Smarajit Jana

Dr Smarajit Jana was an epidemiologist and the founder of the sex workers’ collective, Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) in Kolkata, India. After completing his MMBS from Calcutta University, Dr Jana completed his post graduate training from the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, and MD from the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health. He also completed short courses in epidemiology at John Hopkins University and the University of Michigan, Ann Abbor. Dr Jana fought for the dignity of sex workers in India, and his work has had a profound impact on the lives of sex workers and other marginalised communities across the country, and beyond. Dr Jana also led the Sonagachi Research and Training Institute (SRTI) within DMSC, and has published many articles in peer-reviewed journals such as The Lancet, Social Science and Medicine, Journal of Development Economics, etc.