Proc Indian Natn Sci Acad 85 No. 4 December 2019 pp. 1067-1090  Printed in India.

ACADEMY NEWS

INSA MEETINGS to Professor Tarun Kant, FNA, Professor Emeritus, Department of Civil Engineering, Several meetings were held during April 08-10, 2019 Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, in the Academy premises. . These included meetings of the different Sectional 4. Professor K Naha Memorial Medal to Committees for recommending names of Young Professor SS Rai, FNA, Professor Emeritus, Scientist Awardees and for the first round of short- Department of Earth and Climate Science, listing of nominations for INSA Fellowship. The Indian Institute of Science Education & Advisory Boards for the various INSA Awards also Research (IISER), Pune. met. These were followed by meetings of the Council and General Body. (C) Endowment Lectures INSA Medal/Lecture Awards 2019 5. Professor Darshan Ranganathan Memorial Lecture to Professor Gaiti Hasan, FNA, The Academy at its General Body Meeting on April National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata 10, 2019 announced the following six medal/lecture Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru. Awards for 2019. In addition, a new endowment award named International Award Professor TV Desikachary Memorial Medal was also 1. PMS Blackett Memorial Lecture to Sir Tom instituted. The Medal will be awarded to an eminent L Blundell, FNA, Emeritus Professor and scientist for his outstanding contributions in any area Director of Research, Department of of Biological Sciences. The award carries an , University of Cambridge, honorarium of Rs. 25,000/, a bronze medal and a Cambridge. citation. The first medal will be awarded in 2020.

Subjectwise Medals/Lectures/Awards ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting of the Academy was (A) Medals Instituted by the Academy held on July 26, 2019 at Academy premises. The 1. Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal to Professor KB Council in its meeting announced the election of new Sinha, FNA, Honorary Professor, Jawaharlal President – Dr. Chandrima Shaha, two new Vice- Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research Presidents – Professors Gaiti Hasan and Subrata (JNCASR), Bengaluru. Sinha and seven new members – Professors Amitabha Chattopadhyay, Debashish Chowdhury, Tarun Kant, 2. Jagadis Chandra Bose Medal to Professor K M Lakshmi Kantam, Dr. SWA Naqvi, Professors EV Muniyappa, FNA, Honorary Professor, Sampathkumaran and Subhasis Chaudhuri of the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Council for 2020. It also reported the sad demise of Science, Bengaluru. Dr. Hari Krishan Jain, Professor Satish Chandra (B) Endowed Medals Maheshwari, Professor Sudhir Pradyumna Pandya, Professor Awadh Kishore Prasad Sinha and Dr. Bidare 3. Professor Memorial Medal Venkatasubbaiah Subbarayappa distinguished 1068 Academy News

Fellows of the Academy. thus paving the way for improved management of the disease. The Council approved the election of 29 Indian scientists as INSA Fellows, three overseas scientists Arun Chattopadhyay (b 05.12.1964), PhD, as Foreign Fellows. It also decided to offer the INSA Professor, Department of , Indian Institute Teachers Award to 12 outstanding teachers, INSA of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati. Medal for Young Scientist to 30 young scientists, For his fundamental contributions to nanoscale INSA Young Historian of Science Award to one young material science and technology by way of devising scholar and Professor Har Swarup Memorial Award new methods of synthesis as well as applications in to one INSA Young Scientist Awardee as detailed submicron scale color lithography and tunable below: luminescence of quantum dot complexes. FELLOWS ELECTED–2019 (Effective from 01 Mamta Chawla-Sarkar (b 07.07.1970), PhD, January 2020) Scientist-F, Division of Virology, ICMR-National Sundarababu Baskaran (b 16.06.1961), PhD, Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, . Institute Chair Professor, Department of Chemistry, For making substantial research contribution towards Indian Institute of Technology Madras, . understanding host-pathogen interaction and viral For developing domino strategies for the assemblage pathogenesis for targeted drug development for of natural products of biological interest. influenza A and Rota viruses, diseases of global concern. Nita Bhandari (b 12.11.1955), MBBS, PhD, Senior Scientist and Director, Centre for Health Research Jyotsna Dhawan (b 31.03.1959), PhD, Emeritus and Development, Society for Applied Studies, New Scientist, CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Delhi. Biology, Hyderabad. She is a clinical scientist working in population based For her fundamental contributions in the area of stem research with high impact on Child Health Nutrition cell research, to define the mechanisms by which in the developing world. adult muscle stem cells attain and maintain progress of self-renewal via control of epigenetic, Supriya Chakraborty (b 13.12.1969), PhD, transcriptional and signaling networks with Professor (Virology), Molecular Virology Laboratory, implications for improving skeletal muscle School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, regeneration. New Delhi. Pramod Kumar Garg (b 10.05.1963), MBBS, MD, For his significant contributions in understanding DM, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, All biology of plant-virus interactions. He has deciphered India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. novel functions of viral proteins in replication and the stimulation of viral genome transcription in crop For his research on the pathophysiology of chronic models such as tomato, cowpea and okra. pancreatitis has led to its identification as a genetically determined disease with new genetic Mitali Chatterjee (b 02.11.1960), MBBS, MD, PhD, mutations (4 in India). He has developed a non Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of surgical treatment of acute pancreatitis. Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata. Yusuf Khwaja Hamied (b 25.07.1936), PhD, ScD, DSc (hc), Non-Executive Chairman, CIPLA Ltd., For identifying clinico-immunological determinants Mumbai Central, Mumbai. in post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis, which is a major scourge in India and in the third world countries Dr. Hamied is an outstanding R&D expert, a Academy News 1069 courageous industrialist and an outspoken statesman Sobolov-Mazya equations, particularly discovering for affordable drugs for the treatment of HIV, Anti- a hyperbolic symmetry in the solution and developed cancer and Anti-Asthmatics etc. He is the only Indian analytical tools to study semilinear elliptic PDE’s in who has succeeded in his mission of National the hyperbolic space. significance by way of offering essential drugs at low Pawan Malhotra (b 16.11.1960), PhD, Group prices. Leader, Malaria Biology Group, International Centre Raksh Vir Jasra (b 28.11.1952), PhD, Senior Vice- for and Biotechnology, New President (R&D), R&D Centre, Reliance Industries Delhi. Limited, Vadodara Manufacturing Division, For his outstanding contribution in dissecting the key Vadodara. components of the malarial parasite and the For his significant contributions to the development development of therapeutic strategies. and commercialization of chemical processes based Neelesh Bhogilal Mehta (b 09.01.1975), PhD, on innovative catalytic and adsorption phenomena. Professor, Department of Electrical Communication Sanjeev Khosla (b 05.06.1969), PhD, Staff Scientist- Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. VI, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, For his fundamental contributions to the modelling, Hyderabad. design, analysis, and optimization of cellular systems, For his outstanding contribution in dissecting the cooperative relaying, cognitive radio, and green mutual epigenetic modulations between sensor networks. Mycobacteria and its host cells. Ritabrata Munshi (b 11.09.1976), PhD, Professor, Manchikanti Krishnamurthy (b 21.04.1969), PhD, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata. Professor H, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, For his internationally acclaimed work on the theory Hyderabad. of L-functions. His work in the sub-convexity For his pioneering contributions to the experimental problem for higher rank L-function is path breaking. study of intense, ultrashort laser interactions with Utpal Nath (b 11.09.1965), PhD, Associate clusters, in particular the demonstration of the Professor, Department of Microbiology and Cell counter-intuitive, near complete neutralization of Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. highly charged ions to produce MeV neutral atom beams, and his lateral stride in the generation of high For his pioneering work in the field of leaf brightness hard x-ray emission from plasmas morphogenesis. His work has given insights on leaf produced in biological cells. growth patterns and its planar geometry using genetic and genomic tools in model plants. Raghavan Krishnan (b 15.03.1965), PhD, Scientist- G & Executive Director, Centre for Climate Change Janardhan Padmanabhan (b 15.02.1960), PhD, Research, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Senior Professor (H) and Dean, Physical Research Pune. Laboratory, Ahmedabad. For his outstanding contributions in earth system For outstanding contributions in solar wind modeling of climate including Indian monsoon. turbulence on magnetosphere and atmosphere. Sandeep Kunnath (b 03.04.1973), PhD, Professor, Uma Ramakrishnan (b 23.12.1972), PhD, Associate Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Centre for Professor, Ecology and , National Centre Applicable Mathematics, Bengaluru. for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru. For his significant contributions in the study of Hardy- 1070 Academy News

Uma Ramakrishnan is an outstanding conservation development of the Launch Vehicles of India, geneticist who has made consistent contribution to including several strategic technologies and their wildlife ecology using both reductionist and adaptation, initiating research and development in mathematical modeling approaches. Her work on the new niche and critical areas, transfer of technology population of iconic animals such as the tiger, to industry for wider use and public benefit. and of bird communities in the sky islands of the Kandaswamy Subramanian (b 02.09.1957), PhD, Western Ghats is renowned. Distinguished Professor and Dean, Visitor Academic (b 02.01.1964), PhD, Scientist-G, Programmes, Inter University Centre for Astronomy National Centre for Cell Science, Pune. and Astrophysics, Pune. For his outstanding contribution in elucidation of For his fundamental contributions towards our novel immune response and signaling mechanisms theoretical understanding of astrophysical magnetic in cancer and infectious diseases. fields, especially their generation through the turbulent dynamo process and their possible Sethuraman Sankararaman (b 15.10.1957), PhD, primordial signatures in the Cosmic Microwave Professor, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute Background Radiation. of Technology Madras, Chennai. Prabodh Kumar Trivedi (b 15.06.1969), PhD, For his significant contributions to modern acetylene Senior Principal Scientist, and chemistry and N-heterocyclic carbene chemistry. Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Vijay Balakrishna Shenoy (b 07.01.1971), PhD, Research Institute, . Professor, Centre for Condensed Matter Theory, For his major achievements in basic science Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, applications to crop improvement. Notable Bengaluru. publications are in pathway engineering of secondary For his original contributions in physics in the area metabolites in plants and in environmental of synthetic non-Abelian gauge fields in cold atom biotechnology. Developed GM model plants for systems where an excitation rashbon appears, and the insect resistance and animal bone health. idea that topological phases can appear in amorphous Mahendra Kumar Verma (b 27.05.1966), PhD, systems. Professor, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur. Sneh Lata Singla-Pareek (b 30.04.1969), PhD, Group Leader and National Officer, Plant Stress For his seminal contributions in the field of MHD Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering turbulence based on results from high performance and Biotechnology, New Delhi. computer simulations based on the well-known code TARANG which he conceptualized and developed, For her pioneering contributions on the role of the and his analysis of turbulence based on glyoxalate pathway in stress tolerance. She has renormalization group theory. unveiled the cross-talk between different stress responses for plant adaptation. She has developed Mohan Ramchandra Wani (b 01.01.1965), PhD, marker-free transgenic rice for abiotic stress Scientist-G (Professor), National Centre for Cell tolerance. Science, University of Pune Campus, Pune.

Kailasavadivoo Sivan (b 14.04.1957), PhD, DSc For his outstanding and original contributions in the (hc), Secretary to GOI, Department of Space and area of bone and cartilage remodeling and Chairman, ISRO, Bengaluru. regenerative medicine. He demonstrated for the first time that IL-3 prevents pathological bone loss and For his immense contribution in the design and stimulates new bone formation. Academy News 1071

FOREIGN FELLOWS ELECTED–2019 Science and mentoring students to pursue research. (Effective from 01 January 2020) Professor Goutam Brahmachari (b 14.04.1969), John Paul Attfield (b 27.07.1962), Chair of Department of Chemistry, Siksha-Bhavana (Institute Materials Science at Extreme Conditions, School of of Science), Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan. Chemistry and Centre for Science at Extreme For his noteworthy contributions in Chemistry Conditions (CSEC), King’s Buildings, University of education and teaching at Master’s level. Edinburgh, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK. Dr Raka Vasant Dabhade (b 14.07.1965), Professor Attfield has extensively contributed to the Department of Physics, Fergusson College, Pune. understanding of the electronic structure of solids. He discovered how unusual conducting and magnetic Professor Raka Vasant Dabhade has enthused properties arise as a consequence of a material’s generations of students at the undergraduate level, chemical composition and structure. He has interacted through an ‘Astro-Club’ which has fostered the spirit closely with Indian scientists for over two decades. of free enquiry and research. Her roles in outreach and in training students to engage in the same are Holger Braunschweig (b 02.11.1961), Professor of exceptional. Chemistry (W3), lnstitut für Anorganische Chemie, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Dr Sagarika Vivek Damle (b 28.06.1967), Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany. Department of Life Sciences, Kishinchand Chellaram College, Mumbai. Professor Braunschweig’s research interests center around organometallic and main group chemistry with For initiating a unique UG research program. This, a particular emphasis on boron and transition metal- UGC approved, 18 months program has enabled based molecules, and their applications in synthesis, many UG students to publish research papers on catalysis and material science. His work on transition diverse topics such as RAPD analysis of plant metal borylene complexes continues to have a major diversity, analysis of phytochemicals in indigenous impact on contemporary organometallic chemistry, plants. She has involved students in plantation of particularly in terms of activation of small molecules indigenous species for urban greening. such as dinitrogen. Professor Sudipta De (b 31.10.1966), Mechanical Andreas Graner (b 05.10.1957), Executive Director, Engineering Department, Jadavpur University, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Kolkata. Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, D-06466 Seeland OT Gatersleben, Germany. For his teachings in emerging interdisciplinary areas, has inspired a large number of students. Professor Graner has been at the forefront of plant breeding by developing genomic tools, mapping of Professor Paramartha Dutta (b 14.06.1966), agronomic traits and identifying the underlying genes Department of Computer and System Sciences, Visva in barley and wheat. In addition, he has explored new Bharati University, Santiniketan. ways to deploy genomic information for the For inspiring a large number of students with his advancement of both conservation management and excellent teaching and research. utilization of ex situ collections. Professor Debashis Ghoshal (b 01.09.1964), School INSA TEACHER AWARDEES–2019 of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Professor Sankar Bose (b 07.06.1968), Department New Delhi. of Geology, Presidency University, Kolkata. For integrating his research in fundamental Physics For his significant contributions to teaching in Earth with teaching of a wide-ranging subjects, thereby 1072 Academy News successfully mentoring students not only at his home Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Germany. institution, but at other places also. He has played an For discovering important steps of miRNA regulation outstanding role in identifying and nurturing research involving biogenesis, turnover and exosome- talent from across the country. mediated transport between mammalian cells. His Professor Saibal Gupta (b 22.12.1966), Department work in the context of Leishmania contributes of Geology & Geophysics, Indian Institute of important therapeutic angles in macrophages. Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur. Dr Anirvan Chakraborty (b 19.09.1985), PhD, For his outstanding contributions to Earth Science Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Indian teaching and for inspiring many students to pursue Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, research in Earth Science. Mohanpur, Nadia. Professor Sanjay Kumar (b 05.07.1966), For his fundamental contributions in developing Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of statistical methods for infinite dimensional data. His Technology Madras, Chennai. work provides useful and interesting insights into probabilistic models for high dimensional data. For his continued excellence in Undergraduate Chemistry teaching to engineers. Dr Krishna Reddy Challa (b 14.06.1985), PhD, Department of Biology and AERS, West Virginia Professor Rohit Manchanda (b 03.01.1964), State University, USA. Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai. For his outstanding work on mechanisms by which plant morphogenesis is regulated by key He is an accomplished teacher, communicator and developmental genes. One such component was the an award-winning writer of fiction. He has used his TCP4 transcription factor, whose role he addressed communication skills to regularly give talks in using in depth genetic, cellular and molecular schools and colleges for science popularization. He analysis. is rated highly by IIT students, and has won IIT Bombay Excellence in Teaching Award thrice already. Dr Abhik Narayan Choudhury (b 04.11.1984), PhD, Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Professor Neela Nataraj (b 31.05.1968), Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai. For his outstanding contributions to the development of phase field models to address microstructural Professor Neela Nataraj has excelled in her teaching evolution in complex systems and in their with her noteworthy contributions. experimental validation. Dr S Sathyakumar (b 11.03.1965), Wildlife Institute Dr Tanmay Neelesh Deshpande (b 15.11.1984), of India, Dehradun. PhD, School of Mathematics, Tata Institute of For his extraordinary teaching and motivational skills Fundamental Research, Mumbai. to draw young students to challenging areas of high For his outstanding contributions to the field of altitude and mountain ecology; and Biodiversity “Geometric Representation Theory”. His work on conservation and management in trans-boundary character sheaves on unipotent and solvable groups landscapes. is highly commendable and has opened up the area. INSA MEDAL FOR YOUNG SCIENTIST Dr Siddhesh Balkrishna Ghag (b 25.03.1986), PhD, AWARDEES–2019 Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE Dr Mainak Bose (b 29.07.1986), PhD, European CEBS), University of Mumbai, Mumbai. Academy News 1073

For his focused work to develop banana for wilt disease where he showed important changes in lipase resistance. He deployed a defensin protein from function. Currently he is mapping lipid epoxide Petunia and developed Fusarium wilt resistant changes during cellular oxidative stress. His transgenic banana, used SiRNA strategy against a collaborative help is significantly contributing in transcription factor to control the pathogen, other areas of work involving lipid vesicle recycling developed somaclonal mutants and is currently and proteome charges. working on biocontrol. His evaluation of different Dr Bidya Binay Karak (b 25.08.1984), PhD, strategies could lead to the development of Department of Physics, Indian Institute of agronomically good banana lines with resistance to Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. this important disease. For his fundamental contributions to our Dr Gnanasekaran Gunadayalan (b 05.07.1986), understanding of how the 11-year sunspot cycle is PhD, Department of Botany, Madras Christian produced by the dynamo process. His work led to a College, Chennai. comprehensive theory of the large fluctuations in the For his contributions in plant taxonomy using field sunspot cycle, especially the Maunder minimum. He data and modern tools with special reference to genus also carried out state-of-the-art 3D simulations of the Andrographis and family Acanthaceae are highly dynamo process. commendable. Dr Rohan Jayant Khadilkar (b 22.04.1987), PhD, Dr Trinath Jamma (b 16.09.1986), PhD, Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani- Faculty of Medicine, Life Sciences Institute, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad. University of British Columbia, Canada.

For his significant research in cross-communication For uncovering mechanistic description of ARF1- between signalling pathways during Mycobacterial ASrig mediated cross-talk in the endosomal pathway infection. relevant for stem cell maintenance in Drosophila hematopoiesis. Interestingly, the same interaction Dr Anukul Jana (b 27.01.1984), PhD, Tata Institute plays important role in NFKb pathway. of Fundamental Research Hyderabad, Hyderabad. Dr Mudasir Ahmad Khanday (b 21.06.1985), PhD, For his exploratory studies of low-valent low- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, USA. coordinate main group compounds, their applications in developing novel catalysts and materials, and For his research in vivo system in rats has advanced reactions of diradicals. our knowledge in delineating the neurophysiological and neurochemical regulation of rapid eye movement Dr Geetharani K (b 22.05.1984), PhD, Department sleep. of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Dr Nikhil Kunjalli Lokesh (b 19.10.1988), PhD, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin. For her contributions to the development of cost effective and earth abundant metal catalysts for the For his work that unraveled the physiology and synthesis of organoboranes as synthetic intermediates molecular basis of “early” and “late” chronotypes for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and functional exhibited by circadian rhythms in Drosophila. materials. Dr Uttam Manna (b 01.09.1984), PhD, Department Dr Siddhesh Shashikant Kamat (b 03.01.1985), of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology PhD, Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Guwahati, Guwahati. Science Education and Research, Pune. For his outstanding contributions to design and For uncovering lipid changes in PHARC human synthesis of reactive and self-healing polymeric gels 1074 Academy News and of unique three-dimensional materials exhibiting Studies Section, Metallurgy and Materials Group, superhydrophobicity. Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam. Dr Archita Mishra (b 19.10.1986), PhD, Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, For his significant contribution to the experimental Technology and Research, Singapore. determination and analysis of creep fatigue interactions in life estimation of steels. For repurposing FDA approved drugs to target Mycobacterium tuberculosis metabolic pathways. Dr Namisha Sharma (b 29.08.1987), PhD, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi. Dr Puneet Kumar Patra (b 08.06.1988), PhD, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of For her significant contributions towards Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur. understanding the small RNA-mediated defense response in tomato against Tomato leaf curl New For his innovative molecular simulation methods to Delhi virus (ToLCNDV). She demonstrated the novel study the energy transport in low-dimensional role of miR159-MYB33 regulatory module in systems using molecular simulations, and the facilitating disease resistance by activating Sw5- development of novel thermostats for non- mediated HR mechanism and also developed a novel equilibrium systems. method for developing transgenic tomato cultivars Dr Raghavendra S Patwardhan (b 27.12.1984), tolerant to ToLCNDV infection. PhD, Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Dr Tarun Kumar Sharma (b 08.09.1985), PhD, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai. Center for Biodesign and Diagnostics, Translational For his significant contributions in the field of Health Science & Technology Institute, Faridabad. radiation biology. He undertook exploration to search For his expertise in aptamer based diagnostics and for radiation modifying strategies which would be of his significant contributions in the field of TB help to cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. diagnostics. These tests which appear to perform He has identified baicalein and cholorophyllin as better than the existing nucleic acid amplification tests putative radio protectors with potential for immediate and antibody based ELISA are in the process of phase 1 trial. commercialisation. He is also involved in the process Dr Rishi Raj (b 21.02.1984), PhD, Department of of developing aptamer based assay for detection of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of snake venom. Technology Patna, Patna. Dr Pallavi Singh (b 03.08.1985), PhD, Department For innovative techniques that significantly enhanced of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, phase-change heat transfers in zero gravity Cambridge. environments. For her pioneering work to identify and delineate the Dr Irfan Rashid (b 17.08.1984), PhD, Department key role of a mitogen activated protein kinase in of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar. conferring submergence tolerance in rice. For his outstanding research on implications of Dr Anjani Kumar Tiwari (b 01.07.1986), PhD, changing climate and other anthropogenic forcings Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology on glacier dynamics and hazards, snow cover Kanpur, Kanpur. changes, land system-alpine vegetation dynamics, For innovative experiments on random lasing in lake and wetland health over Jammu and Kashmir scattering media and for devising methods to control region. lasing properties in interesting cavity geometries. Dr Aritra Sarkar (b 25.12.1984), PhD, Fatigue Academy News 1075

Dr Chandni U (b 22.05.1985), PhD, Department of PROFESSOR HAR SWARUP MEMORIAL Instrumentation and Applied Physics, Indian Institute AWARDEE – 2019 of Science, Bengaluru. Dr Mahak Sharma (b 23.04.1983), Department of For her innovative and challenging experimental Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science work on electron transport in a variety of low- Education and Research, Mohali. dimensional systems and structural transitions and For her paper entitled: The Dynein Adaptor Hook2 critical phenomena in shape memory systems. Plays Essential Roles in Mitotic Progression and Dr Supradeepa VR (b 21.09.1984), PhD, Centre for Cytokinesis published in Journal of Cell Biology, doi: Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of 10.1083/jcb.201804183 (2019). Science, Bengaluru. AWARD LECTURES DELIVERED UNDER For development of efficient cascaded Raman fibre LOCAL CHAPTERS lasers with tunable wavelength for high power laser applications. Professor Darshan Ranganathan Memorial Lecture (2019): Professor Gaiti Hasan, FNA, SERB Dr Sneha Yadav (b 10.04.1984), PhD, Space Physics Distinguished Fellow, National Centre for Biological Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Thiruvananthapuram. Bengaluru delivered Professor Darshan Ranganathan Memorial Lecture on Modulation of Neuronal For her outstanding contribution towards Function by Intracellular Calcium Signaling at Indian understanding of low latitude ionosphere specific to Institute of Science, Bengaluru on June14, 2019. Indian longitudes under varying space weather conditions. Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal (2019): Professor KB Sinha, FNA, Honorary Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru Dr Vikas Yadav (b 18.10.1989), PhD, Department Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke delivered Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal lecture on University Medical Center, USA. Trace Formulae in Operator Theory – Story of Two For his contributions in involvement of RNAi in Projections at Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru Cryptococcus centromere structure and their on June 27, 2019. dynamics. Professor K Naha Memorial Medal (2019): INSA YOUNG HISTORIAN OF SCIENCE Professor SS Rai, FNA, Emeritus Professor, AWARDEE – 2019 Department of Earth and Climate Science, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune Dr Aditya Kolachana (b 26.05.1984), PhD, Research delivered Professor K Naha Memorial Medal on Scholar, Cell for Indian Science and Technology in Diversity in the Deep Earth Beneath India- A Sanskrit, Department of Humanities and Social Geophysical Perspective at Department of Geological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Science, Jadavpur University, Kolkata on August 06, For his significant contributions to the advancement 2019. of studies in the history of Indian astronomy by way Darashaw Nosherwanji Wadia Medal (2015): of analysing the unpublished manuscripts such as Professor Sudipta Sengupta, FNA, Department of È the Lagnaprakara‡a of M dhava, and the CandrÈrkÏ Geological Sciences, Jadavpur University, Kolkata of Dinakara. delivered Darashaw Nosherwanji Wadia Medal lecture on Antarctica: A Continent for Science at Geology Department, University of Delhi, Delhi on September13, 2019. 1076 Academy News

ò Professor JP Khurana, FNA, Director, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi has been nominated for the membership of IAP Committee for six years.

ò Professor Anurag Agrawal, FNA, Director, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, has been nominated as an Expert to serve on IAP global project entitled “Climate Change and Health (CC&H)”. Workshop/Symposia/Conference supported by Professor Sudipta Sengupta, FNA, receiving a medal of the award the Academy lecture from Professor DM Banerjee, FNA ò On behalf of Indian National Science Academy, Professor Subrata Sinha, FNA, Head, Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, attended the Nominations/Election of Indian scientists for symposium on Global Mental Health in an Era various positions at International Science Council of Sustainable Development: Research and (formerly ICSU) and its different Unions. Policy Priorities during May 30-31, 2019 at Gauteng, Pretoria, South Africa. ò Professor A Jayaraman, Director, National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Department ò A Brainstorming session on Conservation of of Space, Govt. of India, Gadanki, AP, has been Geoheritage: Current Scenario and Future nominated as National Representative of Action Plans was held at INSA during August COSPAR (Committee on Space Research). 05-06, 2019 under the aegis of IUGS-INQUA (International Union of Geological Sciences – ò Professor LS Shashidhara, FNA, Professor International Quaternary Research). and Coordinator (Biology), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune Overseas Visits by INSA Delegations has been elected as President, International Shri SP Mishra, Deputy Executive Director-I Union for Biological Sciences (IUBS) for the (Scientific) and Project Investigator of the India-UK period 2019-2022. Water Quality Research Programme visited UK to attend India-UK Joint Review Meeting for midterm ò Professor Bipul Behari Saha, Director, R&D, evaluation of projects during July 09-10, 2019. Nagarjuna Agrichem, Punjagutta, Hyderabad has been elected as Member of IUPAC Visit of Overseas Delegates to INSA (International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry) Bureau for the period 2020-2023. A two member US delegation consisting of Dr. Amy D’Amico, Director of Professional Services and Ms. ò Professor SC Lakhotia, FNA, SERB Katherine Pedersen Blanchard, Programme Manager, Distinguished Fellow, Cytogenetics Laboratory, Smithsonian Science Education Centre, Washington, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu DC visited INSA on September 24, 2019 and had University, Varanasi has been nominated as an discussion meeting with Professor JP Khurana, Vice- Expert to serve on the panel for planned IAP President (International Affairs) and Shri SP Mishra, Study “Harnessing the world’s academies to Deputy Executive Director-I (Scientific), INSA. combat predatory academic journals and conferences”. Academy News 1077

Support for Visiting Scientists Indian National Committee for IUGS and the visiting IUGS and IGCC executive committee ò 10 Indian scientists were supported by the members, was organized on May 21, 2019 at Academy for attending various ISC (formerly INSA premises, which comprised presentations ICSU) sponsored international conferences on new activities in Indian Geosciences during abroad. the recent past and future plans.

ò 17 Indian scientists were supported by the ò A Bid for hosting INQUA 2023 in India, with Academy for attending various Non-ISC the theme New Paradigms of Quaternary for sponsored international conferences abroad. Global Well-Being and Sustainability, was th ò 42 Indian scientists and eight foreign scientists presented at 20 Congress of the INQUA, were exchanged under INSA Bilateral Exchange Dublin held during July 25-31, 2019. Programme with overseas academies. ò An International Science Council National SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS Committee Meeting was held at INSA premises on July 25, 2019. ò A joint lecture of INSA-Institute of Archaeology on Archaeological Investigations of Advanced ò A joint meeting of Research Council and Indian Technical and Scientific Developments in the National Commission for History of Science Silver, Zinc and Crucible Steel Industries of along with a seminar on Studies in History and Early India was delivered by Dr Paul T Philosophy of Science coordinated by Professor Craddock, The British Museum, London UK, Samir Saha, Member, Research Council for on March 13, 2019 at Institute of Archaeology, History of Science, INSA was organized during Delhi. The lecture was very well received and July 18-19, 2019 at Jadavpur University, attended by students and staffs of the institute. Kolkata. During the meeting, four shortlisted candidates were invited for presentations. Dr th ò The 15 Project Investigators’ Meet and Joint Aditya Kolachana, Department of Humanities Meeting of the Research Council and Indian and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of National Commission for History of Science Technology, Bombay was recommended for was held during March 29-30, 2019 at INSA INSA Young Historian of Science Award for the premises, to assess the progress of 13 ongoing year 2019 on the basis of his advanced studies and to consider 23 new projects for funding in the history of Indian astronomy by way of during the year 2019-20. Presentations were analysing the unpublished manuscripts such as made by the project investigators in the areas the Lagnaprakarȇa of MÈdhava, and of their research. Out of 23 new proposals, 12 the CandrÈrkÏ of Dinakara. During the day-long were approved by the commission and 12 seminar, seven papers on Ontology of Time: ongoing projects were renewed. Dçgen to Einstein; Chymistry, chemistry or

th chemical philosophy: An intra- and ò A Bid for hosting the 15 Quadrennial interdisciplinary engagement in natural Symposium on Solar Terrestrial Physics (STP- philosophy through the lens of some 18th century 15) was sent to SCOSTEP at Mumbai in the chemical philosophers; excerpts from month of April 2019. MunÏàvara’s commentary Ni†r†—ÈrthadÊtÏ on ò An Executive Committees of the International LÏlÈvatÏ of BhÈskarÈchÈrya; Science in Modern Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the India: A Note on Sources; Studies in History International Geological Congress Committee and Philosophy of Science in India; History of (IGCC) visited India during May 20-25, 2019. Cognitive Science and Parallels between During this visit, an interaction meeting of the History of Science and History of Philosophy: 1078 Academy News

Some Reflections were presented by invited ò Professor BK Thelma, FNA, Department of scholars from different parts of India. Genetics, University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi visited Washington DC, USA to ò An interactive session of Science Academies’ attend the 2nd meeting of Human Germline Summer Research Fellows and their mentors Genome Editing Commission during November was organized at the INSA premises on July 14-16, 2019. 08, 2019. PUBLICATIONS OF THE ACADEMY ò National Education Policy Discussion meeting was held at INSA premises on June 22, 2019 Special Publications by the Academy and July 07, 2019. ò A special publication on Fellowships and ò Professor Pulickel M. Ajayan, Benjamin M. and Funding Opportunities for School Students: Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor of Way Forward by Dr Muthamilarasan Engineering and also Chair of the Department Mehanathan has been reprinted. of Materials Science and Nano Engineering Rice University, Texas, USA awardee ò A special volume on Indian Science of Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Medal- Transforming India edited by Professor LS 2019 delivered the Award lecture on Nano Shashidhara, FNA, has been published in Hindi Engineered Materials on July 19, 2019 at Indian and released at INSA on July 26, 2019. Institute of Science, Bengaluru. ò A special volume on Meghnad Saha: The Man

ò Professor BK Thelma, FNA, Department of and His Science through Selected Letters and Genetics, University of Delhi, South Campus, Writings authored by Professor Jibamitra New Delhi visited Washington DC, USA to Ganguly, Department of Geosciences, attend the meeting of Human Germline Genome University of Arizona, Arizona, USA, has been Editing Commission entitled Development of published and released at Saha Institute of Criteria and Standards for Human Germline Nuclear Physics, Kolkata on November 04, Genome Editing during August 13-14, 2019. 2019. The event is the part of the Commission jointly Proceedings of the Indian National Science established by The US National Academy of Academy Sciences, US National Academy of Medicine together with the Chinese Academy of Sciences Volume 85, No. 1 (March 2019) issue of PINSA has and the Royal Society, London. been published. This issue contained 14 review articles, four research papers, an editorial by Professor ò Professor AK Sood, President, INSA, attended Sanjay Puri, FNA, and Academy News. 16th Annual Meeting of Science and Technology in Society Forum (STS) organized by Science Volume 85, No. 2 (June 2019) issue of PINSA has Council of Japan during October 05-08, 2019 been published as a thematic issue on “1919-2019 at Kyoto, Japan. Professor Sood gave a Centennial Celebrations of the International Union presentation on the theme entitled Never-Ending of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG): Contributions Excitement and Value for Discovery Research from India”. This issue contained 10 review articles during Academy President’s Meeting held on and a guest editorial by Professor Harsh K Gupta, October 07, 2019. FNA.

ò Professor JP Khurana, FNA, Vice-President Volume 85, No. 3 (September 2019) issue of PINSA (International Affairs), participated in 2nd has been published as Indian National Young BRICS Academies meeting via video Academy of Science (INYAS) special issue. This conferencing on November 04-05, 2019. issue contained seven review articles, nine research Academy News 1079

papers and a guest editorial by INYAS members – system of SÊryasiddhȇta; ascendant in the Dr Pankaj Kumar, IUAC, Delhi, Dr Ranjit Kumar, Lagnaprakara‡a; record on epigastric-heteropagus DEI, Agra and Dr V Ramanathan, IIT-BHU. twins in Madras Presidency in 1789; Sukumar Chandra Sirkar and the department of optics at the Indian Journal of History of Science (IJHS) IACS; agricultural sciences in India; mural painting Volume 54, No. 2 (June 2019) issue of IJHS has been from Bezeklik, China; history of sacred road to published. The issue contains paper on Indus script, Ramesvaram pilgrimages and Hardinge professorship Taxila mirrors, Plant growth and vegetable principles, of higher mathematics at Calcutta University. The Greco-Indian medical exchanges, Jagdish Chandra regular features include review of a book on early Bose and plant neurobiology, Forensic Science British Indian metallurgy and report of a project on folk India, Research on Number Theory, and Metric medicine of Rajbanshis of sub-Himalayan Bengal. measures during Colonial period. The issue also An obituary of BV Subbarayappa is also published contains book reviews and project reports. in the issue.

Volume 54, No. 3 (September 2019) issue of IJHS Indian Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics has been published. The issue contains paper on (IJPAM) untapped wealth of manuscripts on Indian astronomy and mathematics; Persian translation of BhÈskara’s Volume 50, No. 2, 3 & 4 (June, September & LÏlÈvatÏ at the court of Akbar; ecliptic coordinate December 2019) issue of IJPAM has been published.

tÏ 1080 Academy News

OBITUARIES

FELLOWS superannuated as Professor. Later he was Senior and Anand Swarup Arya Honorary Scientist of INSA. Anand Swarup Arya (b 16 Chatterjee’s contribu- June 1931; d 01 September tions include elucidation of the 2019) obtained his PhD from pathway of vitamin C in University of Illinois, USA animals, relationship of the specializing in Earthquake and biosynthetic pathway with Structural Engineering. He evolution, identification of served the University of genetic defect in man and other animals incapable of Roorkee for 36 years from synthesizing vitamin C as well as biological function where he retired as Professor of the vitamin. He also studied the smoke-induced & Head of Earthquake Engineering and Pro-Vice lung damage and its prevention by vitamin C Chancellor in 1989. He was a National Seismic Chatterjee isolated p-benzosemiquinone, a major Advisor, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of hazardous long-lived radical responsible for lung India, on GoI-UNDP Earthquake Vulnerability damage, from cigarette smoke and got a US patent Reduction Programme. on this and also another patent for devising a special Professor Arya made significant contribution to filter for trapping the semiquinone. methods of dynamic analysis and design of structures Professor Chatterjee was awarded Amulyaratan ranging from small to multi storeyed buildings, arched Prize of Calcutta University (1988), BC Guha Lecture and shell structures, bridges, dams and atomic power Award from INSA (1996), Life Time Achievement plants. The unique feature of his approach has been Award in Biochemistry from Kalyani University to develop the most appropriate solution to the (2003), Eminent Teacher Award of Calcutta complex structural problems for feasible application. University (2006). Professor Arya was the recipient of many awards including the United-Nations DHA-Sasakawa Professor Indu Bhusan Chatterjee was elected Disaster Prevention Award and Padma Shri. He was to the Fellowship of Indian National Science a Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering. Academy in the year 1996 and served its council as an Additional Member during 2014-15. Professor Arya was regularly consulted during the construction of INSA Jubilee Centre. Coluthur Gopalan Professor Anand Swarup Arya was elected to the Fellowship of Indian National Science Academy Coluthur Gopalan (b 29 in the year 1981. November 1918; d 03 October 2019) obtained PhD and DSc Indu Bhusan Chatterjee from University of London, UK and DSc (hc) from Indu Bhusan Chatterjee (b 01 January 1930; d 11 Banaras Hindu University, February 2019) earned his DSc degree (1961) from Varanasi specializing in Calcutta University. He joined the Department of nutrition. He served as the Biochemistry of Calcutta University from where he Director, National Institute of Academy News 1081

Nutrition, Hyderabad and Director-General, Indian wheat. He directed the Institute’s development Council of Medical Research, New Delhi. programs on high-yielding varieties and its diversification. Dr Jain was a recipient of several Dr Gopalan’s researches had brought to fore awards and honours that include SS Bhatnagar Prize various aspects of nutrition including public health, of CSIR, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award of ICAR, Padma agriculture and socio-economic aspects, especially Shri and Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Lecture with regard to underprivileged communities. He built (1996) of INSA. He was a Fellow of the Indian and nurtured the National Institute of Nutrition. Dr Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, National Academy Gopalan was the President of Nutrition Foundation of Sciences (India), Allahabad and National Academy and Nutrition Society of India and President, of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi. International Union for Nutritional Sciences. Dr Hari Kishan Jain was elected to the Dr Gopalan was a Fellow of Royal Society of Fellowship of Indian National Science Academy in London; Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore and the year 1974 and served its council as Member National Academy of Medical Science (India). He during 1979-81. was the recipient of many awards and honours including Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize (Senior) Jaswant Singh Kanwar of ICMR; Amrut Mody Research Award; Dr BC Roy National Award; Ambhuj Nath Bose Prize of Royal Jaswant Singh Kanwar (b 12 College of Physicians, London; Ademola Prize of December 1922; d 01 March London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; 2019) obtained his MSc Dhanwantari Award; FICCI Award and CV Raman (1950) and PhD (1953) from Medal of INSA (1988). Adelaide, Australia. He was Lecturer-cum-Research Dr Coluthur Gopalan was elected to the Assistant, Punjab Agricultural Fellowship of Indian National Science Academy in College, Lyallpur (now in the year 1966 and served its Council as Member Pakistan). After working in (1969-71). various capacities in Haryana Agricultural University (Hisar) and Punjab Agricultural University Hari Kishan Jain (Ludhiana), he served as First Deputy Director General (Soil Agronomy, Water and Engineering) of Hari Kishan Jain (b 28 May ICAR (1966-73); and First Deputy Director General 1930; d 08 April 2019) of ICRISAT (1973-88). obtained his PhD from University College of Wales. Kanwar’s major contributions were in soil On retuning to India, Dr Jain science, dryland agriculture, water management at joined the Indian Agricultural national and international level and in building up Research Institute (IARI), research organizations at state, central and New Delhi from where he international level. He worked as Advisor, Consultant, superannuated as Director. He Member and Chairman of Committees of FAO, was the Chancellor of the Central Agricultural UNESCO, UNDP, World Bank, ADB, USAID and University, Imphal. ICAR. Dr Jain’s group at IARI worked on the Kanwar received Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Memorial cytological mechanisms of genetic recombination in Award (1967) and Borlaug Award (1977). He was Delphinium. His laboratory reported the discovery the President of Indian Society of Soil Science (1977- of chemical mutagen specificity and observations on 78) as well as International Society of Soil Science ribosomal RNA synthesis in the evolution of bread (1978-82). 1082 Academy News

Dr Jaswant Singh Kanwar was elected to the joined Theoretical Physics Fellowship of Indian National Science Academy in Division at BARC. the year 1975 and served its council as Member Lawande had made during 1978-80. major contributions in several frontier areas of theoretical Bhaskar Dattatraya Kulkarni physics such as Feynman path integrals, quantum optics and Bhaskar Dattatraya Kulkarni laser plasma interaction. His (b 05 May 1949; d 13 January most prominent contributions 2019) obtained his PhD from in the area of Feynman path integrals are concerned NCL, Pune specializing in with the exact summability of paths to obtain Chemical Engineering. He analytical Feynman propagators. In quantum optics, spent rest of his career at NCL. the new exact analytical solutions of the problems of Post-retirement, he served co-operative resonance florescence and optical NCL as a Distinguished double resonance spectra are noteworthy. On the Scientist and later as INSA applied side, his contributions to the theories of Senior Scientist (2016-18). neutron transport and thermalization have motivated Dr Kulkarni’s work included development of subsequent reactor physics research and the macro-meso and microscopic models as well as the development of sophisticated computer codes AI based evolutionary formalisms. Some of the novel necessary for physics of nuclear reactor design. concepts introduced by him are: (i) A new rate law Professor Suresh Venkatesh Lawande was model called ‘Encillator’; (ii) An arithmetic- elected to the Fellowship of Indian National Science analytical approach to solutions of model equations, Academy in the year 1994. an approach that combines the elegance of analytical solutions and rigour of digital computations; (iii) Rigorous fluidized bed reactor model using initial Satish Chandra Maheshwari value formalism and (iv) Optimization and control Satish Chandra Maheshwari of unknown systems (artificial neural networks and (b 04 October 1933; d 12 June evolutionary algorithms). 2019) obtained his PhD degree Dr Kulkarni was recipient of INSA Young from Delhi University Scientist Medal and SS Bhatnagar Prize. He was a specializing in embryology of Fellow, Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, duckweeds (smallest flowe- Indian National Academy of Engineering and TWAS. ring plants). He joined Delhi University as a Lecturer Dr Bhaskar Dattatraya Kulkarni was elected to (1954) and superannuated the Fellowship of Indian National Science Academy from there as Professor. His father, Professor in the year 1991. Panchanan Maheshwari was also a Fellow of INSA. Professor Maheshwari’s group made the Suresh Venkatesh Lawande landmark discovery of the anther culture technique Suresh Venkatesh Lawande (b 16 June 1938; d 11 for the production of haploid plants, which leads to February 2019) did his PhD in Applied Science from rapid production of homozygous pure lines, a boon University of California at Davis (1966-69) for agriculture. Professor Maheshwari’s own interests specializing in the areas of theoretical and had largely continued in fundamental aspects, mathematical physics. After returning to India, he touching several areas like plant growth hormones, Academy News 1083 phytochrome control of metabolism and plant genetic of INSA (1996). He was elected Fellow of the Indian engineering. Professor Maheshwari was the recipient Academy of Sciences (1981) and TWAS (2002). of SS Bhatnagar Prize, JC Bose Gold Medal, Birbal Professor Periakaruppan Thangiah Manoharan Sahni Gold Medal of the Indian Botanical Society was elected to the Fellowship of Indian National and the Goyal Foundation Award. He was a Fellow Science Academy in the year 1985 and was its of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore and Secretary during 1997-99. the National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad. Professor Satish Chandra Maheshwari was Sunil Kumar Mukerjee elected to the Fellowship of Indian National Science Academy in the year 1978. Sunil Kumar Mukerjee (b 05 May 1926; d 24 August 2018) obtained PhD from Delhi Periakaruppan Thangiah Manoharan University specializing in Periakaruppan Thangiah Organic Chemistry and Manoharan (b 12 June 1935; Agrochemicals. He was a d 06 March 2019) earned his Lecturer (later Reader) in PhD (1966) from Columbia Chemistry in Delhi University, University, New York. He Head (also Professor of returned to India to work at Eminence) of the newly created Division of IIT, Kanpur and then shifted Agricultural Chemicals, IARI, Pusa. to IIT-M, Chennai, in the Professor Mukerjee worked on the chemistry Department of Chemistry. He of natural products for which he set up excellent also served as Vice Chancellor of the University of analytical and instrumental facilities in Delhi Madras (1997-99). After superannuation, he worked University. He did extensive work on the chemistry as INSA Senior and Honorary Scientist at IIT-M. of neoflavonoids and related plant products. Professor Teaching , group theory, Mukerjee was a Consultant, the Scientific ligand field theory, magnetism and spectroscopy and Commission on Bhopal Gas of Government of India bioinorganic chemistry had been Professor where he helped in generating data on toxic effects Manoharan’s passion. He used appropriate or total of Bhopal gas. He was also a Consultant, Ozone Cell, EPR spin Hamiltonian to elucidate the electronic and Ministry of Environment & Forest. Professor molecular structures of transition ions that explained Mukerjee was awarded, UGC National Lectureship his observations of (i) strong Forbidden hyperfine and Lifetime Achievement Award of Pesticide Society interactions due to quadrupolar and high field effects, of India. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of (ii) spin flip transitions, (iii) line broadening and Chemistry, London. exchange narrowing in low dimensional magnets and Professor Sunil Kumar Mukerjee was elected (iv) exchange interactions in exchange coupled to the Fellowship of Indian National Science systems. Academy in the year 1987. Manoharan was the founder of the nation’s premier Regional Sophisticated Instrumentation Nurani Sivaramakrishna Narasimhan Centre at IIT-M, Chennai, a research support centre for Indian scientists. He received the K Rangadhama Nurani Sivaramakrishna Narasimhan (b 11 November Rao Memorial Lecture Award of INSA (1987); FICCI 1928; d 20 August 2018) obtained his PhD from Award (1989); Professor Santi Ranjan Palit Award Presidency College, Madras University working on of IACS (1989); and Sadhan Basu Memorial Award the constitution of carpain, an alkaloid from papaya 1084 Academy News plant. He joined the University particularly alkaloids and terpenoids. He discovered of Pune as Reader, retiring new source of emetine class of alkaloids other than from there in 1989. He later Ipecacuanha, a new class of benzoquilizidine became Director, Centre for alkaloids. He co-edited the six-volume The Treaties Agrochemical Research, SPIC on Indian Medicinal Plants and several other Science Foundation, Chennai monographs. Dr Pakrashi was a Fellow, National (1994-97). He was INSA Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad. Senior Scientist (1989-92). Dr Satyesh Chandra Pakrashi was elected to the Working in the areas of Fellowship of the Indian National Science Academy natural product chemistry and synthetic organic in 1984 and served its Council during 1988-91 and chemistry, Narasimhan’s notable findings relate to in 1995. alkaloids of papaya and Kadipatta and the tetranorterpinoid, nimbin, from neem tree. His work Pran Nath Pandita on lithiation reactions had received international acclaim. Professor Narasimhan was the recipient of Pran Nath Pandita (b 01 many awards including TR Govindachari 60th January 1949; d 12 June 2019) Birthday Commemoration Award, Lifetime obtained his MSc and PhD Achievement Award and Gold Medal of Chemical degrees from the University of Research Society of India. He was a Fellow of the Kashmir. Thereafter, he joined Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore. the Theoretical Physics Group, Tata Institute of Fundamental Professor Nurani Sivaramakrishna Narasimhan Research (TIFR), Mumbai, was elected to the Fellowship of Indian National and moved to the North Science Academy in the year 1987. Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, where he superannuated as Professor in the Department of Satyesh Chandra Pakrashi Physics. After superannuation, he worked at IISc, Bengaluru as INSA Senior Scientist. Satyesh Chandra Pakrashi (b 01 February 1930; d 26 At NEHU, Pandita initiated research and January 2019) did his PhD teaching programmes in theoretical high energy (1954) from Calcutta physics including the frontier area of low energy University, where he worked supersymmetry. Professor Pandita was one of the first on the structure of a Rauwolfia to investigate the production of lightest alkaloid that later helped supersymmetric particle in electron-positron elucidate the stereochemistry collisions. He then turned his attention to the study of reserpine, the wonder of the physics of Higgs bosons in supersymmetric tranquillizing drug of global interest then. He worked models, and investigated the Higgs sector of the at the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), nonminimal supersymmetric standard model in detail, Kolkata and superannuated as Director in 1990. He wherein he obtained an upper bound on the mass of was reappointed as CSIR Distinguished Fellow till the lightest Higgs boson. Professor Pandita was a 1995. He was also conferred the DSc (hc) by Kanpur Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, University (1996). Bangalore.

Pakrashi created and developed the Department Professor Pran Nath Pandita was elected to the of Medicinal Chemistry at IICB and made outstanding Fellowship of Indian National Science Academy in contributions on the chemistry of natural products, the year 2009. Academy News 1085

Sudhir Pradyumna Pandya Executive Secretary, International Rice Commission of FAO, Rome and as the Director of Research at the Sudhir Pradyumna Pandya (b International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in 11 July 1928; d 30 June 2019) Nigeria. obtained his MSc from Delhi University, and PhD from Professor Shastry pursued the taxonomical University of Rochester, New studies in the rice, genus Oryza which led to York. After returning to India, reinterpretation of the origin of cultivated rice and in Pandya joined the Physical the identification of a new species, O. nivara. He Research Laboratory (PRL), directly contributed towards the development of three Ahmedabad as Associate important cultivars; Jaya, Sona and Phalguna and Professor from where he superannuated as Senior pioneered breeding for insect resistance and crop Professor and Director (1983). He was later Honorary husbandry for high and moderate levels of input use. Professor at the same institute. Professor Shastry was the recipient of many awards including Padma Sri and Borlaug Award. He was Professor Pandya discovered a relation that elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, within the framework of the j-j coupling nuclear shell Bangalore and National Academy of Sciences (India), model can transform a spectrum of two particles into Allahabad. the spectrum of a particle and a hole. The relation, cited as Pandya’s Theorem had been very useful in Professor Sishta Venkata Seetharama Shastry many nuclear spectroscopy calculations, particularly was elected to the Fellowship of Indian National in studies of giant resonances. Professor Pandya Science Academy in the year 1984. developed the Deformed Nuclear Shell Model for nuclear spectroscopy calculations as an alternative Awadh Kishore Prasad Sinha to enormous and complex spectroscopic calculations in spherical shell model spaces. Professor Pandya was Awadh Kishore Prasad Sinha given the Vikram Sarabhai Award by the Gujarat (b 06 June 1918; d 24 April Government for his contributions to science. He was 2009) obtained his PhD (1951) the founding member of Gujarat Science Academy, from University of , President (1982-84) and Fellow of the Indian Ann Arbor, USA. He worked Academy of Sciences, Bangalore. as Director and Senior Professor of Psychology, Professor Sudhir Pradyumna Pandya was Institute of Psychological elected to the Fellowship of Indian National Science Research and Service, Patna Academy in the year 1986. University; Chief Psychologist and Director (Grade I), Directorate of Psychological Research, DRDO, Sishta Venkata Seetharama Shastry Ministry of Defence; Senior Professor & Head, Department of Psychology, University of Rajasthan, Sishta Venkata Seetharama and Ravi Shanker University, Raipur. Shastry (b 04 November 1928; d 08 February 2019) did his Professor Sinha demonstrated experimentally PhD from University of how anxiety could be induced in human subjects by Wisconsin, USA. He initiated exposing them to conditions of uncertainty and how teaching and research in the physiological changes in them could be recorded newly established Postgra- which is a rare distinction. He received recognition duate School at IARI, New for his outstanding research in experimental Delhi and continued working psychology and his works were internationally cited there (1958-66). Professor Shastry later served as the 1086 Academy News in books and journals. He had also authored the books Nekkalapudi Chinna Subrahmanyam Employee Counseling and Human Intelligence in Nekkalapudi Chinna Organizations. Subrahmanyam (b 05 October Professor Awadh Kishore Prasad Sinha was 1943; d 14 February 2019) did elected to the Fellowship of Indian National Science his PhD from University of Academy in the year 1966. Guelph, Canada specializing in plant molecular biology, genetics and biotechnology. Badanaval Venkata Sreekantan He served as the Professor and Badanaval Venkata Head, Department of Botany, Sreekantan (b 30 June 1925; University of Poona, Pune and later as Dean, School d 27 October 2019) obtained of Life Sciences and Coordinator, Biotechnology PhD from the University of Programme, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad. Bombay. He was the Director, Professor Subrahmanyam discovered selective Tata Institute of Fundamental chromosomal elimination leading to haploid Research, Mumbai (1975-87) formation following interspecific hybridization in and later INSA Srinivasa barley. This novel method of haploid production along Ramanujan Professor (1987- with the improvements developed by him is adopted 92). In 1992, he moved to the National Institute of in many countries for barley breeding. This is now a Advanced Studies (NIAS) where he remained till his standard material in text books of cytogenetics and death. plant breeding and is extended to many other Professor Sreekantan’s research encompasses important crops such as wheat. He was a Fellow of three distinct but related areas of fundamental science, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New viz. cosmic rays, elementary particles, and high- Delhi. energy X-ray and γ-ray astronomics. He carried out Professor Nekkalapudi Chinna Subrahmanyam deep underground experiments in Kolar Gold Fields was elected to the Fellowship of Indian National (KGF), cloud chamber studies of cosmic ray Science Academy in the year 1992. interactions at Ooty. He also made extensive air shower experiments at Ooty and KGF. Badanaval Venkata Subbarayappa Professor Sreekantan was conferred Homi Badanaval Venkata Jahangir Bhabha Medal by INSA (1978), CV Raman Subbarayappa (b 18 May Award by UGC, RD Birla Award by Indian Physics 1925; d 08 April 2019) Association (1982), Ramanujan Award of ISCA, obtained his MSc in Padma Bhushan and PMS Blackett Memorial Lecture Chemistry and PhD in History Award by INSA-the Royal Society (1978). He was of Indian Science, Mysore in elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, 1964. He served as Head, Bangalore. Department of Chemistry, Vijaya College, Bangalore, Professor Badanaval Venkata Sreekantan was Visiting Professor, BITS, Pilani (Rajasthan) and elected to the Fellowship of Indian National Science Director (Academic), Nehru Centre, Bombay. He was Academy in the year 1976. the Executive Secretary of Indian National Science Academy for a brief period.

Dr BV Subbarayappa was recognized as an authority on history of Indian Science. He contributed Academy News 1087 to original research on the Indus script and an Professor Sudarshan was the recipient of extensive study of science in Indian inscriptions, co- Satyendranath Bose Medal of INSA (1977) and edited the authoritative work A Concise History of Sarvadikari Medal of . He was Science in India. He also helped set up the National a Fellow, The Academy of Sciences for the Commission for History of Science in India and the Developing World and Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian Journal of History of Science. Dr Bangalore. Subbarayappa was awarded the Copernicus Medal Professor Ennackal Chandy George Sudarshan of the Polish Academy of Sciences and recipient of was elected to the Fellowship of Indian National Laurea Ad Honorem (Honorary Degree of Science Academy in the year 1973. Distinction), University of Bologna (Italy) in 1999. Dr Badanaval Venkata Subbarayappa was Radhey Shyam Tripathi elected to the Fellowship of Indian National Science Academy in the year 2017. Radhey Shyam Tripathi (b 08 May 1942; d 14 February 2019) did his PhD (Weed Ennackal Chandy George Sudarshan Ecology) from Banaras Hindu Ennackal Chandy George University. Starting his Sudarshan (b 16 September teaching career (1963) as 1931; d 14 May 2018) did PhD Lecturer at BHU, he joined from University of Rochester, Faculty of the Department of USA. He served as the Botany at University of Professor and Director, Gorakhpur (1966), and later moved to North-Eastern Research Program in Hill University (NEHU), Shillong as Professor and Elementary Particles, Head, Department of Botany. He had been INSA Syracuse University, Senior Scientist and later Honorary Scientist after Professor, Center for Particle Theory, University of superannuation. Texas, Austin, Senior Professor, Centre for Tripathi made outstanding contributions to the Theoretical Studies, Indian Institute of Science, understanding of weed biology, population dynamics Bangalore, Professor, University of Berne, of exotic weeds in north-east India, reproductive Switzerland. strategies of weeds, regeneration ecology of forest Professor Sudarshan discovered the Chiral V- trees, ecology of degraded ecosystems, agro- A theory of weak interactions and enabled the next ecosystems and agro-forestry systems, and step of unification into the standard model. He made biodiversity. Professor Tripathi was a fellow, National the first use of broken symmetry in formulating the Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad. sum rules for electromagnetic properties of hadrons, Professor Radhey Shyam Tripathi was elected a discovery which was generalized into the Gell- to the Fellowship of Indian National Science Mann-Okubo formula. He did extensive work on Academy in the year 2001. quantum optics and proved the important theorem on the equivalence of quantum and semi-classical descriptions of optical coherence into a quantum electrodynamic frame work. Sudharsan’s work was not confined to particle physics, but had influenced statistical mechanics, quantum optics and classical mechanics. 1088 Academy News

FOREIGN FELLOWS Professor Gell-Mann proposed that certain sub- Sir Michael Francis Atiyah atomic particles possessed an Sir Michael Francis Atiyah (b invariant quality, which he 22 April 1929; d 11 January called strangeness, that was 2019) obtained his PhD from conserved in strong and Cambridge University, UK electromagnetic interactions, specializing in Mathematics. but not in weak interactions. He spent most of his academic This law of conservation of life in the United Kingdom strangeness, first enunciated by him, explained a at University of Oxford number of peculiarities in the behaviour of short- and University of Cambridge lived, heavy, artificially produced strange particles. and in the United States at the Institute for Advanced Using the strangeness formulations, Gell-Mann Study. He was the President of the Royal Society successfully gave detailed predictions of numerous (1990-1995), Founding Director of the Isaac Newton decay events of strange particles. Based on this in Institute (1990-1996), Master of Trinity College, 1961 Gell-Mann announced a new system of unified Cambridge (1990-1997), Chancellor of classification of strongly interacting particles, which the University of Leicester (1995-2005), and the he called the eight-fold path way. Professor Gell- President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2005- Mann was the recipient of Nobel Prize in Physics in 2008). the Year 1969. Sir Michael had contributed to a wide range of Professor Murray Gell-Mann was elected to the topics in mathematics centering around the interaction Foreign Fellowship of Indian National Science between geometry and analysis. His first major Academy in the year 1984. contribution was the development of a new and Michael G Rossmann powerful technique in topology (K-theory) which led to the solution of many outstanding difficult Michael G Rossmann (b 30 problems. Subsequently he established an important July 1930; d 14 May 2019) theorem dealing with the number of solutions of obtained his PhD from elliptic differential equations. Sir Michael was the University of Glasgow, UK recipient of many awards including Order of Merit, specializing in chemical Knight Bachelor, Fields Medal, Royal Medal and JL crystallography. He was the Nehru Birth Centenary Medal (1993) of INSA. Hanley Distinguished Professor of Biological Sir Michael Francis Atiyah was elected to the Sciences in Purdue University. Foreign Fellowship of Indian National Science Academy in the year 1993. Professor Rossmann had made outstanding contributions to the field of macromolecular crystallography. He had solved a large number of Murray Gell-Mann protein and virus structures and elucidated their Murray Gell-Mann (b 15 September 1929; d 25 May function. He had also contributed to the development 2019) obtained PhD from Massachusetts Institute of of drugs against viruses by his structure based Technology, USA specializing in elementary particles approach to common cold virus. He was the first to and their Interactions. He served as Professor of recognize common protein folds and the nucleotide Physics and RA Millikan Professor of Theoretical binding motif in proteins which is today known as Physics, California Institute of Technology, USA. the Rossmann fold in literature. He was the originator of the most important and successful technique of Academy News 1089 macromolecular structure method, the molecular Professor Zewail had made many valuable replacement techniques. Professor Rossmann was a scientific contributions in the area of chemical member of the National Academy of Sciences and dynamics. These had resulted in the establishment the Royal Society of London. of real time probing of molecular events in the femtosecond time domain and added a new dimension Professor Michael G Rossmann was elected to to chemical knowledge. His work on the combination the Foreign Fellowship of Indian National Science of femtosecond lasers with molecular beams had led Academy in the year 1995. to a greater and deeper understanding of Ahmed Hassan Zewail femtochemistry of molecules. In recognition of his original and significant research contributions, he was Ahmed Hassan Zewail (b 26 awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1999. In February 1946; d 02 August addition, he was the recipient of many other awards 2016) obtained his PhD from including King Faisal International Prize (Saudi University of Pennsylvania. Arabia), The Franklin Medal (United States), Albert He was the Linus Einstein World Award of Science. Pauling Chair Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Professor Ahmed Hassan Zewail was elected Physics and the Director of the to the Foreign Fellowship of Indian National Science Physical Biology Centre for Academy in the year 2003. Ultrafast Science and Technology at the California Institute of Technology. 1090 Academy News

ANNOUNCEMENTS

INSA Visiting Scientist Programme-2020

Since 1991, the Academy is supporting scientists from less endowed institutions to conduct Research and Training in advanced research Institutions/Laboratories within India under the Visiting Scientist Programme. The main objective of the programme is to facilitate scientists to acquire advanced research capabilities, for undergoing training in specific techniques, or for utilizing facilities not available in their own institution. Scientists holding a regular position in a R&D Organization including Universities or Affiliated Colleges in India are eligible to apply under the programme. The Fellowship period varies from one month to six months depending upon the proposed work or purpose. Interested Scientists may download the prescribed application form from the INSA website www.insaindia.res.in or write to DED-I (Scientific), Indian National Science Academy, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 and submit the prescribed application before January 31, 2020.

Proposal for Lectures in the Remote/Rural Areas

The Academy has launched a programme under which INSA Fellows, Young Scientists, Teachers’ Awardees and Indian National Young Academy of Science (INYAS) members are encouraged to deliver Popular Lectures to young students and teachers of schools and colleges in remote/rural areas in India. Proposals are invited from Fellows, INSA young scientists, INSA teacher awardees and INYAS members with details like name and address of the school/college where they wish to deliver the lecture, title(s) of lecture(s), proposed dates and the quantum of required travel support. Proposals may be sent to [email protected] and sci- [email protected] at the earliest. For details refer INSA website www.insaindia.res.in