Hall of Fame Inductee (ii) - TAN SRI Dr. BALACHANDRA CHAKKINGAL (BC) SEKHAR (1929 – 2006)

TAN SRI Dr. BALACHANDRA CHAKKINGAL (BC) SEKHAR (1929 – 2006)

BC was brought up on the rubber estate in Sungei Buloh which became the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia‘s Experimental Station. He has aptly been named “Mister Natural Rubber”, which is his indelible mark for his contributions to the industry.

 He made many important scientific and technological contributions to the industry. The first one which received attention was the Constant Viscosity (CV) Rubber. Simultaneously BC worked and developed the process for Technically Specified Rubber which led to Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR). This was a major improvement and SMR has now replaced the rubbers graded visually such as Smoked Sheets and Crepes and Technically Classified Rubbers such as the red, blue and yellow circle grades. The technology has been adopted by most Natural Rubber producing countries. In all BC is accredited with 150 scientific papers and some 20 patents.

 BC’s career started as a Research Officer and he rose to the  position of Head of the Chemical Division, and then to Director of the RRIM in 1969. He topped his career in Malaysia when he became the Controller of the Malaysian Rubber Research and Development Board and subsequently he was appointed to the position of the Secretary General of the International Rubber Study Group. 

 His numerous awards include the Ramon Magsaysay Award (Philippines); Colwyn Medal (Institution of the Rubber Industry, UK); Gold Medal of the Institut Kimia Malaysia; Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Singapore; Honorary Doctor of Science from the Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang; Tan Sri from the Yang Dipertuan Agong and Honorary Life Vice President of the PRIM.