, diminishing the risks of fatal cardiovascular diseases. Another contribution of Ayurveda is Kulerron, which is one of the products of Branolia Chemical Works. This Ayurvedic tonic proves beneficial, especially for enriching the haemoglobin content in the blood which are the carriers of oxygen. The multiplication of haemoglobin automatically facilitates the faster transportation of oxygen throughout the body, diminishing the risks of Hypoxia.

The beneficial properties defining Aswagandha have been infused in the products of Branolia Chemicals. Extracts of Aswagandha are infused in Branolia’s Kulerron, which is blood replenishing Ayurvedic tonic and also in Branolia’s Honey Guard which fights bronchial congestion as it has anti-oxidant properties. Thus Aswagandha exhibits its multi-purpose utilities and versatile applications in Ayurveda and Branolia Chemical’s, over the years has borrowed the essential properties of Ashwagandha to make their products worthwhile.

Bramhi, Branolia, Branolia Heroes, Kulerron, Livonia

Prof Aditi Sen (De): Daughter of Bengal Gets the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award

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It is rather rare for a women scientist to win India’s most prestigious science prize, the Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar award.  Since 1958, when the award was first given, only 16 of the 535 recipients have been women, and there had been none in the physical sciences. This however changed in 2019 when Prof Aditi Sen De, 44 yrs, from the Harish Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad was awarded the prize for her work in quantum information and computation.

Prof Sen works on quantum computing a rather esoteric area of physics which has the potential for far-reaching changes by making computers millions of times more efficient than anything available today. However, the problem is that no one has actually been able to build a quantum computer as yet.  Current computers work on a system of silicon transistors that store information as bits – either in the state of 0 or 1 – on a binary logic analogous to an on-off switch. On the other hand, quantum computers use qubits – a proton or an electron – that can exist as 0, 1 or any or any superposition of any possible combination of 0 and 1. However, there is a small problem which is stopping quantum computing to become a reality and awaits physicist and mathematicians to resolve it. Today’s physical quantum computers are very noisy and quantum error correction is required, but as on date, the optimal quantum mechanical state has yet to be achieved. Some of the finest brains in the world are working to resolve this issue and amongst them is Prof Sen.

Prof Sen did her class X from Sarada Ashrama Balika Vidyalaya, New Alipore, Kolkata and her class XII from Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls High School, Elgin, Kolkata. She completed her B.Sc from Bethune College and M.Sc in Mathematics from Raja Bazaar Science College. She obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Gdansk, Poland with a seminal thesis on ‘Manipulations of Quantum States and their Non-Classical Applications’.

She has held postdoctoral positions in University of Hannover, Germany and The Institute of Photonic Sciences, Spain. She started her career in academics at School of Physical Sciences, JNU before moving to the prestigious Harish Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad, which is home to some of India’s best Physicists including the celebrated Prof Ashoke Sen. Prof Aditi is married to Prof Ujjwal Sen an outstanding Physicist in his own right.

Branolia Chemical Works feels proud that this daughter of Bengal has got such an outstanding recognition for her work. Role models like Prof Aditi Sen will inspire many more girls to take up sciences and tackle some of the biggest scientific challenges faced by the world.

Branolia Chemical Works wishes Prof Aditi Sen all the success in the future endeavours and hope that Prof Sen leads India to the breakthrough that will make quantum computing a reality.

Branolia Heroes

Anandibai Joshi – Defines success on your own terms

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The growth and development of a community or a civil society largely depend on the growth and development of its individuals in general and women particularly. India’s history tells the story of exponential inequality against women along with a strong network of customs and cultures which made it difficult for women to come forward and break the barriers of discriminations to empower themselves. In the 18th century, it was considered to be an offense and a misdemeanor for a woman to pursue education. In such grim times, there was a woman who braved all odds and made a permanent mark for herself in the field of medicine. Dr. Anandibai Joshi became the First Indian Female Physician to graduate with MD (Doctor of Medicine) on 11th March 1886, from the Medical College of Pennsylvania, USA.

Journey towards Success

Anandibai was born in an Orthodox Brahmin family in Maharashtra and as was the norm in those days she was married off at the age of 9. However, Anandi’s life changed after her marriage. Her husband, Gopalrao Joshi was the man who gave wings to her dreams. A postal clerk from Maharashtra, Gopalrao had different views and wanted to educate his wife and empower her. His main criterion behind marrying Anandi was the condition that he should be allowed to educate her. Initially, he started off by teaching Anandi Marathi, Hindi, and English. It was an arduous journey as he had to face oppositions from his family and friends.

Gopalrao’s passion to educate Anandi was such that he did not think twice before punishing her publicly in front of the entire neighborhood for indulging in household chores when she should have been studying. He also shifted to Kolkata to avoid any kind of interference which would hinder Anandi from pursuing higher studies.

Anandi was an intelligent and diligent student. Under the mentorship of Gopalrao, she grew up to be a well-read scholar. After losing her first child because of lack of proper medical services Anandi decided to pursue medicine. Gopalrao’s and Anandi’s dream was able to see the light of the day when a rich American from New Jersey Theodicia Carpenter offered help. Thus in 1886, Anandi became the first women from India to become a Doctor. Anandi is also considered to be the first Hindu Women to set foot on American soil.

She defied societal norms to travel independently to America to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. In her letters of application, she wrote that her only motivation in becoming a physician is to lend her services to the women of her country who would rather die in need of medical help than accept treatment at the hands of a male physician. She believed that she must not fail for all the women back home that needed support.

Accolades

Queen Victoria was one of the first to send Anandi a congratulatory message on her graduation. When Anandibai came back to India she was appointed as the Physician in charge of the female words at Albert Edward hospital in Kolhapur Maharashtra. Although she lived a mere 21 yrs yet she achieved more than most of us. Today a crater on Venus is named in her honor.

Even today in the 21st Century where women have to deal with a lot of discrimination, the story of Anandibai and Gopalrao was remarkable and unthinkable.  Anandibai Joshi has definitely left a mark and contributed to a much better and bolder India.