At the age of 99, Dr. Nitya Anand, who discovered India’s first oral contraceptive pill, ‘Saheli’, passed away in Lucknow.

About Dr. Nitya Anand

Anand was instrumental in discovering Centchroman, popularly known as Saheli. Saheli is the world's first and only non-steroidal, non-hormonal, once-a-week oral contraceptive pill.
Saheli was launched by former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi in 1986. In 2016, Saheli was included in the National Family Program of India. According to the report, it is still the only non-steroidal, non-hormonal contraceptive in the world.
Anand also contributed to the development of various drug policies for the Government of India for almost four decades. He also served as an advisor and consultant to numerous scientific bodies and institutions.

Achievements:

Dr. Nitya Anand was previously the director of the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) from 1974 to 1984. He had been with CDRI since it was founded in 1951.
He taught 100 PhD students and also published over 400 research papers and received over 130 patents.
Anand has also worked for nearly 40 years with the Government of India and helped to design various drug policies. In addition, he serves as a consultant and advisor to numerous scientific organisations.

Awards: Anand was awarded Padma Shri.

Oral contraceptives, commonly known as birth control pills, prevent pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation and blocking sperm from entering the cervix.

CSIR – Central Drug Research Institute, located in Lucknow, is one of the premier research institutes in India and a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, India.
The laboratory is one of thirty-nine that operate under the supervision of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in India.
On February 17, 1951, the research institute was officially opened by Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru.