1Renowned Animal Geneticist Passed Away “A great Academician, Researcher and Strong Administrator”-Visionary Dr P.N. Bhat (b. 9.10.1937) was born in Nunar, Ganderbal, Kashmir, India. Early Education obtained from National High School, and Sri Pratap College, Srinagar. Alumni of College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Mathura, Post Graduate College of Animal Sciences, IVRI, Izatnagar, Institute of Population Genetics, Purdue University, Indiana, USA. He has held several leading portfolios viz: Project Coordinator (Animal Breeding), Head, Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Director, Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makdhoom (U.P.), Director/Vice Chancellor, IVRI, Izatnagar, Animal Husbandry Commissioner to Government of India, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, New Delhi, Deputy Director General (AS), ICAR, New Delhi, Director, Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi ; Officer on Special Duty (DIPA), ICAR, New Delhi. Dr Bhat had several awards to his credit which included Egyptian Society of Animal Production, Gold Medal and Plaque, 1988; Asian Buffalo Association (Bangkok) Plaque of Honour Award, 1992; Asian Development Bank Award 1993; Gold medal- 7th World Congress on Animal Production 1993; Dr Eswaran Memorial Award 1993; Modi Award for Conservation and Environment 1995; Malika Trivedi IAAR Award 1995; The Society for Environmental, Scientific and Agricultural Advancement (U.P) Vigyan Shree Award, 1995-96; Kashmir Education, Cultural and Science Society Award 2003; Bhoovigyan Samman 2005. He was Fellow of National Academy of Sciences, India; National Academy of Veterinary Sciences and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Dr Bhat was a internationally renowned Animal Geneticist having major research interest in Animal Genetics and Breeding, Animal Genetic Resources Conservation and Management, Animal Production in tropics, Animal Biotechnology. He will be remembered as the Chief Architect of Modern ICAR-IVRI-contemporary researches in Veterinary & Animal Sciences. During his tenure, IVRI had a number of foreign collaborative projects and a number of infrastructural facilities were created. After his superannuation, he established World Buffalo Trust and he was its Chairman and Centre for Integrated Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, 1997 onwards.
