In a momentous recognition of lifelong dedication to public health, Banaras Hindu University Professor Shyam Sundar Agarwal has been awarded the prestigious Padma Shri. The announcement, made on the eve of Republic Day, highlights his groundbreaking work in combating Kala-Azar, a deadly parasitic disease rampant in India’s Bihar region.
Professor Agarwal, speaking exclusively after the honor was revealed, described the award as the culmination of 38 years of relentless effort. Hailing from Muzaffarpur, Bihar—once an epicenter of the disease where thousands perished annually due to lack of affordable treatment—he turned personal tragedy into a mission for millions.
Back in the 1980s, diagnosing Kala-Azar took weeks and cost hundreds of rupees, unaffordable for impoverished patients. Agarwal pioneered the RK-39 strip test, slashing diagnosis time to mere minutes and revolutionizing early detection worldwide.
His innovations didn’t stop there. When traditional drugs failed, curing only a third of patients with high mortality, Agarwal led the charge for alternatives. He developed a single-dose liposomal Amphotericin-B treatment, endorsed by the World Health Organization and integrated into India’s national Kala-Azar elimination program.
Further breakthroughs include multi-drug therapy combining Paromomycin and Miltefosine, now standard at primary health centers, and the first trials of Miltefosine itself. A landmark 2002 study under his leadership on nearly 300 patients achieved 94% accuracy with oral medication, despite challenges like month-long regimens.
‘I’m no unique genius, just an ordinary man from Bihar,’ Agarwal humbly told reporters. His work has saved countless lives, reducing Kala-Azar from a scourge to a controllable illness. As India nears eradication goals, Agarwal’s Padma Shri stands as a beacon for science-driven humanitarianism, inspiring the next generation of researchers.