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PERSONS IN NEWS - October 2021

Oct 2021

Feb 17, 2022

Google Doodle Celebrates Chickenpox Vaccine Pioneer Dr. Michiaki Takahashi's 94th Birth Anniversary

Google Doodle celebrated Japanese virologist Dr. Michiaki Takahashi's 94th birth anniversary on February 17. Dr Takahashi developed the first vaccine against chickenpox.
Michiaki Takahashi was born on this day in 1928 in Osaka, Japan. He earned his medical degree from Osaka University and joined the Research Institute for Microbial Disease, Osaka University in 1959. After studying measles and polio viruses, Dr. Takahashi accepted a research fellowship in 1963 at Baylor College in the United States. It was during this time that his son developed a serious bout of chickenpox, leading him to turn his expertise toward combating the highly transmissible illness.
Dr. Takahashi returned to Japan in 1965 and began culturing live but weakened chickenpox viruses in animal and human tissue. After just five short years of development, it was ready for clinical trials. In 1974, Dr. Takahashi had developed the first vaccine targeting the varicella virus that causes chickenpox. It was subsequently subjected to rigorous research with immunosuppressed patients and was proven to be extremely effective. In 1986, the Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University began the rollout in Japan as the only varicella vaccine approved by the World Health Organization.

Gaming Platform A23 Appoints Shah Rukh Khan as Brand Ambassador

Online skill gaming company Head Digital Works roped in Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan as the brand ambassador for its online multi-gaming platform – A23. The actor will feature in the company's Chalo Saath Khele campaign coupled with a first-of-its-kind responsible gaming campaign.
The campaign will showcase all of A23's offerings which include games of skill such as carom, fantasy sports, pool and rummy, among others.

Feb 16, 2022

Bappi Lahiri Passes Away

Veteran singer-composer Bappi Lahiri passed away at the age of 69 in a Mumbai.
Bappi Lahiri was at the peak of his career in 1980s and 1990s. He is credited for popularising the use of synthesized disco music in Indian cinema. Disco Dancer, Dance Dance, Commando, Chalte Chalte and Sharaabi are some of his many popular compositions.
In his long illustrious career, Lahiri had worked with singers across generations, including Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Alisha Chinai and Usha Uthup. He continued working through the 1990s when he provided music for the Prakash Mehra produced 'Dalal' which starred Mithun Chakraborty.
Bappi Lahiri also tried his luck in politics. He was a BJP candidate from Srerampur (Lok Sabha constituency) in 2014 and he would sing his hit numbers like 'Ooh la la la' and 'I am a disco dancer' during his poll campaign, to seek votes.

Feb 15, 2022

Sandeep Bakhshi is Business Standard Banker of the Year

Sandeep Bakhshi, managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of ICICI Bank, is the Business Standard Banker of the Year 2020-21 for turning around the private sector lender and changing the perception about it during his tenure of the past three and a half years.
Bakhshi took charge in October 2018 amid a controversy around his predecessor, who had to step down over corporate governance issues. Since then, he has not just unhinged the bank from the controversy but also delivered growth on almost all parameters.
The unanimous decision was taken by a high-profile jury of five, chaired by former Reserve Bank of India deputy governor S. S. Mundra. Other members were Keki Mistry, vice-chairman and CEO of Housing Development Finance Corporation; Anil Singhvi, chairman of Ican Investment Advisors; P S Jayakumar, former MD and CEO of Bank of Baroda who is also non-executive chairman of VBHC Value Homes and Northern ARC Capital; and A Balasubramanian, MD and CEO of Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC.

Krishi Network App Names Pankaj Tripathi as its Brand Ambassador

Cultino Agrotech Pvt Ltd, which runs agritech app Krishi Network roped in film actor Pankaj Tripathi as a brand ambassador, with a view to reaching out to farmers to its app. Tripathi's background as a farmer resonates with the platform's aim to aid farmers to grow their profits by offering them solutions to critical decisions. The app is currently available in Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, and English, and is planned to be launched in other languages soon.
The startup plans to use the fresh funds to boost their artificial intelligence-based technology platform across India. Founded by IIT Kharagpur alumni Ashish Mishra and Siddhant Bhomia, Krishi Network leverages the growing rural internet penetration to create a platform that eases information accessibility for farmers and enables them to generate higher profits from their land.

Feb 14, 2022

Nobel-Winning Co-Discoverer of H.I.V Luc Montagnier Passes Away

Luc Montagnier, a French virologist who shared a Nobel Prize in 2008 for discovering the virus that causes AIDS, passed away. He was 89. The discovery of H.I.V. began in Paris on Jan. 3, 1983. He was a brilliant and controversial figure who often challenged the core principles of science and scientific discourse.
The Frenchman shared the award with fellow researcher Françoise Barré-Sinoussi. The duo had shared half of the Nobel with German scientist Harald zur Hausen for his discovery of human papilloma viruses that cause cervical cancer.
In 1993, Montagnier co-founded the World Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention, before heading off to the US to work at the Queens College in New York. He has been awarded several medals, including the prestigious Légion d'Honneur, the Lasker Award and the Gairdner Award.

NABARD Launches 'JIVA Programme' to Promote Natural Farming

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) launched the 'JIVA programme' to promote natural farming under its existing watershed and wadi programmes in 11 states, to effectively implement the principles of agroecology long-term sustainability and transform the pre-existing social and natural capital towards efficient farming.
JIVA is an agroecology-based programme, an amalgamation of several projects under the watershed programme of NABARD and will be implemented in 11 states covering five agroecological zones, which are in ecologically fragile and rain-fed areas.

Rahul Bajaj, Former Chairman of Bajaj Group, Passes Away

Famous industrialist and former chairman of Bajaj Group, Rahul Bajaj, passed away at 83.
Born on June 10, 1938, in Kolkata, Rahul Bajaj had resigned from his position of non-executive director and chairman at Bajaj Auto on April 30, 2021after a stint of over 50 years at the helm of India's second-largest motorcycle producer and was the Chairman Emeritus of the firm.
Rahul Bajaj was awarded with the third-highest civilian award Padma Bhushan in 2001. Bajaj also served as a Rajya Sabha MP.
Bajaj had taken charge of the Bajaj Group in 1965 and under his helm, the group soared to one of the biggest in the sub-continent.

Feb 09, 2022

Amitabh Bachchan is Brand Ambassador of MediBuddy

MediBuddy, one of India's largest digital healthcare platforms, signed legendary Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan as the official brand ambassador. As part of the deal, Bachchan will be seen endorsing various services available on the platform, while highlighting the need to prioritise one's health.
With the deal in place, MediBuddy is looking at further amplifying its reach across India. Leveraging the veteran actor's popularity, especially across tier II and tier III cities, the brand aims to position itself as a household name.

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