Nutrition scientist Coluthur Gopalan, regarded the father of nutrition research in India, was conferred with the first ‘FANS Living Legend Award’ by Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS) at its meeting held during the 13th Asian Congress of Nutrition in Bali last week.

Dr. Gopalan has served as Director of ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) from 1961-1973 with research under his leadership forming the basis for major national nutrition programmes initiated in the 1970s.

After serving as Director General, ICMR (1974-79), he established the Nutrition Foundation of India (NFI) and has been its president since then. He was the founder of Nutrition Society of India (NSI) and also FANS founding-member and continues to be its honorary executive member.

He is also a recipient of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan from the Government of India, lifetime achievement award from the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS); fellowship of Royal Society, U.K.; fellowship of International Union of Nutrition Sciences (IUNS) and has received the living legend award of IUNS in the past.