In recognition of his remarkable 55-year-long contributions to veterinary science, public health, and mycology, Prof. Dr. Mahendra Pal, Founder and Director of Narayan Consultancy on Veterinary Public Health and Microbiology, Gujarat, India, has been conferred the “Distinguished Scientist Award in Veterinary Public Health” by Scientific Laurels International, India, in September 2025.This prestigious honor acknowledges Prof. Pal’s lifelong dedication to advancing the field of Veterinary Public Health, fostering scientific innovation, and mentoring generations of scientists across continents. He is the “First Veterinary Public Health Scientist” to receive this great honor for his immense contribution in the field of Veterinary Public Health. This is an International Award as many academicians from other countries like Italy, USA, France, UK, Brazil, Mexico, Jordan, China, Israel, Australia, Turkey, Saudi Arbia, Indonesia, and Vietnam etc., also received the award in different fields.
Prof. Pal a very brilliant scholar, obtained BVSc and AH (1969), MVPH (1975), Ph.D. (1981), and D. Sc (1988) from pioneer institutes of India. Currently, Prof. Pal is the only Veterinary Public Health Scientist from India who holds D.Sc. degree. His biography is published by the “Who’s Who in the World”, and “Who’s Who in Science” besides “Wikipedia”.
Prof. Dr. Mahendra Pal is internationally acclaimed as a pioneer in Veterinary Public Health and Mycology, with an illustrious career spanning over five and a half decades. His scientific journey reflects an unwavering commitment to protecting the health of humans and animals through research, education, and One Health collaboration. Recently, Indian Association of Veterinary Public Health Specialists (IAVPHS) instituted an award in the name of Prof. Pal to remember and honour his outstanding, immense, commendable, significant, and pioneer contributions in Veterinary Public Health. The name of award is “Prof. Mahendra Pal Zoonoses Award”, which is given every year during the National Conference of Veterinary Public Health to any scientist, whose research is judged the best by the panel of Experts in the field.
He began his academic career in India, where he served as Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Public Health at the Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat. Prof. Pal started Ph.D. for the “First Time in Veterinary Public Health” at the College of Veterinary Science, Anand, Gujarat, India. Later, he contributed significantly to global scientific capacity building through his association as a “Visiting Full Professor” at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, where he trained numerous students and professionals from Ethiopia and other parts of the Africa. He was an instrumental to launch Ph.D. program for the “First Time in Veterinary Public Health at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia”.
Prof. Pal’s establishment of the “Narayan Consultancy on Veterinary Public Health and Microbiology” in Gujarat, India, has been a cornerstone in promoting free public health awareness, zoonotic disease prevention, and microbial diagnostics across developing nations. His consultancy continues to support students, researchers, academicians and field veterinarians with valuable scientific guidance.
Over the past 55 years, Prof. Pal has made landmark contributions to the understanding of zoonotic diseases, such as brucellosis, rabies, leptospirosis, Newcastle, dermatophilosis, goat pox, bovine tuberculosis, listeriosis, staphylococcosis, pseudomoniasis, cryptosporidiosis, echinococcosis, cysticercosis, fascioliasis, scabies, chlamydiosis, babesiosis, nocardiosis, aspergillosis, candidiasis, geotrichosis, cryptococcosis, and dermatophytosis. His pioneering work led to the First isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans from environmental sources in New Zealand, Nepal, and Djibouti significantly enriching the knowledge of cryptococcosis. He is credited to report for the First isolation of Candida tropicalis from a case of lung empyema in a diabetic patient, Nocardia asteroids from cornel ulcer of a buffalo calf, Aspergillus fumigatus from rhinitis of a mule and camel, Trichophyton verrucosum from dermatitis of zoo deer, Fusarium solani from keratitis of a water buffalo, Cryptococcus neoformans from mastitis of a goat and a buffalo, Aspergillus niger from abortion of a buffalo, and Exserohilum rostratum from equine dermatitis etc. Prof. Pal has developed several technologies, such as “Sunflower seed medium (Pal medium)”, “APRM agar”, “Narayan stain”, and “PHOL stain, which are widely used for the study of mycozoonoses in the public health and microbiology laboratories of the world.
His comprehensive research established that healthy cat and dogs can transmit Microsporum canis, a globally prevalent zoophilic dermatophyte, to the family members. Further, Prof. Pal recorded that many species of animals, such as cattle, buffaloes, goats, camels, horses, and monkeys can cause ringworm in humans. He has also elucidated that humans can transmit Trichophyton rubrum, an anthropophilic dermatophytes to monkey.
Prof. Pal, an Indian Legend, has published around 825 papers, authored 9 books, and contributed 16 book chapters, making him one of the most prolific and respected scientists in the domain of Veterinary Public Health. His one book entitled “Zoonoses” the First in India, which describes about 176 zoonotic diseases was highly appreciated by the global scientific community. Similarly, his other book on “Veterinary and Medical Mycology”, published by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research New Delhi, India was probably the First of its kind in the world that gives comprehensive information on animals and humans including over 100 photographs, composition of several media and stains. His extensive body of work covers a wide spectrum, including zoonoses, mycoses, foodborne infections, emerging pathogens, and One Health initiatives. One of his papers on COVID-19 has over 1125 citations, and another article has more than 38000 reads. Currently over 3 million academicians, students, and scientists from 215 nations have read/recommended/cited his publications.
Prof. Pal’s scientific writings are frequently cited by scholars worldwide, and his contributions have helped shape contemporary understanding of zoonoses and microbial food safety. His research has also guided national and international health authorities in designing better preventive strategies to protect both human and animal populations.
Prof. Dr. Mahendra Pal’s influence extends far beyond India. His outstanding global contributions have earned him numerous international accolades. Notably, he is the “First Indian” to receive the “Fellow Award” from the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Seoul, South Korea, a recognition of his excellence in veterinary research and education. He served as a “Member” of the Infectious Diseases Working Group by EAZWV, Switzerland.
Further, he is the “First Asian scientist” to be awarded the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Visiting Scientist Fellowship to work at the prestigious Tokyo University, Japan. These achievements underscore his standing as a respected global scientist who has strengthened international collaboration in veterinary public health and zoonotic disease control.
Prof. Pal was conferred “Fellow Award” by the National Academy of Veterinary Sciences, India for his remarkable achievements in the field of Veterinary Public Health. He was appointed as a Member of the Advisory Committee of Indian Journal of Veterinary Public Health, and Indian Journal of Animal Health. In addition, Prof. Pal is serving as an Editor, Associate Editor and Assistant Editor and Reviewer of many online journals.
Prof. Pal has scientific collaboration with academicians of several nations such as Ethiopia, Brazil, Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, South Korea, Poland, Germany, Spain, Georgia, the USA, Bangladesh, Nepal, Iran, Indonesia, and the Netherlands.
Throughout his distinguished career, Prof. Pal has trained numerous students, academicians, and health professionals, many of whom now occupy leading positions in universities and research institutes across Asia, Africa, and USA. His mentorship, humility, and scientific rigor have inspired generations to pursue excellence in research and service to society.
Prof. Pal has been one of the earliest advocates of the One Health approach, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. His writings and lectures have played a vital role in promoting interdisciplinary collaboration to address zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and foodborne infections.
Prof. Pal’s comprehensive and systematic work in the last 55 years on the epidemiology and diagnosis has helped the scientists to develop strategies for the control of zoonotic diseases, which are of global importance from public health and economic point of view.
Prof. Pal, an Indian champion of Veterinary Public Health, has delivered keynote lectures and chaired scientific sessions at numerous national and international conferences. His role in strengthening Veterinary Public Health education and fostering awareness of fungal, bacterial, viral, and parasitic zoonoses has been widely recognized by the global scientific community. Based on his more than five decades persistent pioneer, and outstanding contribution, Prof. Dr. Mahendra Pal should be regarded as “Father of Veterinary Public Health in India”. He has dedicated his life for science as evident by his continuous publications for the larger benefits of the academicians even at the age of eighties.
In recognition of his selfless service to science and society, Prof. Pal continues to receive honors from academic bodies, professional societies, and scientific communities worldwide. His research ethos combines academic rigor with compassion and a vision for a healthier world.
Prof. Pal has received several awards including “Padma Shri Award in Science and Engineering”, one of the highest civilian awards of the Government of India, “Outstanding Veterinarian Award”, “Jawaharlal Nehru Award”, “Life Achievement Award”, “Distinguished Teacher Award” and “International Achievement Award”. His latest recognition as the “Distinguished Scientist Awardee in Veterinary Public Health” (2025) adds another milestone to his exceptional career, a tribute to his lifetime of contributions that have advanced veterinary medicine, public health, and scientific education globally.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Prof. Dr. Mahendra Pal is admired for his humility, dedication, and mentorship. His motto has always been service through science. Reflecting on his long and fruitful journey, he states:
“My mission has always been to strengthen One Health through science, education, and compassion for both humans and animals.”
Prof. Pal’s name will remain synonymous with honesty, sincerity, dedication, innovation, and humanitarian service, a true inspiration for young scientists and academicians worldwide. He leads a very simple life; easily approachable with kind, supportive, and sweet nature, and an unassuming very gentle academician. Prof. Pal is doing charity to the needy and poor people of the society since 1970. In addition, he also helped many students, teachers, and other staff of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia from 2008 to 2015.
We the members of Food and Beverage Processing Magazine heartily congratulate Prof. Dr. Mahendra Pal for this International Award in the field of Veterinary Public Health; and pray to God to bless him a happy and healthy long life so that he may contribute his knowledge for the benefit of the global scientific community.
Editor of The Food and Beverage Processing Magazine, New Delhi, India
January 2026
