In passing away of Dr. H.K. Jain on 8^th April, the country has lost a distinguished Geneticist & Plant Breeder and Agricultural Research Policymaker.

Dr. H.K. Jain was born in Distt. Gurgaon (Haryana) on 28th May, 1930.

Hari Krishan Jain obtained his B.Sc. (Hons.) degree (1949) in Botany from Delhi University and Associateship of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (1951), securing first class and position in both the degrees.

On receiving Science Research Scholarship of the Royal Commission, London, he went to the University College of Wales, Aberystyth, for his PhD where he worked under the able guidance of Prof. P.T. Thomas. For his doctorate thesis he worked on Lolium and demonstrated correlation between chromosome condensation and nucleolar synthesis during the meiotic cell division. On retuning to India, Dr. Jain joined the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. In 1966 He took over as Head of the Division of Genetics at IARI and subsequently became its Director in 1978. In 2005 he was conferred DSc (hc) by IARI.

Dr Jain taught advanced courses in genetics. At IARI his group worked on the cytological mechanisms of genetic recombination in Delphinium. His group reported the discovery of chemical mutagen specificity and observations on ribosomal RNA synthesis in the evolution of bread wheat. He directed the Institute's development programs on high-yielding varieties and its diversification.

Earlier, the Institute used to receive semi-dwarf varieties of wheat from Mexico. Jain ordained three major programmes to incorporate the new plant-type genes in the genetic background of Indian wheat combining high- yields, adaptation and diversity traits. A significant part of the Green Revolution technology came from IARI at a time when Dr. Jain was holding key positions in that Institute. He made extensive contribution relating to the mechanism of genetic recombination and its control at the inter chromosomal level. His work on tomato and Drosophila has been considered to have provided the first convincing evidence in support of the phenomenon of mutagen specifity in higher organisms.

As representative of South East Asia he was elected a member of the Steering Committee of the International Chromosome Conference held in U.K. in 1963. He presided over a number of international scientific meetings including a session of the 12th International Congress of Genetics held In Japan. Past President of Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding, he was member of the editorial Board of “ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PFLANZENZUCHTUNG”.

Based on his distinguished contributions in 1984, Jain joined the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) in the Netherlands, one of the Centres of CGIAR as its Deputy Director General. He organised collaboration with the National Agricultural Research Systems of more than 30 countries, especially, those of sub-Saharan Africa, advising them on organization and management of research. He has been a Trustee of Several International Research Boards and Member of Science Committees including the SACC. During 1979–81 he served as member of INSA council.

Dr Jain received several Awards including S.S. Bhatnagar Prize of CSIR (1966), Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award of ICAR (1967), Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship (1975); Padma Shri (1981); Borlaug Award (1982); Om Prakash Bhasin Award (1986); Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Lecture (1996) of INSA; Dr BP Pal Medal of NAAS (1997–98); and BP Pal Memorial Award by Indian Science Congress Association (2003–04). He was elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi (FNA, FASc, FNASC, FNAAS).

Because of his distinguished academic track record he was appointed the Chancellor of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal.

In his demise the country has list a brilliant agriculture scientist, renowned poly maker and a great human being.

Prof. C.P. Malik, FNA

Chief Editor

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