Turaga Desiraju

Turaga Desiraju (1935–1992) was an Indian neurophysiologist and a professor at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). He was associated with AIIMS Delhi before joining NIMHANS and founded the Department of Neurophysiology at NIMHANS in 1975. He was known for his neurophysiological studies on sleep and wakefulness and his extensive studies on the activities of cerebral cortex helped to widen the understanding of conscious behaviour.

Desiraju's studies on the neuron-physiology of Yoga and theories of consciousness were the corner stones of Project Consciousness, an experimental project promoted by NIMHANS which incorporated Yoga practices. He was the editor of Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology and was an elected fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex agency of the Government of India for scientific research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian science awards for his contributions to Medical Sciences in 1980.