|
Dr. Anil K. Goel
It was shocking and unbelievable to me when I
received a telephonic call from Dr. G.S. Rawat, Sr. Scientist in
the Wildlife Institute of India, Derhradun during first week of
February, 2005 about the sudden demise of Prof. Som Deva Sharma
on 29 January, 2005.
I recall my memories when I was a M. Sc. (Botany) student in the
Department of Botany at H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar (Uttaranchal)
in 1975 and was assigned the Flora of Kirtinagar Tahisil for
M.Sc. dissertation by my teacher Dr. R. K. Kohli, the then Head
of botany department. I explored the region and prepared voucher
specimens for identification which was a Herculean task for me.
Dr. Kohli gave me a reference letter for Prof. Som Deva Sharma
and asked me to go to Dehradun with herbarium specimens and meet
him. I was very much afraid. But when I met Prof. Som Deva
at his 13 - Balbir Avenue residence, my all fears had gone. He
also gave me some important tips of plant taxonomy which became
the driving force and created my keen interest in this subject.
During my studies in Himalayan region, I started observing the
plants more closely and carefully. I completed my M. Sc. in
1977.
I applied for junior research fellowship in the
Botanical Survey of India and with God’s grace, I received
a interview call from BSI, Northern Circle, Dehradun and was
also selected for fellowship under the Flora of India Project
there in September, 1977. I was allotted the
Herbaceous Flora of Tehri Garhwal for pursuing my
D.Phil. Degree.
He had extensively explored the west Himalayan
region. Prof. Som Deva was down to earth in his field. He was
very deep in taxonomic studies and he was never satisfied with
his observations which prevented him many times to publish
several important findings. He had studied very critically the
grasses of Himalayas, the genus Corydalis but was
never satisfied. He was very shy of publishing his interesting
findings. Though he published some excellent and very critical
research papers on the flora of Himalayan region and the Upper
Gangetic Plains. He always encouraged and inspired me and took
keen interest in my taxonomic studies and remained a guiding
force. During my 5 years stay at Dehradun I received his
complete guidance, encouragement as well as lot of affection.
Whenever I visited Dehradun on my official or personal visits, I
never missed any opportunity to visit him and discuss the
matters of mutual interest. Mrs. Som Deva is also a great
lover of living wild and as well as ornamental plants. They were
maintaining an excellent garden in their house and were always
ready to share the plant material. I have seen beautiful
collections of Bamboos, Orchids and Bonsais in his garden. Aunti
ji has been very hospitable and both of them never hesitated to
show their herbarium and garden even during the odd hours. I was
overwhelmed to see Prof. Som Deva once in the botanic garden at
NBRI, Lucknow sometimes during 1995. |
|
|
Prof. Som Deva & H.B. Naithani had written a well illustrated
monumental book on The Orchid Flora of North West Himalaya
and supplemented 66 species of orchids after J.F. Duthie’s work
on orchids. He presented me a copy of this publication
during my last visit to his house on 5 August, 2003. I
always remember both of them from the core of my heart.
We have lost a great plant explorer and taxonomist. I offer my
condolences and pray God for the ever lasting peace to the
departed soul. May God give the strength to respected Aunti ji,
his son and the entire family members in the time of grief.
As a well wisher, I can wish a happy and prosperous life for the
family members of Prof. Som Deva Sharma.
(Anil K. Goel)
Sr. Assistant Director
Plant Conservation & Eco-education
National Botanical Research Institute
Lucknow – 226 001 (UP) |
