Warriors of Light
In the Katha Upanishad, a parable of the “chariot” elucidates the intricate relationship between the body, the senses, the mind and the self (Atman). The chariot, a metaphor for the body, is akin to a vehicle that ferries the true self through life. The charioteer, symbolising the intellect (Buddhi), is not just a passive guide but an active force that steers individuals in making decisions and controlling their path. It embodies wisdom and discernment, leading the mind and senses. The horses, representing the senses, are the gateways through which we perceive the world — sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. They can be unruly, but with the charioteer’s (intellect’s) guidance, they can be harnessed to navigate life effectively. Life is portrayed as a journey, and the choices made along this journey can lead one either closer to or further away from the Ultimate truth and liberation.
आत्मानं रथिनं विद्धि शरीरं रथमेव तु।
बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहमेव च ॥ (1.3.3)
The passenger symbolises the self (Atman) — the essence of an individual who experiences life through the body. The passenger has to rely on the charioteer (intellect) to steer the chariot (body) in the right direction. The destination represents the ultimate Truth or liberation (Moksha). The goal of life is to reach this destination, which is the realisation of one’s true self and unity with Brahman (the ultimate Reality). The parable fundamentally teaches self-realisation, the role of the intellect, the control of the senses, and life’s journey. It underscores the significance of comprehending one’s true self (Atman) beyond the physical body and senses. Realising that one is the passenger within the chariot can spark a spiritual awakening. The charioteer’s skilful control over the horses (senses) to ensure the chariot moves smoothly highlights the necessity of wisdom and discernment in guiding our actions and decisions. Just as wild horses can lead the chariot astray if not controlled, uncontrolled senses can lead individuals away from the path of righteousness and self-realisation.
I met Bhooshan Sawant, born and brought up in Sawantwadi near Goa, after 11 years when he visited me, taking time off from his fortnight-long visit to his mother. I met Bhooshan in the late 2000s. He was travelling to network Indian scientific institutions with startups in the U.S., many of which had sprung from the biotechnology genius of Satish Chandran, a Keralite Indian-American who had been the Chief Technology Officer at Pfizer BioTherapeutics. I was struck by the freshness of their ideas, such as putting the poly (ethylene glycol) PEG strands on molecules, mainly peptides, proteins, and antibody fragments, which can make many treatments less hazardous and more successful. “ A child carrying a gas-filled balloon in a crowded fair so as not to be missed,” Bhooshan described it. Bhooshan was then in his 30s, a handsome, tall, lean man who radiated compassion and resilience.
Through Bhooshan, I met Dr Seetharama Acharya, then Professor of Oncology and Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York; Dr Girish Sahni, who was at the time Director of CSIR – Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTech), Chandigarh; Dr Subramanian Iyer, Affiliate Professor of Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University; and Dr Satish Chandran. I stayed at Bhooshan’s home in Princeton, New Jersey, for a week, and he drove me to the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. I will never forget seeing The Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of American independence located in Philadelphia. We managed to organise active work on breeding IgY protein in eggs but needed help. Later, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, we truly regretted missing a great opportunity and learnt that no single day must be wasted due to the whims and fancies of those born as if to stall new ideas and oppose progress.
In the decade since I met him, Bhooshan’s son Shloka has grown up, and his wife Aarti has progressed in her job at the Bank of New York. Bhooshan ended his work in the IgY area but retained his investment in that company when he found a new calling. We first respectfully remembered two great scientists who left us. Dr Acharya, aged 82, died on March 16, 2024, at the Virginia Mason Medical Center ICU due to complications from head and neck cancer surgery. Dr Girish Sahni passed away suddenly on August 19, 2024. He was 68. We felt that the genius of Dr Satish Chandran had not been fully harnessed into valuable products and that we must find a way to see that he passed on his ideas to younger scientists before it was too late.
Bhooshan took me on an emotional roller coaster when he mentioned that he saw his father, Dr Suresh Sawant, serving the poor in the surrounding villages of Sawantwadi with little financial gain. He would end up providing medicines to many people who had nothing to give, and his mother would even prepare food for many who had walked for hours to reach there. Bhooshan left for the U.S. to work in the pharmaceutical industry in the late 1990s. He struggled for years to enter the highly regulated and fiercely protected sector, barely earning his daily bread, but never lost track of making his name in science. He has learnt the hard way by practising and learning from elders. He internalised the phrase, ‘उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्यवरान्निबोधत’ in the Katha Upanishad (1.3.14) meaning, ‘Get up, wake up and listen to those who walked before you’, in his living.
Moved by the plight of the parents of children born with autism, Bhooshan decided to make this tender but challenging area his chosen field. It happened through his chance meeting with Dr Edward Quadros, a native of Mangaluru, in SUNY Downstate, NY. By this time, Bhooshan had developed the sensitivity to recognise the subtle moves of the ‘hand of Providence’, which never pushes but provides gentle nudges at the right moments, like a shepherd to the cows or sheep in his care. He contemplated that the chemistry in diagnostics was nearing its peak and that new advancements would come from physics as nanotechnology matured. Dr Satish Chandran also opined that all material and life is ‘one’ at the ‘nanoscale’ of existence.
There are always two ways of looking at suffering. One is the way of compassion; your heart goes out to share the pain of others. The second way is of innovation, where your brain is activated to find a solution for relieving that pain. Let my brain remove your pain, Bhooshan felt and decided to align his energies with the emerging field of personalised medicine, which improves patient outcomes and quality of life. He created a life sciences company, ReligenDX, to develop and implement new and innovative diagnostic testing.
Luck favours the prepared. Soon, his company developed a diagnostic blood test that screens for autoantibodies to the Folate Receptor Alpha (FRa). The presence of Folate Receptor Autoantibodies suggests that folate (vitamin B9), which is an essential vitamin for proper growth and neurological function, is not being correctly transported to the brain and into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), among other tissues where FRa may be found.
Many of his well-wishers cautioned that getting a new test approved for clinical practice in the U.S. system, which is followed almost universally for its credibility, was a Herculean task. However, Bhooshan felt there was no harm in being a Hercules and failing rather than pretending to live a happy life doing mundane things, going on picnics, and wandering in shopping malls, buying cosmetics, designer clothes, fancy shoes, and “electronic toys.”
Hercules was given 12 labours to complete to appease Hera, his stepmother and the wife of king of gods Zeus. Each task was considered impossible, including defeating the Hydra and retrieving Cerberus from the Underworld without dying. Bhooshan made the early detection of Fra, which he saw as the Hydra, his mission, as these autoantibodies have been found in autism, schizophrenia and depression. All patients need rescue from the ‘underworld’ of their sickness. “Darkness has no existence of its own; it is merely the absence of light,” he mused. I am blessed to have met some great warriors of light, Bhooshan being the youngest and perhaps the bravest of them all.
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Very inspirational story of Mr Bhooshan Sawant.
The number of children showing symptoms of autism is increasing. Autism is a spectrum disorder, and there is no clarity on who should be approached – a child psychiatrist or psychologist, paediatric neurologist, or developmental paediatrician. There isn’t a specific medical test to determine the disorder. If Mr Sawant’s work succeeds, it will be a great benefit.
“Awareness and understanding of neurodiversity are essential for creating supportive environments. As a parent and healthcare professional, I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact of inadequate resources and misconceptions.
Relocating for family support and pursuing specialized therapies have been crucial for child’s well-being. Still, the need for inclusive education and empathy in schools remains pressing.
I applaud initiatives promoting autism acceptance and support. Mr. Bhooshan Sawant’s work is a step toward a more compassionate society, where neurodiverse individuals can thrive.”
The journey to the next big thing is not always determined by financial reward but a satisfaction that is propelled by truly understanding the value of life. All other good things follow…..
Sir, Autistic children grow up as compassionate individuals. Sometimes, I wonder if autistics possess unique spiritual qualities that enable them to “perceive things that most others cannot”. Autistics may have the capacity for spiritual connectedness, heightened awareness, and exquisite sensitivity beyond typical. Their deep appreciation for the beauty of nature, forests, lakes, streams and plant-life; an innate spiritual or religious sense that compels others in positive ways”; an “unspoken connection with dogs, cats, horses, butterflies and other creatures; an ability to hold “conversations that appear to be ‘two-way’ with someone unseen, usually at the same place and time every day”; and, an ability to “forecast what’s going to happen next or know what someone is thinking before it’s said, especially with loved ones” are widespread. God bless Mr Sawant.
Dear Sir, its nice to know about Mr Bhooshan and his work. Autism tends to run in families, and the risk of autism coming from the genome is a well-established fact.
The research in Environmental Health Sciences brings out specific environmental influences that may increase autism risk. Advanced parental age, Prenatal exposure to air pollution or certain pesticides, Maternal obesity, diabetes or immune system disorders, Extreme prematurity or meagre birth weight, and Birth complications leading to periods of oxygen deprivation to the baby’s brain.
Epigenetics is a crucial aspect of early brain development. Many autism-risk genes influence other networks of genes, increasing or decreasing their expression. Some seem to affect how brain nerve cells, or neurons, communicate with each other. Others appear to influence how entire regions of the brain communicate with each other. Research continues to explore these differences to develop interventions and supports that can improve quality of life.
May Mr Bhooshan’s work succeed and he flourishes in his life and business.
Inspiring!
Bhooshan is a true warrior on the path to realisation. The path to freedom and salvation is filled with obstacles like arrows in the path of Arun, which he has to cut through to get to his life’s purpose. May I share a small poem I wrote honouring such warriors like Bhooshan and Arun yourself? You are a teacher at large, impacting so many lives.
अर्जुन बनोगे कैसे
जिंदगी छिपकर वार करती है
उस दुश्मन की दबे पांव आने की आहट
सुनोगे कैसे
छलनी कर देगी एक की नोक से
उस घाव को सहोगे कैसे
एक tanz जो दिल के पार उतर जाए
उस डंक की दवा करोगे कैसे
कोई तुम्हारी जिंदगी से चला जाए तो
उसकी मुक्ति से अपनी मुक्ति रचोगे कैसे
इन सबसे परे तुम खुश
रहोगे कैसे
अर्जुन हो तो गीता
पढ़ोगे कैसे
कृष्ण भी समझाएं तो
समझोगे कैसे
उसपर अमल
करोगे कैसे
विजयी तीर तुम चलाओगे कैसे
तुम अर्जुन बनोगे कैसे
… आलोक खरे 21 जुलाई 2024
Good to know about Mr Sawant and his work. In recent years, there has been a surge of knowledge and insight into neurodevelopmental abnormality, given the name autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This disorder affects children’s social-communication skills, neurodevelopment, and emotional ability to connect and process issues healthily. Additionally, this disorder often presents with symptoms such as repetitive stereotypical behaviour (hand flapping, tiptoeing, head banding, lining up toys), rigid adherence to schedules and patterns, and self-injurious behaviour. One in every 100 children has the disorder, and it is more common in male children than female children. Some children are only mildly affected, while other children are severely affected and often cannot function independently. A test to quantify the severity will be of great help.
Respected Sir, your well-written blog on Mr Bhooshan Sawant explains why the US leads the world in entrepreneurship and innovation. Access to capital is essential for entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into viable businesses.
The USA offers a robust financial infrastructure, including venture capital firms, angel investors, and well-developed capital markets. Entrepreneurs in the USA benefit from a diverse range of funding options, enabling them to secure the necessary capital to start and scale their ventures.
I understand that post-COVID-19, in 2021 alone, US-based startups raised $345 billion in venture capital funding, more than half of the global venture capital investments.
Quite the opposite in India, people with money try to own ideas even before supporting them and treat the startups they invest in as slaves. Of course, a lot of false ideas also circulate. Both trends must change.
I met Mr Bhooshan Sawant in New Delhi through Prof Tiwari, and through them, I reached Mr Girish Chovatia, Chairman Ami Life Sciences, Vadodara, with whom I have been working since then.
Mr Sawant is a visionary and man of a golden heart. I am yet to find anyone who supports young people like him. God bless you, Mr Sawant. I am here for you in Delhi, whatever your work you undertake in India.
After graduation, I worked at INMAS, New Delhi, a centre of excellence in biomedical and clinical research concerning ionising radiation, on a research fellowship provided by Mr Bhooshan Sawant. The work concerned detecting iron oxide in brain cells through MRI imaging.
Iron-oxide-based nanoparticles (IONPS) are promising in biomedical research as they are easy to formulate, functionalised, biocompatible, and cost-effective. In addition to use as contrast agents, these can be used as drug carriers for treating different types of diseases ranging from cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases.
Thank you, Mr Sawant. You remain my hero!
Bhooshan Sawant’s journey is remarkable and serves as an inspiring story of perseverance and purpose. His dedication to science and his commitment to making a difference for children with autism, are truly admirable. I had the opportunity to intern for Bhooshan Sawant for a couple of weeks at his lab near Philadelphia, focusing on Mitoswab. It was one of the greatest learning opportunities I have had, thanks to you sir.
It’s such an awe-inspiring story. Bhooshanji is among those few lone warriors who dared to care by taking the less travelled stony paths to create a world abounding in love, mercy and compassion, all three being both the cause and effect in themselves ….of becoming a boon than being a bane to those suffering millions desperate to move from illness to wellness. It is said that feeling pain in one’s body means one is alive and, at best, a living being. But to feel the pain of others alone makes one a human being. Bhooshanji is that embodiment.
It’s nice to know about Bhooshan. I have been to Sawantwadi. This place has a Watta history. Sawantwadi people were at loggerheads with Shivaji earlier, but then they bought a truce. It’s a nice place. Worth visiting.
Really inspiring story!! it takes immense courage to carve out a path and tread on it against all odds. Specially the field of medicine brings in even more challenges. Glad to hear about Bhooshan Sawantji choosing the path of innovation to make a real difference where it matters the most. Thanks Arunji for sharing this.
My favorite quotes from the story –
1) “Darkness has no existence of its own; it is merely the absence of light”
2) “There are always two ways of looking at suffering. One is the way of compassion; your heart goes out to share the pain of others. The second way is of innovation, where your brain is activated to find a solution for relieving that pain.”
Prof Tiwari says, “Darknesse of its own; it is merely the absence of light,” not a doubt in our lives, may we find the courage to always introduce light circumstances, has no existenc however minuscule.
May Bhooshan’s mantra, “There was no harm in being a Hercules and failing rather than pretending to live a happy life doing mundane things, going on picnics, and wandering in shopping malls, buying cosmetics, designer clothes, fancy shoes, and “electronic toys,” be a guiding light to all of us as long as life exists in our frames.
Thank you so much for this inspiration, my friend!
I am writing to you from Kigali, Rwanda
Excellent article, Arun ji. I had the privilege of meeting Bhooshan Ji last year in New Jersey.
It is an inspirational story and innovative solution addressing an enormous unmet need.
I congratulate Bhooshan Ji for his work on FRa, which is a game changer for many diseases.
Wishing the best in the days ahead
Nice to know about Bhooshan Sawant through this article Arunji!
Love your words – There are always two ways of looking at suffering. One is the way of compassion; your heart goes out to share the pain of others. The second way is of innovation, where your brain is activated to find a solution for relieving that pain.
Dear Prof
Thank you for sharing such an inspiring story!