Sudeep 68899 at 18:40, 6 March 2026

2026-03-06T18:40:44Z

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{{Short description|Indian research scientist (1916–1983)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2024}}
{{Portuguese name|de Menezes|Bragança}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Beatris de Menezes Bragança
| image = Beatris de Menezes Bragança.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Maria Luiza Beatris de Menezes Bragança
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1916|11|6|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1983|5|24|1916|11|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = Cuelim, [[Mormugao taluka]], [[Portuguese Goa]]
| death_place = [[Bombay]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| resting_place =
| other_names =
| spouse =
| father = [[Luís de Menezes Bragança]]
| relatives = {{plainlist|
* [[Berta de Menezes Bragança]] (sister)
* [[T. B. Cunha]] (uncle)
}}
| occupation = Biochemist, research scientist
| years_active =
| known_for = First Dean of [[Tata Memorial Hospital]]
| movement = [[Goa Liberation Movement]]
| party = [[Goan People's Party]]
| notable_works =
| awards =
}}
'''Maria Luiza Beatris de Menezes Bragança'''{{efn|alternatively spelled as '''Beatris de Menezes Braganza''' and '''Beatriz Menezes Braganza'''}} (6 November 1916 – 24 May 1983) was an Indian freedom fighter and research scientist who was the first Dean of [[Tata Memorial Hospital]]. She is known for her research in [[cancer]] and in identifying a cure for [[cobra]] [[venom]].

== Early life ==
Maria Luiza Beatris de Menezes Bragança<ref>{{cite report |last=Correia |first=Eric J. F. |date=2023-05-16 |title=Title Report |url=https://rera.goa.gov.in/reraApp/download?DOC_ID=xSAUL2K/If/MVl3hAMYNSA== |work= |location= |publisher=RERA Goa |docket= |access-date=2025-01-03 }}</ref> was born on 6 November 1916 in Cuelim village in [[Mormugao taluka]]. She and her sister [[Berta de Menezes Bragança|Berta]] were daughters of [[Luís de Menezes Bragança]]<ref name="ShirodkarWho86">{{Cite book |last=Shirodkar |first=Pandurang Purushottam |author-link=Pandurang Purushottam Shirodkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISScyAEACAAJ |title=Who's Who of Freedom Fighters, Goa, Daman, and Diu |date=1986 |publisher=Goa Gazetteer Department, Government of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman, and Diu |volume=1 |page=34}}</ref> and Ana, the sister of [[T. B. Cunha]].<ref name="SushilaSisters24">{{Cite web |last=Sawant Mendes |first=Sushila |date=2024-02-24 |title=CELEBRATING THE THREE SISTERS… |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/By-invitation/CELEBRATING-THE-THREE-SISTERS%E2%80%A6/218202 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Herald Goa |language=en}}</ref><ref name="BarretoToIBold18">{{Cite news |first=Mackelroy |last=Barreto |date=2018-06-28 |title=Bold and inspired: Goa's women freedom fighters |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/bold-and-inspired-goas-women-freedom-fighters/articleshow/64782957.cms |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> She completed her [[Master of Arts|MA]] and [[PhD]]<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" /> in [[Biochemistry]]. She and her sister, Berta, wore ''[[khadi]]'' [[sari]]s.<ref name="SushilaSisters24" />

== Goa liberation movement ==
Menezes Bragança was an active member of the anti-Portuguese protests and meetings in [[Bombay]]. In 1945, she became one of the founders of the Goan Youth League, led by her uncle, [[T.B. Cunha]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ali |first=B. Sheikh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tCZuAAAAMAAJ |title=Goa Wins Freedom: Reflections and Reminiscences |date=1986 |publisher=Goa University |isbn=978-81-85571-00-3 |page=125}}</ref> In 1946, she was one of the youth leaders who marched to the Portuguese Consulate in Bombay, protesting against Cunha's arrest. Also in 1946, she accompanied Joachim Dias to speak to then [[Prime Minister of India]] [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] about Goa's freedom; Nehru later issued a statement regarding the same. She was also associated with the National Congress (Goa) in Bombay.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" />

Menezes Bragança then moved to [[Canada]] on a scholarship. Upon her return to Bombay, she continued her previous work, now joining the Goan Peoples Party (GPP).<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" />

She often visited other countries to attend scientific conferences, but used the opportunity to spread awareness of and request support for the [[Goa liberation movement]]. At the Goan Political Convention, held on 5 October 1959, she was chosen as a member of the Goan Council.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" /> She was the Honorary Treasurer of the T. B. Cunha Memorial Committee.<ref name="FaleiroGoa1961">{{Cite book |last=Faleiro |first=Valmiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GYLyEAAAQBAJ |title=Goa, 1961: The Complete Story of Nationalism and Integration |date=2023-07-24 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5708-175-7 |pages=333, 369 |access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref>

== Research ==
In 1959 and 1960, she received the Lady Tata Memorial Trust scholarship to continue her research.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" /> She thus made important contributions in the research of [[cancer]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Furtado |first=A. D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rNpBAAAAYAAJ |title=Goa, Yesterday, To-day, Tomorrow: An Approach to Various Socio-economic and Political Issues in Goan Life & Re-interpretation of Historical Facts |date=1981 |publisher=Furtado's Enterprises |page=249}}</ref> She is known for her work in identifying a cure for [[cobra]] [[venom]], getting interested in the topic by the high number of incidents of snake bites in Goa.<ref name="NRI22">{{Cite web |last=Cabral e Sa |first=Mario |date=August 4, 2022 |title=Eminent Goans |url=https://nri.goa.gov.in/eminent-goans/ |website=Commissionerate of NRI Affairs, Govt. of Goa}}</ref>

Menezes Bragança worked as a scientist at [[Haffkine Institute]], Bombay, and was known internationally for her work. She later joined as a Research Scientist at the [[Tata Memorial Hospital]]. She later became its first Dean in 1974.<ref name="FaleiroGoa1961" /><ref name="NRI22" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gomes |first=Olivinho |author-link=Olivinho Gomes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CHsiAAAAMAAJ |title=Village Goa: A Study of Goan Social Structure and Change |date=1987 |publisher=S. Chand |language=en}}</ref>

== Death ==
Menezes Bragança died in Bombay on 24 May 1983 of heart failure.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HbvoAAAAMAAJ |title=Goa Today |date=1983 |publisher=Goa Publications |page=33}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Menezes Bragança, Beatris de}}
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:1983 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women scientists]]
[[Category:People from South Goa district]]
[[Category:People from Portuguese India]]
[[Category:Goa liberation activists]]

Beatris de Menezes Bragança - Revision history

Sudeep 68899 at 18:40, 6 March 2026