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This news appeared in 'The Examiner' -
www.the-examiner.org of 12 Nov 2005
The installation of a statue in bronze in Bandra,
Mumbai is the tribute India is paying to the great
Goan scientist, Dr Norman Francis Lewis.
Dr Norman Lewis, the grandson of Dr Daniel Lewis of
Parra, reigned supreme at St Stanislaus, Bandra, where
he did his schooling. After his B.Sc. (Tech), he
joined Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 1962. The
central government deputed him to Oregon State
University (USA), for his Masters. His path-breaking
thesis, discovering 'Micrococcus Radiophilus' - the
most radiation-resistant bacillus known to man, earned
him his doctorate. A pioneer of the food irridation
programme, which was instrumental in saving the
country millions of dollars worth of foodgrains, Dr
Lewis was also part of the team which developed the
vaccine against the dreaded Salmonella. At BARC, he
headed several departments like micrbiology, food
technology and enzyme engineering.
At the invitation of United Nations bodies like the
FAO, IAEA and the UNO itself, Dr Lewis represented
India at several international conferences and
symposia from 1974 at Seattle, Munich, Manila, Tokyo,
California, Las Vegas, Denver and San Diego. His
achievements earned him a place in prestigious
publications like 'Who's Who in the world' (1982),
'Who's Who in the Commonwealth', International Book of
Honour', 'Men of Achievement', 'Dictionary of
International Biographies' and 'Profiles of Eminent
Goans'.
Dr Norman Lewis was tipped for the Nobel Prize for his
discovery of the vaccine against cholera, when the
untimely death in 1985 of this great servant, robbed
the country of this rare honour.
His wife, Ms Pramila nee Fernandes from Betalbatim,
who studied at Carmel College in Goa, teaches at
Mumbai's Sacred Heart High School, Santacruz, and
despite being traumatised with widowhood very soon
after marriage, has done a remarkable job in carrying
forward her husband's vision of academic excellence
with their daughter, Rosanne pursuing her postgraduate
degree in Statistics at Mumbai University and their
son, Newton, seeking a degree in Computer Engineering
at the University of Arkansas. She also works with
the Lewis Family Trust.
In recognition of the services of this celebrated son
of India, BMC had in 1994 named the road in front of
the Lewis family residence in Santacruz as Dr Norman F
Lewis Chowk.
Eleven years later, and in his 20th death anniversary
year, a grateful country is honouring him with a
statue at the Norman Francis Grounds, a sports haven
for the public that the Lewis Family Trust maintains
in Bandra. All permissions for the installation of
the statue have been granted and have been passed in
the BMC House. The Collector (BSD Mumbai) has granted
the permission for the erection of the statue. All
police clearances have been obtained and finally the
GAD Mantralaya has given their consent to install the
statue of Dr Norman Francis Lewis.
===
Cheers !!
Joseph Fernandes
Mumbai
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