Kuruvilla Pandikattu SJ
Father Savarimuthu Ignacimuthu is a 73-year-old Jesuit scientist. He holds a PhD and DSC. He taught at St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli. He served as the principal of St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai and also at the Loyola College, Chennai. He was vice-chancellor of Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, and University of Madras, Chennai. Father Ignacimuthu stood as the first Catholic priest to become the vice-chancellor of a university. He worked at the Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, during the period from 1993 to 2018. Since June 2018 he has been working at Xavier Research Foundation, St Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai.
The Man with A Never-ending Desire to
Father Savarimuthu Ignacimuthu has not only graced higher positions in the colleges and universities. In spite of his administrative works as Vice-chancellor, he continued his research in biotechnology, spending his time working with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). He also took up a research project funded by the Swiss government to develop eco-friendly bio-pesticides using plants and microorganisms. The Jesuit Father is involved in developing plants that resist pests. This genius man is also helping to locate, map and understand the types of insects found in the Tamil Nadu region.
He published more than 800 research papers. That is truly incredible! He has authored close to 80 books. His books revolve around the concepts of biotechnology, bioinformatics, bioethics and environment. His books are used as textbooks in universities and colleges. Moreover, he holds 12 Indian patents and two US patents. It is significant to note that one insect species is named after him: Jacthrips Ignacimuthui. Also, one natural molecule, Ignaciomycin is named after this genius. He also developed natural herbal biopesticide Ponneem to control insects and pests in the fields, becoming a farmer’s genuine friend.
A Poor Man’s Sanitizer
Father Savarimuthu Ignacimuthu, through his Xavier Research Foundation, Palayamkottai, decided to develop a hand sanitizer that the poor can afford. His vital hand in developing Xavier herbal hand sanitizer to protect against pathogens including Covid-19 is remarkable for a reason. This herb-based sanitizer is developed to help the poor in the southern Indian states and districts to fight the coronavirus.
He authored a book on environmental awareness in Tamil that received the Best Book Award from the Government of Tamilnadu in 1995. He was presented the “Scientist for Life Sciences” award by the Tamilnadu government in the year 2000. For his research on environmental management, the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2009, reverently conferred upon him, the Kamarajar Award. The Royal Entomological Society, London has awarded Fellow of Royal Entomological Society (FRES) for his exceptional contribution in Entomology. He is also a fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi. He is also a motivational speaker and writer authoring books on moral science and spirituality.
He has also been awarded the prestigious Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Award for Contribution in the field of development of Science (2022). Further, The International Association of Jesuit Universities honoured him with St Peter Canisius Award for Outstanding Contributions to Jesuit Higher Education (2022). This scientist emeritus of CSIR and The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been identified as one of the top 1 per cent scientists in biology. After the scientists in the United States evaluated his research publications and his contributions during the period 1985-2019, they found that Dr Savarimuthu Ignacimuthu has been ranked below 1,000 for the past 20 years. His name is found under high achievers’ category in all the parameters used for the assessment and he is ranked 10th among Indian scientists. Thus, they listed him among the top 1% of scientists in biology. Currently he is researching at Creighton University, a prestegeous American Jesuit University.
Grateful To God
For this Jesuit scientist, all his accomplishments and contributions are truly “labour of love with God’s grace.” All that he has achieved, he attributes to the fellow-scientists and students who worked with him and stood by him in every walk for the past 35 years. He says that God has blessed him and nurtured him in all ways, now whatever he has been doing to the children of God is his way of giving back. In this way, he has internalised the Jesuit value of “finding God in everything and everything in God.”
Swetha_Vangaveti, an Indian journalist remarks: “He is the true ‘Father’ – Father of the needy. In a world where we see tricksters who deceive in the name of God, this pure-hearted God’s child came to open the eyes of the blind believers. He showed us how a true child of God shall be like. His story tells us how to utilize the god’s grace to grace the lives of people around us. It also tells us that when we honestly work for what we need, we are sure to get the best of it. Salute to you reverent Dr Savarimuthu Ignacimuthu.” Ignacimuthu is an academician and administrator combined! He is truly a scientist and researcher sent by God for the benefit of His people, especially the poor.
kuru@xlri.ac.in
