Dr Ng Brajachand - Reminiscence of his association as co-research worker and family health consultant

Prof N Irabanta Singh *

Dr. Ng. Brajachand Singh was born on 1st February, 1951 in Thangmeiband Yumnam Leikai, Lilasingh Khongnangkhong as 3rd son among 4 (four) male siblings of late NgangomLakpa and Ngangom (o) Ibechoubi.

He passed HSLCE under BSE Assam in 1961 securing 1st division with 3rd position in Manipur and PUSc under Gauhati University in 1967 securing 1st Division with 4th position in Manipur.

He had his pre-medical course (1968) and MBBs (1975) education from B.S. Medical College, Bankura, Calcutta University and passed all subjects in First attempt securing overall aggregate marks 67.8%. He also did M.D. (Microbiology) from Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, (Delhi University) (1980) in first attempt.

Professionally, Dr. Ng. Brajachand Singh served as Junior Resident (Microbiology) during (M.D.) course at Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi (1977-1980);
Demonstrator (Microbiology) (31-05-1980 to 7-03-1982);
Assistant Professor (Microbiology) (8-3-1982 to 9-1-1988);
Associate Professor (Microbiology) (10-10-1988 to 31-01-1995);
Professor (Microbiology) (1-02-1998 to 31-01-2016) and
Professor & Head (Microbiology Department) (11-02-2003 to 31 -01-2013) Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (Previous RMC).

He was also Dean, School of Medical Sciences, Manipur University, Canchipur. He retired from the service of RIMS on 31-01-2016.

Association as Co-Research worker

The writer worked with Dr. Brajachand in a joint major research project entitled “Investigations on Aero allergens of Imphal with special reference to Respiratory Allergy” along with Dr. Jodha C. Sanasam, Department of Otolaryngology (NET), and Dr. N. Tombi Singh, Department of T.B. & Chest diseases, Regional Medical College (now RIMS), Lamphelpat (1988-1991).

The project was funded by Indian Council for Medical Research, New Delhi - 29. Since then, we had been associated in Research.

Dr. Brajachand helped in experimental designing and identification of airborne bacteria for 2 (two) Ph.D. students of the writer viz.,
(i) Harish Chandra who worked on “Studies on aerophyllomicroflora of Oak (Quercus serrata) in Manipur with special reference to certain bacterial disease of Oak Tasar silkworm (Antheraeaproylei) (Degree awarded in 1997) and

(ii) L. Gopen Singh who worked on “Bacterial disease of Oak Tasar silkworm (AntheraeaProylei) (Saturniidae; Lepidoptera) in Manipur, their control and management (Degree awarded in 2003).

In addition to this, we jointly published a paper entitled “Bacillus spaericus - A hitherto unrecorded intestinal bacteria of silkworm (Antheraeaproylei) from Manipur state (India). Indian J. Sericulture3(1): 37-39: 1995 (N. Irabanta Singh. H. Chandra and Ng. Brajachand Singh).

Family Medical Consultant

About 2 (two) decades ago, the writer’s wife suffered from urinary tract infection. We consulted almost all available doctors (Medicine) in Imphal but none of them could diagnose the causal organism. The writer requested Dr. Brajachand to do urine culture. He look especial interest and performed urine culture and identified the microorganism as E. coli.

He prescribed a couple of antibiotics which cured her urinary tract infection. From that period onward we have full faith on Dr. Brajachand. So, whenever we have to identify any pathogen for our family member, we always consult him till he retires from RIMS on 31-01-2016.

Academic Achievement

Academically Dr. Ng. Brajachand was a well-known medical Microbiologist and HIV-AIDS specialist in NE India.

He was Life member for various Medical Sciences Societies.

He was Fellow [Indian Academy of Medical Sciences, 1992 (FIAMS);
Indian Society for Malaria & other Communicable Diseases, 1994 (FISCD),
International Medical Sciences Academy, 1996 (FIMSA);
All India Medicos Society, 1987 (FAIMS) and
Royal Society of Health, 1999 (FRSH)] and also
Commonwealth Medical Fellow, UK (1989).

Among the awards received by Dr. Brajachand include Commonwealth Medical Fellowship by Association of Commonwealth University at St. Thomas Hospital, London (1989-90) and also trained by NACO at Akbame, USA on the topic “Advanced Retro Virology & Phenotyping” during 1993. He was conferred Prof. Kh. Jatwswor Singh oration by the Indian Medical Association, Manipur State Branch.

He published 180 research papers (National and International) and guided successfully 3 (three) Ph.D. scholars under Manipur University, Canchipur. He was also involved in various Academic activities of RIMS, as well as MAMECON.

After retirement from RIMS on 31-01-2014, Dr. Brajachand joined Agartala Government Medical College, Tripura as Professor and Head, Microbiology Department w.e.f. 8-2-2016. The offer was upto 26-11-2019 but due to ill health he resign from the post and remained at home in protected health but expired on 22-01-2020.

He left behind his wife, 2 daughters and a son with a host of grandchildren. The passing away of Dr. Ng. Brajachand Singh is a great loss to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Lamphelpat and a personal loss for the writer.

May his soul rest in peace in his heavenly abode.