11 Facts About Natteri Veeraraghavan

Natteri Veeraraghavan was an Indian physician, microbiologist and medical researcher, known for his contributions to the understanding of diseases like rabies, tuberculosis and leprosy.

Natteri Veeraraghavan was a former director of the Pasteur Institute of India, Coonoor and the chairman of the World Health Organization International Reference Center on Rabies.

Natteri Veeraraghavan was honoured by the Government of India in 1967, with the award of Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award for his contributions to the society.

Natteri Veeraraghavan was born in Parangipettai, in Chennai district in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu on 1 November 1913 to Natteri Venkatesa Iyer and Balambal.

Natteri Veeraraghavan's graduated in medicine from Andhra University in 1936 and did his senior internship at the Government Mental Hospital, Chennai in 1937.

Natteri Veeraraghavan's career started as a research officer at the Pasteur Institute of India at Coonoor in 1937 and became the assistant director of the institute in 1941.

In 1947, Veeraraghavan was made the director of the institute, a post he held till his retirement in 1972.

Natteri Veeraraghavan was a member of the Indian Council of Medical Research from 1945 to 1981 and sat on the Expert Panel of the World Health Organization on Rabies in 1953,1956,1959,1965 and 1972.

Natteri Veeraraghavan was the vice chairman of the panel in 1953 and the chairman in 1959.

Natteri Veeraraghavan served as a member of the Indian chapter of the World Health Organization Influenza Center from 1959 to 1972 and the Armed Forces Research Committee from 1967 to 1972.

Natteri Veeraraghavan held many patents for his research and his research findings have been documented by way of several publications.