Muhammad Qudrat-i-Khuda | |
---|---|
মুহাম্মাদ কুদরাত-ই-খুদা | |
Born | 1900 Margram, Birbhum District, Bengal Presidency, British Raj |
Died | |
Nationality | Bangladeshi |
Citizenship | British Indian (1900-47) Pakistani (1947–73) Bangladeshi (1973–77) |
Alma mater | University of London |
Awards | Tamgha-e-Pakistan (1973) Sitara-e-Imtiaz (1972) Independence Day Award (1984)[1] Ekushey Padak (1976) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Organic Chemistry |
Institutions | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Karachi University Dhaka University |
Muhammad Qudrat-i-Khuda (c. 1900 – 3 November 1977) (Bengali: মুহম্মদ কুদরাত-ই-খুদা, FPAS, SI), was a Bangladeshi[2] organic chemist, educationist and writer. He founded the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. From 1969 to 1972, Khuda served as the president of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences.
He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1976 by the Government of Bangladesh for his contribution in education of the country and Independence Day Award in 1986 (posthumous) by the Government of Bangladesh for his contribution in science and technology.[3]
Khuda was born in Margram village, Birbhum District, Bengal Presidency, British India (now India). He passed Matriculation examination from Calcutta Madrasa in 1918 with First Division. In 1924, he received his MSc degree in Chemistry from Presidency College, Kolkata. Later, he studied in London University. In 1929, he received D. Sc. in physics from this institute.[4]
Khuda was specialized in the field of organic chemistry. He conducted research on herbals, jute, salt, charcoal, soil and minerals. He extracted biochemical elements from local trees and plants that can be used for medical purposes. Khuda and his associates had patent of 18 scientific inventions. One of his most significant inventions was manufacturing of Partex from jute-stick. Other significant scientific innovations by Khuda were manufacturing malt vinegar from the juice of sugarcane and molasses, rayon from jute and jute-sticks, and paper from jute.[3]