Close X
Thursday, October 10, 2024
ADVT 
India

'Father Of India's Wheat Revolution' Dilbagh Singh Athwal Dies In USA

Darpan News Desk IANS, 15 May, 2017 12:32 PM
    Often called the 'Father of Wheat Revolution', agriculture scientist Dilbagh Singh Athwal has passed away in the US, a Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) official said on Monday. He was 89.
     
    Vice Chancellor B.S. Dhillon, officers and scientists of the university paid tributes to Athwal, who died on Sunday, at a condolence meeting held at the PAU campus here.
     
    Dhillon said the outstanding contributions made by Athwal in the field of agriculture "remain unsurpassable till date".
     
    "Dr Athwal was one of the stalwarts who played a pivotal role in initiating Green Revolution in the country. He was a well-known geneticist, plant breeder and agricultural scientist of international repute," Dhillon said.
     
    "Athwal developed world's first grain pearl millet hybrid 'Hybrid Bajra 1' in 1965 that heralded a new era in cultivation of this important crop," he said.
     
    Athwal was instrumental in developing 'PV 18' in 1966 and the most popular amber grained wheat variety 'Kalyansona' in 1967, named after the village 'Kalyanpur' in Punjab where Athwal was born in 1928.
     
     
    Punjab, known as the 'Green Revolution' state, had heralded India's campaign to ensure food grain security for the country in the 1960s.
     
    Athwal served as founder head of Department of Plant Breeding in PAU, and made contributions to the genetics and breeding of pearl millet, wheat, gram and tobacco.
     
    A large number of genetic stocks developed by him made a significant contribution to future research on bajra breeding and genetics.
     
    In 1967, he joined the management of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines and eventually served as the Institute's first Deputy Director General. At IRRI, he introduced many innovations in rice breeding.
     
    The University of Sydney bestowed the degree of Doctor of Philosophy on him in 1955.
     
     
    In 1964, he was conferred with Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which is the highest Indian award in the science category.
     
    He was also decorated with Padma Bhushan in 1975 by the government for his contributions to biological science. After his retirement, he settled in New Jersey, US, where he breathed his last.
     
    The university has named its new guest house after his name as 'Dr. D.S. Athwal International Guest House'.
     
    As a mark of respect to Athwal, the PAU remained closed for half a day.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Stripped, Tied To Car, Beaten In Gujarat By Alleged Cow Vigilantes For Possessing Beef

    Stripped, Tied To Car, Beaten In Gujarat By Alleged Cow Vigilantes For Possessing Beef
    Four Dalit youth were severely beaten up and dragged on the road for nearly a kilometre in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat for allegedly possessing cow beef. The crime came to light after a video of the assault went viral on social media.

    Stripped, Tied To Car, Beaten In Gujarat By Alleged Cow Vigilantes For Possessing Beef

    Raj Babbar Is The New Congress Chief In Uttar Pradesh

    Raj Babbar Is The New Congress Chief In Uttar Pradesh
    The Congress on Tuesday appointed actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar as the party chief in election-bound Uttar Pradesh.

    Raj Babbar Is The New Congress Chief In Uttar Pradesh

    Lions Attack Man Near Gir Forests, Spotted In Junagadh Town

    One person was seriously injured when three lions attacked him in Gujrat's Amreli district on Tuesday while a video on the social media depicting a pride of eight lions roaming about a human habitat in Junagadh district created panic in the area.

    Lions Attack Man Near Gir Forests, Spotted In Junagadh Town

    PM Modi Reviews Kashmir Situation, Appeals For Peace

    PM Modi Reviews Kashmir Situation, Appeals For Peace
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a high-level meeting over the violence in Jammu and Kashmir that has claimed over 30 lives, and appealed for calm even as curfew continued for the fourth consecutive day in the Valley.

    PM Modi Reviews Kashmir Situation, Appeals For Peace

    'Pakka Indian Ho?' Manipur Woman Asked At Delhi Airport. Sushma Swaraj Apologises

    'Pakka Indian Ho?' Manipur Woman Asked At Delhi Airport. Sushma Swaraj Apologises
    The officer, according to her post, repeatedly kept asking her questions to test her 'knowledge' about the country and even told her that 'she did not look like an Indian'.

    'Pakka Indian Ho?' Manipur Woman Asked At Delhi Airport. Sushma Swaraj Apologises

    Burhan Wani Death: Fresh Violence In Kashmir As Toll Mounts To 32

    Burhan Wani Death: Fresh Violence In Kashmir As Toll Mounts To 32
    Amid recurring clashes in curfew-bound Kashmir Valley, three injured protesters died in hospitals here on Monday, taking the death toll to 32 in three days of bloodshed following the killing of a top militant that has sparked fresh India-Pakistan tensions.

    Burhan Wani Death: Fresh Violence In Kashmir As Toll Mounts To 32