Synopsis
Ismail Mohamed Azizuddin
B.A, G.M.Vc., B.V.Sc., Ph.D (Edin)
Born February 16th, 1916 – died. June 15th, 1954, at the young age of 38 years).
Madras (now Chennai) , Madras State (now Tamil Nadu) , Republic of India
Biography
Ismail Mohamed Azizuddin (aka. Dr. I.M. Azizuddin) (born February 16th, 1916 – died. June 15th, 1954)
1948: The first B.V.Sc (Madras, now TamilNadu) to receive PhD Doctrate for his research on Bacteriology and Pathology of “Bovine Endometritis”..
The Youngest Principal of the Madras Veterinary College.
1943: The first B.V.Sc to be directly recruited in 1943, as Lecturer in Madras Veterinary Services.
Dr.I.M. Azizuddin was born on 16th February 1916 to Mohamed Ismail , an Agriculturalist landlord and the then Chairman of Tindivanam Municipality, Madras State. They belonged to one of the leading and distinguished families of Tindivanam, Madras State (now TamilNadu), Republic of India.
Throughout his career in the country and abroad he earned high praise from the leading members of his profession, for his diligence, abounding enthusiasm and high capacity for scientific research. He was an authority on the subject. A very conscientious and hard worker he was found to be a very pleasant colleague.
As a young Principal he soon shot into the limelight and earned esteem and affection of the staff and students by his abounding enthusiasm and keen interest.
A gifted speaker, spiced with abounding crisp jokes, he always carried off the laurels whether on stage or in the class room. Senior members of the profession who had the privilege of learning the subject under him used to recollect his impressive lectures and clinics around the wards and his lucid demonstrations specially at the postmortem tables and under the microscope.
Dr. Azizuddin was a man of wide and varied interests. In spite of his high academic commitments, he was always a favourite of the students on the sports field. A keen enthusiast himself, he was always a friend of the sportsmen.
Genial by temperament, he was always a friend of the needy, he had a kind and generous heart which opened out equally to the rich and poor alike. At the young age of 38 years, he died full of glory and honours,, as a testament of his achievements in the short period.
Education:
Schooling:
1932: A.A. M. High School, Tindivanam, Madras State
College:
1937: B.A.(zoology and botany- optional subjects), The Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Madras
: G.M.Vc:
1942: B.V.Sc., The Madras Veterinary College
1948: Ph.D., University of Edinburgh, United Kingom.
Professional:
1942; Soon after graduation in College in 1942 he was engaged in research work in Bacteriology and Pathology at the Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Mukhteshwar. For one year held the appointment of a Research Scholar in Bacteriology under Government of India.
1943: In 1943, he was recruited to the Madras Veterinary Services and appointed as Lecturer in Medicine at the Madras Veterinary College. The first B.V.Sc to be directly recruited.
1946: In the autumn of 1946, he was deputed for higher training by the Government of Madras for higher studies in Bacteriology in the United Kingdom. During his stay at the University of Edinburgh, he was engaged for over a period of two years in research in the Bacteriology and Pathology of “ Bovine Endometritis”. On the basis of his thesis was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosopy in December 1948. He was the first B.V.Sc to win this Doctorate award.
The main portion of his work was carried out at the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College, Edinburgh and the Hannah Dairy Research Institute, Ayr.
Dr. Azizuddin also had the privilege of studying diagnostic and research techniques at reputed institutions viz. Veterinary Research Division, Belfast, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge and Poultry Diseases Research Laboratory, Lasswade, Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine, London.
He made a special study of Trichomoniasis including its serology and tuberculin testing in cattle with special reference to ‘storment method’ in Northern Ireland.
1949: He returned to Madras in March 1949 and took up the post of Lecturer of Bacteriology and Pathalogy at the Madras Veterinary College.
1949: In June the same year, he was appointed Superintendent of the Veterinary Biological and Research Institute, Ranipet.
1950: In June 1950 he was appointed the Principal and the Head of the Department of Bacteriology of the Madras Veterinary College, the premier institution of its kind in the East. The Principalship of the Institution lasted only 4 years, when he passed away suddenly after a brief illness.
During this period, in addition to initiating and guiding research in the various departments of the college, he taught Bacteriology to the members of the Medical Profession who were qualifying themselves for the B.V.Sc degree. He was also a recognized supervisor for post graduate research in the University of Madras, directing the investigation of research scholars working for the M.V.Sc degree in Bacteriology.
Publications:
Books Published:
Authored a book in Tamil titled “Maatu Vaaganan”. A copy of the book was available in the Library of Madras Veterinary College, as recent as 2011.
Scientific Papers presented:
Paper on ‘ Studies on Bovine Endometritis ‘, published in The Indian Veterinary Journal, IVJ , Vol.XXVII, Issue No.1, July 1950
Several other papers published as well.
Activities and Services:
Academic:
1947/48: Presented a scientific paper on his research before the ‘National Veterinary Medical Association of Great Britain’ at its invitation.
1948: June. Participated in the deliberations of the First International Congress of Physiology and Pathology of Animal Reproduction and of Artificial Insemination in Milan (Italy), held under the sponsorship of UNESCO and FAO
Member of the Academic Council of the University of Madras
1934-37: Secretary of the Natural Science Society, Madras Christian College,
Sports:
1934-37 :Represented the College in Football, Madras Christian College
1937-1942: Captain of the Football team and Represented Madras Veterinary College.
President of the Madras State Vollley Ball Association,
Life:
Family and Children:
He was married to Latheefunnissa Begum, the only daughter of Khan Bahadur M.A. Hafeez and Habibunnissa Begum, who belonged to a distinguished and well respected family of Madras (now Chennai).
His wife Latheefunnissa Azizuddin accompanied her husband overseas and studied Poultry Husbandry and Domestic Science at the East of Scotland College of Agriculture, Ayr and the College of Domestic Science, Edinburgh respectively.
Dr.I.M. Azizuddin had 3 children, one daughter and two sons. Shahida Parveen Asmathulla, Hilal Azizuddin and Abdul-Aleem Azizuddin.
References/ Acknowledgements:
The Indian Veterinary Journal, IVJ / Page 440 – Volume no. 25 / 1948-1949
The Indian Veterinary Journal IVJ/ Front page – Volume. XXVII, Issue No.1, July 1950
The Indian Veterinary Journal, IVJ / Page 119 – Volume no. 27 / 1950-1951
The Indian Veterinary Journal, IVI / Page 60 – Volume no. 31 / 1954
The Hindu, July 14th, 1949
Cosmos magazine, 1954 issue