Cholera, though one of the deadliest diseases known to humankind, is often relegated to a “forgotten disease” in the global health agenda. Major health organizations, governments, and the media prioritize diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis—those that are perceived as more urgent or widespread threats. In this spotlight, cholera fades into the background, overshadowed despite its profound historical and ongoing impact, especially in developing countries. Yet, behind cholera’s shadow, two Indian scientists—Dr. Shambhunath De and Dr. Dilip Mahalanabis—made groundbreaking contributions that saved tens of millions of lives, yet their work remains largely unrecognized, even in the country they called home.

This blog post is a tribute to these two men whose life-saving discoveries fought against cholera—and against the collective indifference of the global medical community, especially India.

Dr. Shambhunath De: The Quiet Pioneer Who Discovered Cholera’s Lethal Weapon

In 1959, in a modest lab in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Dr. Shambhunath De made a discovery that should have shaken the world. Amid his quiet and unassuming research, he identified the real killer in cholera: not the Vibrio cholerae bacterium itself, but the toxin it released. This toxin, Dr. De proved, tore through the intestines, causing the rapid loss of fluids that led to death.

Dr. De’s work was pioneering in every sense. He was the first to establish that cholera’s lethal effects were caused by the action of a toxin on the intestinal lining. His research was published in Nature, one of the most prestigious scientific journals in the world. But despite the importance of his findings, the global scientific community—both in the West and India—largely ignored him.

In fact, Dr. De’s work was met with scepticism and indifference. His name vanished into obscurity, and the world continued without acknowledging his vital contribution. No Nobel Prize. No recognition in Indian medical textbooks. No public acclaim. Dr. De died quietly in 1985, his legacy buried under layers of dust.

Dr. Dilip Mahalanabis: The Refugee Camp Hero Who Proved ORS’s Life-Saving Potential

In 1971, another Indian doctor, Dr. Dilip Mahalanabis, found himself on the frontlines of a different battle. The Bangladesh Liberation War had caused a massive refugee crisis, and the camps in Bongaon, West Bengal, were overwhelmed with displaced people. Amid this chaos, a cholera outbreak broke out. With intravenous fluids in short supply, children were dying in alarming numbers. Death rates reached as high as 30%, and the situation seemed hopeless.

But Dr. Mahalanabis did not succumb to despair. Instead, he turned to a simple solution—oral rehydration therapy (ORS), a treatment that had been dismissed by many in the medical community. Using a mixture of salt, sugar, and water, Dr. Mahalanabis devised a method to save lives. With no modern medical equipment at hand, no machines, and no high-tech laboratories, he began administering the ORS solution in coconut shells to cholera patients.

Within weeks, the death rate from cholera in the refugee camps dropped dramatically, from 30% to under 4%. His demonstration proved that ORS could be used anywhere in the world—no fancy equipment required. Dr. Mahalanabis, although not the inventor of ORS, was the one who made the world sit up and take notice. His demonstration in the refugee camps of Bangladesh showcased the power of a simple and cost-effective solution to save millions.

Global Recognition, But India Lags Behind

By 1978, ORS had been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF as “the greatest medical breakthrough of the 20th century.” Today, it remains the primary treatment for cholera-related dehydration worldwide, having saved over 70 million lives. And yet, both Dr. Shambhunath De and Dr. Dilip Mahalanabis, the two men responsible for its development, continue to be largely unrecognized—especially in India.

Dr. Mahalanabis, who demonstrated the life-saving potential of ORS in 1971, did not receive full recognition until 2023 when he was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour. But this came long after his passing, and the honour did little to stir national pride or media attention. There were no headlines, no fanfare. A lifetime of contributions to global health, with little acknowledgement from the country that should have celebrated him.

Dr. Shambhunath De, on the other hand, remains entirely forgotten by most of India. Despite his monumental contribution in identifying the cholera toxin, his name is conspicuously absent from medical textbooks and public memory. Neither of these men has been immortalized with statues, and there is no mention of them even on the packets of ORS that have saved countless lives around the world.

Why Cholera and Its Pioneers Remain Forgotten

Cholera, despite being one of the deadliest diseases in history, remains in the shadow of diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. While these diseases are critical global health issues, the lack of sustained attention to cholera reflects a broader apathy. Major health organizations have often overlooked the historical and ongoing impact of cholera, which continues to ravage parts of the world, especially in areas with inadequate sanitation and water supply.

However, the neglect of cholera is not the only issue. The lack of recognition for non-Western scientists, especially those working in countries that were once colonized, adds another layer to the problem. Dr. De’s work, for example, was disregarded not only by the Western scientific community but also by India itself. The indifference towards such brilliant discoveries, particularly from scientists working in non-Western settings, underscores a wider pattern of global apathy.

In many ways, Dr. De and Dr. Mahalanabis’s stories exemplify the systemic neglect of contributions from non-Western nations. In a world where scientific discovery often follows the Western narrative, the discoveries of Indian scientists like Dr. De and Dr. Mahalanabis are sidelined—despite their enormous impact.

The Need for Recognition

We must recognize the work of these scientists—not only for their groundbreaking contributions but also for their invaluable impact on global public health. Dr. De’s discovery of the cholera toxin, coupled with Dr. Mahalanabis’s demonstration of ORS’s effectiveness, has saved millions of lives and revolutionized how we treat dehydration caused by cholera and other diseases.

Yet, both men remain largely unknown to the wider public, even in their own country. Dr. De died in obscurity, and Dr. Mahalanabis’s recognition came only posthumously, long after his contributions had already shaped the global response to cholera.

India must do better. It’s not enough to simply acknowledge these men decades after they have passed. India must actively remember them, celebrate them, and ensure their stories are told in every corner of the nation. There must be monuments, there must be textbooks, and there must be public pride in the achievements of these unsung heroes. Their names should be as recognizable as any other great figure in India’s history.

A Legacy to Honour

The lives saved by Dr. Shambhunath De and Dr. Dilip Mahalanabis cannot be understated. Their work didn’t just fight cholera—it challenged global medical apathy and showed that the simplest solutions can have the most profound impacts. Together, these two men killed cholera, once in a laboratory and once in a refugee camp.

Their legacies are eternal. It’s time for India to honour them, both for their contributions to medical science and for the millions of lives they’ve saved, whose names will never be known.

As the world continues to battle cholera and other diseases, we must remember that India did not just contribute to global health—it changed the course of it. And as we do so, let us finally ensure that these two men, Dr. Shambhunath De and Dr. Dilip Mahalanabis, are never forgotten again.