B. C. Shekhar
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Tan Sri Dr B.C. Sekhar revolutionised and modernised Malaysia’s rubber industry and put the crop on the world map. He was fondly known as Mr Natural Rubber.
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[edit] Personal History
Sekhar, was born in on the 16th of November 1929 on the Ulu Bulu Estate (now Malayan Glass)quite near the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia’s 3,400-acre experiment station at Sungai Buloh, which during his tenure he developed into one of the most comprehensively equipped research centers in the world able to conduct in-depth research into the manufacture of nearly every conceivable rubber application from tubes, tyres and gloves to earth quake disaster prevention devices. He started as a chemist at the institute in 1949 and led research, particularly in physiochemical changes in rubber.
[edit] Contributions
[edit] Rubber
Sekhar served the natural rubber industry for about 50 years in various capacities.
He was the first Asian Director of the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia in 1966 and, subsequently, become the first Asian Controller of Rubber Research and chairman of the Malaysian Rubber Research and Development Board.
Under his leadership, the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (RRIM), Tun Abdul Razak Rubber Research Centre (TARRC) in Hertford, Britain, and the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) rose to great heights and gained international recognition for excellence in research, modernisation of the rubber industry and the vigorous promotion and expansion of rubber usage.
He was actively involved in the formation of the Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute and evolved the the Malaysian Rubber Development Corporation from a desk in his division to what it finally became. His efforts in setting up central processing units throughout the country and spearheading small holder support and development systems lead to their achieving impressive levels of performance and viability, while contributing substantively to the nations economy.
Sekhar also oversaw the development of stimulants to paint on rubber trees to double and in many cases triple latex yields. He was directly involved in the invention and subsequent development of the Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) process whose final product allowed for grading to buyers’ specifications to a very high level of consistency. This was one of its most significant developments as an industrial raw material. With numerous patents to his name some of his more recent innovations were in the areas of rubber recycling (Delink), low protein latex and rubberised textiles.
[edit] Palm Oil
He was also instrumental in setting up the Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia and was its founder and Chairman. Sekhar established Porim as one of the premier centers for oils and fats research in the world.
Sekhar was a tireless champion for the rights of Malaysian plantation workers and their progeny and made it an important part of his lifes work to make sure that they received a monthly wage and due recognition from the government for their contributions to the economy of the nation.
[edit] Awards and Recognitions
As one of Asia’s most effective scientists, Sekhar received the 1973 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service and many other awards, local and international, for his efforts.
The King and Government of Malaysia, in recognition of his excellent service to the nation, bestowed upon him the title of 'Tan Sri'.
[edit] Family
Sekhar was married to Puan Sri Sukumari Shekhar. He had four children and 8 grandchildren.
Tan Sri B.C Shekar died of a heart attack on September 6, 2006 at the Kalayappa Hospital in Chennai, India at 9am (5am India time). He was 77. His remains were cremated at the Cheras crematorium in Malaysia.
