January 1990 No. 20 Newsletter of the Indian Academy of Sciences

simple general principle that can predict 55th Annual morphological instability. The third talk in the morning was by Meeting VVSSarma of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore on "Intelligent engineering systems". Evolving new generation engineering systems At the invitation of the Madhya Pradesh with embedded computer sub-systems, have Council of Science and Technology, the their performance enhanced by incorporating Barkatullah University and the Regional several levels of human experience, Research laboratory, Bhopal, the 55th Annual intelligence, expertise and knowledge. Meeting of the Academy was held at the Tagore Bhawan, Bhopal from 10 to 13 The second series of the lecture November 1989. presentations, under the chairmanship of One of the best organized Annual Prof. K l Chopra, was also held on the Meetings in recent years, it began with the forenoon of 11 November. The first talk was inaugural function on Friday 10 November at by Anand Mohan of the Banaras Hindu the Tagore Bhawan. After a brief welcome University, Varanasi on "Pressure-temperature­ speech by Dr 0 N Misra, Director-General of time trajectory of granulites from the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Ganguvarpatti, South India and its implications Technology, Prof. C N R Rao, President of the on crustal evolution". The next talk was by Academy, introduced the Fellows and G Sankar, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Associates present to the audience. Prof. on "X-ray spectroscopic studies of complex C N R Rao in his Presidential address on "Some oxides". X-ray absorption spectroscopy recent results on superconductors" spoke of provides structural information of complex certain recent developments in high­ oxides, amorphous systems and catalytiC temperature superconductors, synthesized and materials, not otherwise available. The last talk characterized at the Indian Institute of Science, in the forenoon was by S Yashonath of the Bangalore. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore on "Siting, energetics and mobility of adsorbates There were eleven lecture presentations in zeolites". The well-known catalytic by new Fellows and Associates. The first series properties of zeolites are due to organic of lectures under the chairmanship of molecules adsorbed within their complicated Dr SVaradarajan was held on the morning of structure and the speaker spoke of recent Saturday 11 November. The first talk was by attempts at understanding these systems S Bhaduri of the Alchemie Research Centre, theoretically. Thane, on "Organometallic chemistry and catalysis". The second talk was by K T Jacob of In the third series of lecture presentations the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore on in the forenoon of Monday 13 November, the "Instabilities at reacting interfaces in ceramic first talk was by G Baskaran of the Institute of systems". He spoke of non-equilibrium Mathematical Sciences, Madras on "Novel heterogeneous systems frequently aspects of quantum theory of magnetism". The encountered in modern ceramics, of next talk was by 5 Ramaswamy of the Indian experimental observations of instability at Institute of SCience, Bangalore on 'The physics reacting interfaces and of the search for a of fluctuating membranes". He spoke of three types of idealized membranes and showed of the following causes: (a) regional that they have unusual dynamical properties differentiation within the unfertilized egg, both near and far from equilibrium and .that in (b) inductive (short-range) interactions between the layered phases, the application of a regions of the developing embryo, (c) long­ sufficiently large velocity gradient should range interactions via gradients, or (d) co­ destabilize the phase. The third lecture was by operative signalling amongst groups of cells. R Jayaraman of the Madurai Kamaraj University, R Nayak, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Madurai on "An unconventional mode of raised the problem of immunological memory repair of DNA damage". The next talk was by and discussed the implications of a hypothesis A Sridharan of the Indian Institute of Science, proposed by him and N V Joshi, to explain its Bangalore on "Physico-chemical mechanisms longterm persistence. I A Niazi of the controlling the engineering behaviour of clays". University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, spoke about his It is now well established that both attractive work which subsequently led to the and repulsive forces of an electrical nature identification of retinoic acid (a vitamin A exist between clay particles and they strongly analogue) as the chemical responsible for influence the behaviour of the particles and determining the transverse patterning of digits their aggregations. Strength and volume in the developing limb of the chick, and very change behaviour, the two most important possibly also in the limbs of amphibians, engineering properties have been shown to be lizards and mammals. Lalji Singh of the Centre strongly influenced by the electrical forces at for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, particle level with experimental results using spoke about sex determination as a fluids of different dielectric constant. The last developmental problem, specially, his talk talk was by V Srinivas of the Tata Institute of focussed on possible chromosomal Fundamental Research, Bombay on "Algebraic mechanisms for the determination of sex. K-theory of singular varieties". The first evening lecture on Saturday There were two specialized symposia, 11 November was by J Ramachandran, one on the Narmada River Valley Project in the Director, ASTRA Research Centre, Bangalore, afternoon on Saturday, 11 November under on "Molecular mechanisms of transmembrane the chairmanship of Prof. C N R Rao. P Rama signalling". Rao of the Defence Metallurgical Research The second beautifully illustrated evening Laboratory, Hyderabad spoke on "Minerals and lecture on Sunday 12 November was by materials development including aspects of K K Chakravarty, Commissioner, Archaeology relevance to Madhya Pradesh". The next talk and Museums, Bhopal on "Unique was by Shekhar Singh, Indian Institute of Public masterpieces of Central Indian Art". Administration, New Delhi, on "The Narmada Project: Some environmental and social The Annual Meeting came to a close, with issues". He was followed by V Paranjpye, Pune concluding remarks by Prof. S Ramaseshan, on on "Scientific and economic aspects of the Monday 13 November. Narmada Valley Project", and P J Nayak of the The Business Meeting of Fellows was held Department of Rural Development and at Sanchi on Sunday 12 November, at 11.00 Panchayati Raj, Bangalore on "Problems in a.m. after visits to the Sanchi Stupa and human resettlement and rehabilitation". Udayagiri Caves. An excursion to Bhimbetka and Bhojpur was arranged on the afternoon of The second symposium was on the Issues Monday, 13 November. in Developmental Biology in the afternoon of Sunday 12 November. The symposium started There was a delightful evening of dance off with an introduction by V Nanjundiah of and song by the Darpan Troupe and organized the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, who by Mallika Sarabhai on 10 November_ The pOinted out that, after many year~, one had cultural programme on the evening of today a conceptual framework, within which 11 November consisted of Saila Reena and the central problem of development could be other folk dances by the Gonds, a major tribe posed and tested. In brief, the problem is thai of Madhya Pradesh. A visit to Bharat Bhawan the cells of the developing embryo are was arranged on Sunday 12 November. identical in terms of their genetic potentialities The Bhopal Meeting was one of the most but express different subsets of genes. Both on successful Annual Meetings of the Academy in logical grounds as well as on the basis of the recent past The organisation was superb experiments, the origin of this differential and the arrangements both for the scientific genetic activity can be traced to one or more sessions, cultural events and excursions were without blemish. Ninety Fellows and thirtytwo • Associates attended the meeting. The group Fellows elected In photograph taken on the occasion is reproduced on pages 8 and 9. 1989 If Bhopal was a place difficult to reach, it was even more difficult to leave, as most Fellows found to their cost, due to the vagaries PC Agrawal, Tata Institute of Fundamental of the Indian Airlines. But the stay in Bhopal Research, Bombay, for his contributions to itself and the meeting and the gracious and observational X-ray astronomy. generous hospitality extended by the hosts will C R Babu, University of Delhi, Delhi, for his stay fresh in the memory of all those who studies in the taxonomy of herbaceous plants. attended the meeting. The lovely miniature statue of Shalbhanjika presented by the S Banerjee, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, organizers to each Fellow and Associate, will Bombay, for his work on phase always remind us of the wonderful four days transformations, in particular to the ordering we spent in the beautiful lake City of Bhopal. reactions in alloys. N G Bhandari, Physical Research laboratory, The Academy is grateful to the Madhya Ahmedabad, for his studies on the Pradesh Council of Science and Technology, evolutionary history of solar particulate the Barkatullah University and the Regional emissions, meteorites and lunar surface Research Laboratory, Bhopal, particularly, Dr regions. D N Misra and Dr R Dasgupta who made the meeting the splendid success it was. Our S K Bose, Regional Engineering College, special thanks are also due to Dr V Nanjundiah Durgapur, for his contributions to who organized the symposium on "Issues in mathematical analysis of engineering problems. Developmental Biology" M K Das Gupta, Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics, Calcutta, for his work in radio engineering, particularly the intensity interferometer, ionospheric phenomena etc. D Dhar, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay, for his contributions to condensed matter and statistical physics. R Gadagkar, Indian Institute of Science, Honorary Fellows Bangalore, for his work on insect behaviour. K S Gandhi, Indian Institute of Science, elected in 1989 Bangalore, for his studies of the modelling and analysis of reacting macromolecular media. M V Berry, H H Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK J K Ghosh, Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta, for his contributions to mathematical statistics. George Porter, President, Royal Society, London and Department of Pure & Applied R N Iyengar, Indian Institute of Science, Biology, Imperial College, London, UK Bangalore, for his work on stochastic phenomena, reliability and earthquakes in the Rustum Roy, Materials Research Laboratory, engineering context. Pennsylvania St

Sitting - Floor (L to R) R. Dasgupta, A. Nagaraj, M. Rathnam, C. Vedamurthy, G. Madhavan, N. Thirumalai, L Hanumanthappa, Peter Jayaraj, G. Chandramohan.

Sitting - Chair (l to R) ----, A. Mani, C. V. Subramanian, P. C. Vaidya, O. Siddiqi, S. Varadarajan, C. N. R. Rao, S. Ramaseshan, M. Vijayan, R. A. Mashelkar, N. Mukunda, J. Ramachandran, H. Sharat Chandra, V. Krishnan, B. C. Subba Rao. '

Standing - First Row (L to R) I. A. Niazi, C. Baskaran, A. Sridharan, P. K. Gupta, Satya Prakash, K. L. Chopra, E. S. Raja Gopal, K. Gopalan, S. C. Dutta Roy, P. V. Kulkarni, F. Ahmad, J. C. Bhattacharyya, N. Panchapakesan, N. S. Narasimhan, N. Kondal Rao, M. S. Vardya, P. G. Adyalkar, S. Ranganathan, H. Y. Mohan Ram, R. K. SinGh. Standing - Second Row (l to R) V. Srinivas, M. R. Raghavendra Rao, 1. Ramakrishnan, V. V. S. Sarma, D. N. Misra, N. S. Rangaswamy, D. V. S.Jain, H. O. Agrawal, U. W. Kenkare, B. B. Biswas, M. S. Kanungo, S. K. Mishra, Y. P. Abrol, D. D. Awasthi, V. M. Meher-Homji, G. S. Krishna Rao, A. K. Tiwari. Standing - Last, Row (l to R) A. A. Deshpande, S. Krishnan, U. Maitra, J. Chandrasekhar, R~ Nayak, P. K. Ghosh, B. Basu, Pradip, M. K. Chandrashekaran, R. Jayaraman, T. J. Pandian, M. V. Bhatt, K. R. Shivanna, S. G. Dan;, R. Nityaf\and~, T P. Prabhu, S. Ramaswamy, D. C. V. MaUik, N. Y. C. Sarma, lalji Singh, S. S. Kalbag, D. P. Roy, V. Nanjundiah, G. Marimuthu, V. Radhakrishnan. level. The mainsprings of intellectual activity in Pursuit of every country are education and the spirit of inquiry, and its quality varies with the standard Knowledge set by the thinkers and educators of the nation. Thus, in the last analYSis, it is the leadership offered by the Universities that Extracts from the Address, given by determines the level of intellectual activity in Professor C V Raman at the Convocation the country and therefore also the national of the University of Mysore on 24 August efficiency. 1929, are reproduced below; we feel the In thus drawing attention to the address is as relevant or more today, as it relationship between national welfare and the was sixty years ago. work done in the Universities, I would wish to emphasize the danger of allowing such work There is no sphere of human activity to degenerate into a deadly routine of formal which tends to draw peoples of diverse lands teaching and formal examination. The and cultures together and create bonds of tendency of all formal schemes of education is sympathy and friendly understanding so much to regard the human mind as a kind of soft as the pursuit of knowledge. Knowledge is metal to be squeezed into shape by intense universal by its very nature. A fact of nature pressure into the hard steel moulds of new~y discovered is a discovery whose syllabuses and examinations. This kind of significance or utility cannot be altered by the mechanization of education is, I believe, most colour of the discoverer's skin or his deadly in its effects, and is responsible for not nationality. Hence, recognition of such a little of the intellectual sterility of the finished discovery is usually spontaneous. A striking products of our Universities. The essence of example of this is furnished by the fact that the education is the development of individuality bitter feelings existing between England and and personality, and it is easily possible to Germany during the war did not prevent carry the idea of formal training and Englishmen of science giving the fullest and intellectual discipline to the point of promptest recognition to the work of Einstein. extinguishing such individual development I The speedy reconciliation of England and would say that the good is often the enemy of Germany that has followed after the war is, I the best. Formal training should make way in believe, due not a little to the cultural and favour of individual freedom of study and intellectual domination which Germany work wherever and whenever the latter continues to exercise over the whole world promises the best results. It is here that the and which remains unaffected by her defeat discernments and sympathy of the teacher are on the field of battle. most needed.

Intellectual activity of the highest type The ideal of University work is the such as every University should strive to provision of opportunities for special abilities, develop is a force of incalculable power and of teacher as well as of students, to express importance for the national welfare. Apart themselves. How this is to be done without from the direct results of such activity in dislocating the general activities of ·the promoting agricultural, industrial or University is, I consider, one of the most commercial progress, its indirect results are important problems in University even more important. Intellectual stagnation is administration, and its successful solution equivalent to national decay and death. requires the most careful and sympathetic Intellectual activity, on the other hand, leads to consideration. It is my conviction that, at the a quickening of the national life in all its present time, Indian Universities generally pay aspects. To a normal human being in full less attention to the development of special possession of his faculties, the ideal of activiti.es and abilities and more to purely healthful happiness is not a life of slothful routine activities than should really be the inactivity or plaCid contemplation, but one of case. In a general way, of course. the varied activity, both physical and mental, differentiation between pass and honours interspersed by the minimum periods of rest courses recognizes the importance of giving which Nature demands for recuperation. Either speCial opportunities for special ability. But phYSical or mental activity by itself is this, in my view, is not enough. There should incomplete and insufficient for the be greater freedom for the expression of maintenance of human efficiency at its highest individual ability, and more time and opportunities for research work, for teacher knowledge are fast crumbling to pieces and in and student alike, in those cases where many cases, for instance as between physiCS evidence of ability to profit by such and chemistry, have completely disappeared at opportunities is forthcoming. the present time. The current of present-day progress thus gives a new strength to the During the last few years, there has been University idea which recognizes the essential a growing recognition that India is not a impartibility of that great estate which we call negligible factor in the advance of human human knowledge. Not only so, but this also knowledge. I will go further and say that the gives us fresh reason for hoping that India with world outside has begun to learn that the her weI/-known power of synthetic and Indian intellect can occasionally march abreast, philosophic thought may yet, if she exerts or perhaps even lead, in the onward march of herself, rise once again to a position in which scientific progress. This is certainly a position in she can lead the world in intellectual advance. advance of that freely eXRressed ten years ago But this is a mere possibility and to convert it that the Indian mind was by nature sterile, and into an actuality requires strenuous effort, and is, in my opinion, largely the result of the work calls for a revival of our ancient love of of the younger generation of scientific workers learning compared with which the Renaissance in India during the last ten years. But the of Europe in the Middle Ages would sink into position reached is, in my opinion, still quite insignificance. unsatisfactory. A great many new Universities have sprung up all over the country and in The spirit of modern knowledge is many of them Indians are holding repugnant to vague and unsupported appointments with some opportunities for speculations. An unhesitating rejection awaits original work. Some of them are, no doubt, generalizations, however attractive, based on showing praiseworthy activity. But taken mere sentiment or belief, or on an incomplete altogether, I think, not enough is being done. analysis of experience or experiment. Rigour, The reason for this is a matter which I would logic, precision, attention to detail, a recommend to the University administrative disinclination to gloss over essential bodies all over India carefully to investigate differences, and the most rigid power of self­ and set right without delay. In some cases, it criticism, - these are what modern science may be lack of opportunities for research, by demands. These habits of mind are hardly reason of excessive insistence on routine developed by the mere passive absorption of teaching; in others it may be lack of research. knowledge in the lecture room or library. equipment. I hardly think the lack of Indeed, knowledge as embodied in a formal competent students or helpers can be the treatise or lecture is apt to convey an cause. If there is any point on which I feel a impression of static perfection which is confidence derived from experience, it is that deceptive and induces the mind to adopt an there is abundance of talent in the younger attitude of uncritical acceptance. The highest generation awaiting the right kind of qualities of mind are evoked by knowledge leadership. which presents itself in a dynamic but imperfect form, calling for criticism and The field of human knowledge at the personal investigation for its adequate present time is in an extremely interesting appraisal. This is the real value of research as state. The principal feature of the activity of an instrument of education in itself. The the ninet~enth century may be described as attitude of mind habitually adopted by the the fragmentation of knowledge into a large investigator is the one that not only leads to number of small holdings with uncultivated the advances of knowledge, but also develops boundaries between them - mathematics, his own inherent intellectual powers and astronomy, phYSiCS, chemistry, geology, botany, enables him to apply his store of knowledge zoology, sociology, economics, politics, with success to new or old problems that psychology, philosophy and so forth. During press for solution. The promotion of such an the last twenty years, however, a strong attitude of mind in the intellectual products of movement has set in towards a new synthesis the University is a matter of the greatest of knowledge. A change has occurred in our importance for the welfare of the State. philosophic outlook which is tantamount to a recognition that, in spite of her immense Real culture includes within itself an diversity, Nature is still one and indivisible. The appreCiation not only of intellectual values but barriers artificially set up by the nineteenth also of social virtues. A truly cultured man has century between the different branches of no use for dogmatisms, fanaticisms or unreasoning beliefs or prejudices of any kind. that glories in the overcoming of obstacles. We A University ceases to be a temple of learning must learn to appreciate and use the products and becomes a breeding place for the of Indian labour, however imperfect they may microbes of ignorance if it lends itself to the be. We must acquire by labour and thought propagation of the religious antagonisms and the secret of craftsmanship which lies in of the communal jealousies that disfigure the meticulous attention to detail and the public lite of our country at the present time. continual striving after perfection. We must A University should, above all things, be a refrain from copying the vices and expensive place where personal ability and personal habits of other countries and never forget that character are alone the passports to success, alcohol and nicotine are the deadliest of and a broad tolerance enables men of poisons known to humanity. Finally, we must divergent views to work together for a never forget that the strength of our people Common cause. If our Universities are depends quite as much on our women as on animated by such ideals, they will prove a our men. The richest rewards are the fruit of much more potent power for the building up labour, study and thought Self-determination of a great nation than Congresses and will come, but we must prepare ourselves for Councils, and solve the problem of the future it. It is no use asking for freedom if we are not of our country more effectively than Leagues prepared to pay the price lor it. and Legislatures. It is my earnest hope that the younger generation of University-trained men will in this matter have a saner outlook than our self-constituted political leaders. It is to you that I look to see the country set on the high road which leads to national honour and regeneration, and not on the wrong turning which can only lead to national humiliation and decay. No convocation address can be complete which altogether avoids the political issue. There is AO denying the existence today, both in British India and in Indian India, of political unrest There is, however, no better tribute to the wisdom of the administration of His Highness the Maharaja than the fact that this problem is much less acute in Mysore than elsewhere in India. It is often suggested that unrest is due to education and will disappear with a restriction of educational facilities. I entirely disagree with this view, and believe that the real cure for unrest is an extension of education and the provision of special opportunities for those qualified by special energy, intelligence and ability to advance knowledge, to promote its useful applications and thus add to the national efficiency and wealth. On the broader issue of national self­ determination, I will suggest to the young graduates of this University, and to others in a similar pOSition elsewhere, that if we wish men of other nations to respect us and yield to our wishes, we must learn to respect ourselves and make ourselves worthy of respect from others. We must abolish slothfulness and self­ indulgence, and substitute in their place a mentality that recognizes the highest form of human happiness to be that which is reached by labour and self-restraint We must put aside a spirit of defeatism and put in its place a spirit and his penchant for clarity in presentation. He Obituaries trained and inspired a large number of young scientists and fostered electrochemical research in the country during his long years of Kadarundalige Sitarama Gururaja Doss scientific activity. was born on 10 August 1906 in Nagamangala, A Foundation Fellow of the Academy, the in the then princely State of Mysore. His early international electrochemical community education at Mysore and Bangalore was honoured him by publishing in 1975, on his marked with proficiency and excellent 70th birthday, a Festschrift of the Journal of attainments. During an active academic period Electro-Analytical Chemistry. The ~cademy spanning three decades (1927 to 1957) that honoured him in 1986, on the occasion of his followed, he taught in the Central College, 80th birthday, by dedicating a special issue of Bangalore and in the National Sugar Institute, the Proceedings, Chemical Sciences to him, as a Kanpur, where he officiated as its Director for tribute for his services to Indian science, a brief period. In 1957, he moved to the especially electrochemistry and sugar Central Electrochemical Research Institute technology. (CECRIl, Karaikudi for organizing research in fundamental and industrial electrochemistry. As He passed away at Madras on 18 Director of CECRI during the next ten years, he October 1989. imparted to the Institute great strength and a high reputation. After his retirement he worked Stephen Denis Garrett, FRS, Emeritus Professor as technical adviser and consultant for several of Mycology and Fellow of Magdalene industrial units. College, Cambridge passed away at Cambridge His early research spanned a wide area on 26 December 1989, after a brief illness. from adsorption films, wetting phenomena, He was born on 1 November 1906 in techniques for the measurement of fast Leiston, Suffolk and was educated at the reactions and trace concentrations to many R Dragon School, Oxford and Eastbourne and D projects. By an application of the College. He specialized at first in mathematiCS, Langmuir - Adam trough, he showed that what but changed over to biology and took his was termed by Adam as the "mysterious Natural Science Tripos at Cambridge, in 1929, variation of surface tension with time" was due taking Part II in Botany. to the existence of an energy barrier at the interface. He also calculated the rate of His first post was as assistant plant formation of such films and provided a pathologist at the Waite Agricultural Research method of determining the cross-section of Institute at Adelaide University under Professor such solute molecules. He participated fully in Geoffrey Samuel. He returned to England in 1933, the excitement of the Langmuir- Adam­ after three years in Australia, to work firstat Imperial McBain era, but also spread it in India in the College, London under Professor William Brown 1930's, a remarkable achievement. and later at Rothamsted Experimental Station as a Leverhulme Research Fellow. He was soon His later contributions were to the appointed to the staff at Rothamsted. fundamental aspects of electrochemistry, with his pioneering researches in a.c. effects on He remained at Rothamsted as a adsorption and electrode kinetics. It is during mycologist for thirteen years till 1946, when he this period that he discovered the techniques accepted a post as plant pathologist with the of tensammetry and "the redoxokinetic effect", West Indian Banana Research Scheme in now termed Faradaic rectification. The latter Jamaica. III health, however, caused him to opened up a very interesting field of study return to England within the year and he connected with polarography and fast reaction worked for a time as Agricultural Research kinetics. There is not a single aspect of modern Council Fellow and lecturer in the Botany electrochemistry, on which he did not bestow School at Cambridge. He was elected to a attention, be it potential of zero charge or Readership in 1961 and subsequently to a mechanism of oxide film formation and personal chair in Cambridge in 1971. He was electrochemical oscillations or a very also Director of the Sub-Department of successful solution to the industrial problem of Mycology and Plant Pathology from 1952 until porous carbon electrodes for air depolarized h~s retirer:nent in 1973 but continued to pursue hiS experimental work till almost the end in cells. his glasshouse and home laboratory. ' C V Raman had a great influence on Doss in At Cambridge he not only taught several aspects - his fascination for discovery mycology and plant pathology, but continued his own researches witn great energy. He of beauty and harmony with nature, an supervised the first researches of many absence of any feeling of "retrospective students amongst whom were men and jealousy" in dealing with fellow scientists and women, now prominent in research activities, above all an inimitable store of wit and in universities, research stations and in remarkable wisdom. His interests were wide commercial undertakings all over the world: and varied. He was a "Sunday painter" of rare distinction and was a lover of classical music­ He had begun at Adelaide the study of both Indian and Western. the economically important ''Take-All'' disease of cereals, which attacks the plant roots. At He was born on 26 May, 1906 at Rothamsted he perfected the techniques, first Mukandpur in Punjab and had his early conceived at Adelaide, which were education in Rangoon. After obtaining the spectacularly to reveal the behaviour of fungi M.5c. degree in Botany in 1929, he proceeded in the soil. The great precision of the to Cambridge, U.K. where he obtained the experimental answers, combined with detailed PhD. degree in 1933. His PhD. thesis work field observation, allowed Garrett to reach a carried out under the guidance of Sir Roland comprehensive understanding of the Take-All Biffen and Sir Frank Engledow is still a classic, disease. Thence, using other simple but since it was one of the earliest studies on the ingenious techniques, he diversified, to explore potential for exploitation of hybrid vigour in the behaviour of a range of other root, wood wheat, a self-pollinated crop. He joined the and soil-inhabiting fungi, contributing greatly to staff of the Indian (then Imperial) Agricultural our knowledge of their pathology and ecology. Research Institute (lARD, at Pusa, Bihar, in 1933 His pioneering research is regarded as a superb and became the Imperial Economic Botanist in model for the study of diseases carried in the 1937, the post being later redeSignated Head soil and the body of knowledge he created of th_e Division of Botany. He held this post till has become a powerful tool in research into 1950, when he was appointed as Director of both plant disease and the ecology of fungi. the Institute, of which he remained the Head From this and later work arose unifying for the next fifteen years. He had moved to concepts of the behaviour of organisms in the New Delhi when the Institute was moved soil. These ideas are now the coinage of plant there in 1936, because of the damage done to pathological thought. the original Institute buildings at Pusa during the severe Bihar earthquake of 1934. He was elected a Fellow of Magdalene College in 1963, of the Royal Society in 1963, His contributions can be broadly and as an Honorary Fellow of the Academy in classified into five major categories - research, 1973. education, extension, institution building and His publications include Root-Disease international co-operation. In each of these Fungi (1944), Biology of Root - infecting Fungi areas his work was marked by a tireless striving (1956), Soil Fungi and Soil Fertility (1963), and for relevance and excellence. Pathogenic Root-infecting Fungi (1970). In the field of research, his well known An outstanding mycologist and work relates to the breeding of wheat varieties pathologist but also a modest and with multiple resistance to diseases like stem, exceptionally kind man, he wore his greatness leaf and stripe rusts and loose smut. In later like an invisible cloak. His death is a great 105s years, when he became a research to his friends and colleagues all over the administrator, he continued his personal world, particularly in India. breeding work in roses and bougainvilleas. Because of his understanding of the significance of biological diversity in achieving The passing away of Benjamin Peary Pal, after sustainable advances in biological productivity, a brief illness at New Delhi on September 14, he initiated a systematic search for new genes. 1989, marks the end of one of the brightest This work led to the establishment of the Plant chapters in the history of Indian science in Introduction Division at IARi and subsequently general and Indian agricultural science in to the organization of the, National Bureau of particular. Dr Pal was a scientist with an prant Genetic Resources by the Indian Council unusual combination of characteristics - depth of Agricultural Research. He also started weI/­ in the discipline of genetics and plant planned breeding efforts in many crops breeding, width in his grasp of the critical including potato, tomato and tobacco. He issues in Indian agriculture, courtesy and introduced statistical methods in selection compassion in his personal behaviour, a sense procedures and developed symbiotic partnerships with eminent plant pathologists should be the motto of applied research like the late Dr K C Mehta of the Agra workers. While developing the IARI Post­ University. graduate School, he introduced the course­ credit and trimester system of curriculum In education, Pal's singal service has been organisation, since he was convinced that it is the establishment of the Post-graduate School only this pattern which can help a young at IARI in 1958. Realizing that India will need scholar to overcome the handicaps arising vast numbers of Ph.D. scholars to provide well from the rigidity of choice of subjects in his or trained staff for our Agricultural Universities, he her early educational bc:.ckground. His interest organized the IARI Post-graduate school, which in institution building extended to scientific was conferred the status of a deemed societies. He was the founder of the Indian University by the University Grants Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding and Commission in 1958. The IARI Post-graduate several other societies. School has so far provided to the country about 4000 ph.D. and M.Sc. scholars and has Based on his conviction that farmers are made going abroad for Ph.D. work the ultimate judges of the value of applied unnecessary. research, he built systematic bridges between Pal's conviction that without outstanding the laboratory and the field. He strengthened basic research, advances in applied research the social science departments both at IARI cannot be sustained for long, led to his and ICAR and initiated a rural transformation establishing at IARI a School of Fundamental project in Delhi State. In fact, the reorganized Genetics. At the same time he developed ICAR developed by him became the model for institutional structures such as the All-India similar organisations in many developing Coordinated Research Projects for fostering countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, multi disciplinary, n1ulti-institutional and Philippines and Nigeria. problem-solving applied research. His tenure After retirement from ICAR in 1972, Dr Pal as Director of IARI was marked by a gave his time to the cause of environmental considerable strengthening of all the three < protection. He became the first Chairman of major roles of the Institute- research, the National Committee on Environmental education and extension. Protection and Coordination. He helped to organise the Bougainvillea and Rose Societies In 1965, he became the first Director of India. Along with the late Dr M S Randhawa General of the reo(ganised Indian Council of he organised the Rose Garden of Chandigarh. Agricultural Research (lCAR). The period 1965- He was well known as a grower, exhibitor and 72 when he was the Director General of ICAR breeder of Roses and Bougainvilleas. The very marked a new era in Indian agriculture. High last rose he bred was named "C V Raman", a yielding varieties of wheat, rice, maize, tribute to Raman on his Centenary. In sorghum and pearl millet became available for recognition of Pal's contributions to widespread cultivation. Research in the areas ornamental horticulture, a Rose, a Croton, a of animal husbandry and fisheries was Hebiscus, and a Bogainvillea have been named strengthened through the organization of after him. several All-India Coordinated Research Projects. Agricultural Universities were /n the international area, Dr Pal was a organized in nearly all States. International Trustee of several international agricultural cooperation was strengthened, particularly research Institutes and gave his time to helping with the Institutes working on maize and many developing countries strengthen their wheat research in Mexico and on rice in the national research capability. The scientific Philippines. Above all, he helped to raise the respect he commanded is evident from his status of Indian agricultural science both within election not only as a Fellow of the Royal and outside the country. Society of london but also of the Science Academies of France, Japan, USA, USSR and of Pal will always be remembered for his the Third World Academy of Sciences. contributions in achieving harmony between form and function in our research structures. Dr Pal was elected a Fellow of the The coordinated project was a device which Academy in 1975 and served as President of helped to overcome dividing walls created by the Indian National Science Academy during administrative structures and scientific 1975-76. He was General President of the diSciplines. He stressed that solving a field Indian Science Congress in 1970-71 and was problem rather than worshipping a discipline honoured with most of the prestigious scientific and public awards available for established the Plant Virus Research Centre at scientists in India. The President of India Poona, for illvestigation of plant virus diseases, conferred on him the Padma Shri in 1958, the and a Wheat Rust Research Centre at Padma Bhushan in 1968 and the Padma Mahabaleswar, for the development of wheat Vibhushan in 1987. None of these honours varieties resistant to black rust. Similarly, with affected in any way Dr Pal, the human being. assistance from the Indian Central Cotton Throughout his life, he remained the same, Committee, the Cotton Wilt Centre was set up gentle, kind, encouraging and enormously at Poona for the isolation of wilt-resistant knowledgeable. varieties of cotton under controlled conditions. Cross commodity regional stations were also His publications include Wheat, Indian established in the country for intensive Charophyte, The Rose in India, Beautiful research on cotton, oilseeds and millets. He Climbers of India, Bougainvifleas and was instrumental in framing the agricultural Environmental Conservation and Development. programme of the Second Plan, and also His attachment to the Indian Agricultural prepared a Fertilizer Plan for the manufacture Research Institute was total. In later life, he of different kinds of fertilizers in the country. would never refuse an invitation from the He reoriented and expanded work on soil students and staff of IARI to attend functions in conservation at the Centre, by setting up the Institute and share with them his wit and research and training stations in the different wisdom. Till his dying day, he tended with love regions of the country. He initiated an all-India and care a Rose Garden in IARI, where he did Soil Survey, under soil correlators for different his experiments in rose breeding. No wonder soil types with headquarters at the Indian that in his Will he donated all his worldly Agricultural Research Institute. He was possessions to IARI. His philosophy seems to Chairman of the Expert Committee set up by have been "I got all my personal and the Government to examine the working of professional happiness and fame from IARI and various Agricultural Research Institutes in the I must give back to the Institute whatever I country. He established Vocational Schools for have". His home was open to all and he was a farmers in the Bombay State. His main work friend, philosopher and guide to both young was on crop diseases and new species of fungi and old research workers. He was a truly and bacteria. He was elected a Fellow of the remarkable person, the like of whom we may Academy in 1939 and was awarded the Padma not see again. His life was his message and the Shri in 1959. He passed away at Chandigarh on best tribute one can pay to such a great 22 November 1989. scientist and humanist is to try to emulate his devotion to science, harnessing its tools for human happiness, harmony with nature and helpfulness to fellow human beings.

Badri Nath Uppal was born on 28 June 1900. After his early schooling and college education in Punjab, he studied in the USA, taking his ph.D. degree from the Iowa State University. On his return to India he worked as Plant Pathologist to the Government of Bombay, Professor of Plant Pathology and Jater Principal, College of Agriculture at Poona and Director of Agriculture, Bombay State. He served as Agricultural Commissioner to the Government of India and was Chairman of the Indian Central Tobacco Committee, the Indian lac Cess Committee, the Standing Committees on Manures and Fertilizers and on Seeds and served on the Indo American Team on Research and Education which recommended the establishment of Agricultural Universities in the country. Editor: Anna Mani 'Publisned by G Srinivasan, Editor of Publications With financial'assistance from the lfldi-a-n for tne Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore 560080 Council of Agricultural Research, he and printed by nim at Tne Book-Makers (I) Pvt. ltd., Bangalore.