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Gaining Technical Know-How in an Unequal World: Penicillin Manufacture in Nehru's India

Author

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  • Tyabji, Nasir

Abstract

The paper examines the rationale behind the Government of India's decision to initiate the manufacture of penicillin through collaboration with specialized agencies of the United Nations. Initially the expectation had been that collaboration was essential with one of the prominent transnational companies which had proprietory knowledge in penicillin manufacture. This preference for aligning with a proven manufacturer rather than taking the more entrepreneurial route of depending on the United Nations was favoured by the Committee established to oversee the penicillin project which was chaired by a prominent industrialist. Prime Minister Nehru's intervention tilted the balance in favour of the United Nation's agencies. Nehru's choice in the matter was based on the advantages to India which would accrue from association with the United Nations, in addition to his reluctance to allow India to enter into a subordinate position through collaboration with a foreign manufacturer in as sensitive an area as pharmaceuticals.

Suggested Citation

  • Tyabji, Nasir, 2004. "Gaining Technical Know-How in an Unequal World: Penicillin Manufacture in Nehru's India," MPRA Paper 84236, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:84236
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/84236/1/MPRA_paper_84236.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bjerke, Lise, 2022. "Antibiotic geographies and access to medicines: Tracing the role of India's pharmaceutical industry in global trade," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Penicillin; UNICEF; Hindustan Antibiotics; WHO; Jawaharlal Nehru; Public Sector; Santokh Singh Sokhey; Ernst Boris Chain; Edward Mellanby; Connaught Laboratories; Haffkine Institute; N. L. Macpherson; Podbielniak;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F52 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - National Security; Economic Nationalism
    • F54 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - Colonialism; Imperialism; Postcolonialism
    • F55 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Institutional Arrangements
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • L32 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Public Enterprises; Public-Private Enterprises
    • L53 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Enterprise Policy
    • L65 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Chemicals; Rubber; Drugs; Biotechnology; Plastics
    • N65 - Economic History - - Manufacturing and Construction - - - Asia including Middle East
    • N75 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Asia including Middle East
    • N85 - Economic History - - Micro-Business History - - - Asia including Middle East
    • O25 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Industrial Policy
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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