Work Under Progress – Jawad Hussain – 3rd (1st revision)
INTERVIEW : 3rd in the Series of Veterinarians of the MVC: August 21st, 2021
This is the third part of the series of Interviews with Veterinarians of MVC. Here are the excerpts of an interview of Dr. Jawad Hussain with Abdul-Aleem.
Dr Jawad Hussain M.V.Sc; Former Research Officer, Disease Referral Lab, Saidapet, Chennai
Q; ABOUT YOURSELF – Brief
A; I was born in Cuddapah (Kadapa) which lies on the Chennai (Madras)- Mumbai (Bombay) railway line, in the then Madras Presidency. Now it is the District Headquarters in the Rayalseema region Andhra Pradesh. Subsequently in 1954 settled down in Madras (Chennai) and made Chennai my home where i now live with my children and grand children.
I joined the Madras Veterinary College (MVC) in 1958. In those days each class had about 120 students enrolled and the duration of the BVSc degree course was 5 years.
Q: CAREER HIGHLIGHTS :
A: I joined the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Department , Government of Tamil Nadu in the year 1966 .
Susbequent to my post graduation MVSc in Veterinary Preventive Medicine, I was assigned to the ‘The Institute of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences (I.V.P.M), Ranipet where I spent the following 23 years as an Disease Investigative Officer.
, A Brief on the I.V.P.M Ranipet:
The Institute originally known as ‘Serum Institute’ was established at Madras Veterinary College campus, Chennai in 1932 to produce Anti-Rinderpest serum and bull virus to combat Rinderpest which was rampant then, posing serious threat to livestock population.
In 1942, this Institute was shifted to agricultural college campus Coimbatore as an emergency measure due world war II.
In March 1948,the institute was shifted to the present campus at Ranipet, facing the national highway No.4 at a distance of 114 kms from Chennai and renamed ‘The Institute of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences (I.V.P.M), Government of Tamil Nadu.
Highlight:
It was my job responsibility to investigate and provide the scientific solution for any calls of disease outbreaks that the Department got in Tamil Nadu. Basically a trouble-shooter for 23 years on behalf of the Department .
For any distress calls I would pack my bags, travel , and go to the location. I would then venture out and meet the cattle farmers, listen and record the actual issues. Investigate and conduct post-mortems and draw any conclusions. If that could not be done on the spot, it would result in my collecting the necessary specimen and samples in adequate quantities. Come back to my headquarters in Ranipet conduct virological, bacteriological and pathological tests.. There in the lab we do research the specimens, identity the issues and then accordingly adviset the necessary steps/remedy to arrest the mortality or treat the disease/s in that species of the animal.
One particular outbreak: AFLOTOXIN
I remember a particular incident. We got reports of a drastic outbreak of a disease and cattle were dying mysteriously in Madurai. As required we rose to the occasion and I went on the field trip. Here on speaking to the cattle farmers we came to know that it was only the buffaloes that were dying but not the cows.
The stand-out phenomena was that the dung excreted was completely cement in colour. The symptoms were of jaundice, yellowness. The second phenomena was that the buffaloes were dying but the cows did not die but had a loss of milk.
The general opinion was that it could be Leptosporosis. whict usually occurs in Cattle, Dogs and Rodents. It can also be transmitted to humans.
On detailed investigation it was found to be Aflotoxin.
Historial back ground research revealed that there was a storm in Tamil Nadu the previous year. The farmers had stored the groundnut cake,other feed cakes and other concentrated feed of cattle in the open. This had been exposed to the elements in the downpour. The wet cakes then developed a white fungus which grew on teh cakes.
These were then fed to the cattle which resulted in the Aflotoxin outbreak.
The findings were then released in a press conference by the Collector of Madurai. The cattle farmers were also informed by contact groups.
ADDITIONAL TRAINING :
I am liberally using photographs wherever they are available with me, so that I can record both my collegemates and batchmates.
( I ) TRAINING IN UTTARAKHAND:
Underwent 3 months of training at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) , Al Murra near the Himalayas , Mukhteshwar, Uttarakhand.
( II ) TRAINING AT IZZATNAGAR, UTTAR PRADESH
( III ) TRAINING AT HISSAR, HARYANA
Underwent training for Diseases for Equines (Horses) at the National Research Centre on Equines at Hissar in Haryana. On a personal note since I was already there I proceeded to Panipat to visit the Bu Ali Shah Qalandar Mazar. It is from here that the well-known ritual of ‘Same-ni-ki-Fathiha’ originated where you have boneless meat korma with Khameri roti. For those who are not familiar it is a ‘boneless meat only’ (haddi nei so ghosh) fathiha offering. I made a point of discussing this with the Mujawar there and he clearly stated that there is no ritual called the ‘Same-ni-Fathiha’ that they practice or promote.
Q: DESIGNATION AT THE TIME OF RETIREMENT :
A: Research Officer, Disease Referral Lab, Animal Husbandry Department, Saidapet, Chennai
Q: MEMORIES OF COLLEGE DAYS :
A: I joined the 5 year course leading to B.V.Sc; at Madras Veterinary College from (1958 to 1964) . After a gap or (xxy years), I rejoined MVC, enrolled, and completed my MVSc. specialising in Veterinary Preventive Medicine . It was a great time I spent with a selected group of students (provide names here) and we were always together wherever we went.
(IV) TRAINING AT THANJAVUR, TAMIL NADU
Below is the photograph taken in 1961 during my 3rd year B.V.Sc camp of one and half months of Farm training in Thanjavur.
At the time of this interview I am in regular contact with a few of my batchmates Dr.Jagannathan Shetty, Dr. Madhavan Rao both who are settled in Bangalore and Thodaan Shah who is in the UK.
Q & A : BATCH /YEAR OF B.V.Sc : 1958 / BATCH/ YEAR of M.V.Sc : 1973)
Q: FIELD OF EXPERTISE OR SPECIALIZATION :
A: MVSc – Veterinary Preventive Disease 1973
Disseratation; The subject was Presence of Leptospirosis in Cattle and Dogs in Chennai. This was the first research paper in Tamil Nadu on the subject. The research was done by taking a seriological survey and then presenting the data in support of my dissertation.
It usually occurs in Cattle, Dogs and Rodents. It can also be transmitted to humans.
An organism that is spiral and keeps wriggling. It is not visible unless by using dark chrom microscopy for analysis. Leptospirosis can be identified by a serological survey through blood, remove the serum and then identify.
Unrelated:
In 1973 in Chennai there was an outbreak of Leptospirosis and 2 or 3 nurses in Stanley Medical College contracted this disease and expired. In humans this can be treated. Initially, the MVC would be contacted for the laboratory investigations and findings. Subsequently the Medical College University took up this cause and set up their own laboratory .
Q: Dr. I . M . AZIZUDDIN – Memories, Oral History as a student
A: When I was in student in College 1958-65, I never knew anything of Dr. Aziz. In June 1961 when my late father (XXXXXname here) passed away (date here) and his remains were buried at the Ramarao Bagh. My family members wanted to construct a headstone/structure on his grave. During my visit to the khabarastan (graveyard) , I undertook a little personal research and went around looking to see what other grave structures were there. To my surprise on the south side of my father’s grave, I saw the concrete grave headstone of the Late Dr.I.M. Azizuddin the Principal of the Madras Veterinary College (MVC) where
Q: PERSONAL INTEREST – JOINT EFFORT IN CREATING A MEMORY OF the Late Dr.I.M. Azizuddin :
Subsequent to the above incident when I retired in 1997, a thought crossed my mind to participate alongwith other alumni either presently employed and retired of MVC who were either students of or who had heard of the illustrious Dr. I.M Azizuddin. To create a memory in MVC of this youngest Principal of MVC, who passed away at age 34, after achieving the highest educational position of Principal MVC and who was also the First PhD. Principal of the MVC.
Since that time in 1997 over 10 to 15 years had passed away and no progress was made on that front. Dr. Mohamed Nayeem has also retired. After this period we started co-ordinating with each other and then we came in contact with the children of the Late Dr.I.M. Azizuddin. Two years later working collectively in 2021 an endowment materialised in the form an Annual Award in MVC known as ‘:
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Dr.I.M. Azizuddin Ph.D (Edin), First Head of the Department of Bacteriology (Estb.1949) & First Principal of Madras Veterinary College with a Ph.D (1950) – Memorial Endowment Award
Awarded to: Best Outgoing Student of MVSc Degree Programme in Veterinary Physiology
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I was in touch with the 3 students who were students of the late Dr.I.M.Azizuddin namely Dr. Venkateshan and Dr. Khavi.
It was both me and Dr.Naeem Saeed who were and are personally in contact with the two sons of Dr. Aziz – Mr.Hilal Azizuddin and Mr. Abdul Aleem.
I also met of the children of both the sons and the daughter Mrs. Shahida Asmathulla at their home where other children, their spouses and the grand-children, great-grand-children of Dr.I.M Azizuddin were all present.
LUNCH GET-TOGETHER :
I also met of the children of both the sons and the daughter Mrs. Shahida Asmathulla at their home where other children, their spouses and the grand-children, great-grand-children of Dr.I.M Azizuddin were all present.
MY PRESENT LIFE at 83:
I have used my college co-students and colleagues liberally as a PHOTO ESSAY to include all of them in my interview to place on record all my fellow students and my co-workers and colleagues
As to my present health, I extend all thanks to the Almighty for gracing me with good health. I was diagnosed with ‘locomotive ankylosing spondylolysis enduring acute pain. I have undergone 2 surgeries that failed to provide a solution. My 3rd surgery with a titanium plate inserted has provided a huge relief for several years. In subsequent years the condition has deteriorated and presently I am more or less confined to my residence.
I am yet thankful to the grace of the Almighty to allow the fortitude to endure the day to day living.
Group Family Pic to come here.
Dr Jawad Hussain now aged (84 ) was born on December 26th, 1938 and lives with his wife and son Ashfaq Ahmed and their family at Chennai. He is a proud father of 5 children – Ashfaq Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Khateeja Sultana, Amina Sultana and Safiya Sultana and his grand-children .