Dr CP Malik: Autobiographical Notes: 1

 Dr CP Malik

Autobiographical Notes

08.02.2019

(Source: Face Book https://www.facebook.com/cpm.malik/posts/2156834984338827 )

At 83 after retirement often I ponder on past gains and losses, happy moments and disappointments.

My greatest disappointment was my failure to clear IAS examination even after having high merit in the written papers. Having arrived from Punjab I was raw and unaware of urban etiquettes so failed in the interview. At that time one was supposed to clear written and interview separately .Though in subsequent years Mr Kanoogo became Chairman and interview and written papers marks were consolidated.

How did I overcome such a great disappointment in the beginning of my career even though I was topper in BSc and MSc (Hons.), Being disappointed with the situation I sat in the Library of DU for two days and reacted with self. I sulked and got angry and disappointed with self. Tried to play blame game with system and situations. I had cleared BA Music from BhatKhande University,Lucknow in instrumental music and so decided to pursue Music as career but my visit to Gantharv Mahavidyala convinced me that I was bad Vocalist though good instrumental player. That short circuited my this desire. So I decided to pursue Academics and research in plant sciences.

I overcame self withdrawal into my self , stopped being discounted , discouraged and defeated and stopped licking my wounds in self pity!

I sought answers to some of the questions which hovered in my mind.These were

1. What was it that I desired to do
2. What kind of future I imagined for my self
3. What did I want for my self
4. What kind of support that I dreamt of
5. What steps would I take to start on the path to my ideal future

I decided to take up career in Academics and proceeded to initiate research in DU with Late Prof SLTandon. Being unsatisfied, proceeded to London to pursue PhD under commonwealth Fellowship. I completed my doctorate in less than two years under the guidance of Prof.PT Thomas FRS who was Director at Plant Breeding Institute, Aberystwyth.

On return I was offered Readership at Udaipur University at a young age of 30 and was then selected Professor at a very young age of 33 by UPSC ! Perhaps I was one of the youngest professors at this age.

While at Udaipur University, at one time I was deprived of sitting space and other research facilities, Prof HB Tewari, Head Zoology Deptt introduced me to Histochemistry of plants and I published seven Papers with him.

On moving to PAU in 1971 I ventured into Histo Enzymology because of lack of any facility. Late Profs AK and Archana Sharma enthused me to write a textbook on Histo Enzymology and in 1980 I brought out a book with Dr Mohanbir.

I realised that disappointments are inevitable for every one. Expectations cannot always be met to ones desire and satisfaction. Nor all dreams can be fully realised.The best way to overcome disappointments is to accept the situations, move away with optimism, take an objective view and plan future action.Hopefully destiny provides you another chance in life to fulfil your dreams.

While at PAU my application for Shanti Saroop Bhatnagsr Award was with held at the institution level in 1973. In 1980 staff council of CBSH, under the leadership of Profs IS Bhatia and KS Gill goaded me to submit my bio data for Shanti Swaroop Bhatnager award which I did. On 11th August I withdrew the same from CSIR for some reasons. Strangely , Subsequently I was asked to judge some applicants for the same award.

Even then I never believed that all doors were closed and I would look for other options in life.On the able advise of Prof Nand Puri I endeavoured for another Award Rafi Ahmad Kidwi Award by ICAR which was more remunerative, initiated and worked for it. In 1985 I was selected for the same and also elected Fellow National Academy of Sciences (INSA).

A long academic journey of more than 60 years have several instances of happiness and dismay but that happens in long stride.

I believe life offers so many options and gives you several chances to make good your disappointments . Take those chances.

Much of my attainments I owe to my umpteen MSc and PhD students.We published in several reputed Journals including Nature, Phytochemistry, Annal of Botany, Jour Expt Biology,Expt Botany,Plant and Cell Physiology, Physiologia Plantarum , Planta, Int Review Cytology, Cytology,Genetics, Chromosoma, Caryologia, Plant Physiology, Biological Reviews Cambridge , Current Sci., Jour Expt Biology,etc.,

Two Reviews with Drs AS Basra on Cotton Fibre Development and IS Bhandal on Potassium are extensively quoted in literature and books. Our studies on lysosomes in plants , suspensor , dark fixation of carbon dioxide, pollen physiology are also well quoted.

I feel proud of all of my students especially Drs DSBhatia,Ashok Dhawan, Mohanbir, Pream Lata,ASBasra, Sanjeev Thind , Neeru, Arvind Kapoor ,Pushp Sharma , Ritesh Kaur, Himakshi Bhati, Amanderp Hoora, Late Prof. IS Grover, and countless many more who contributed while I was at Udaipur, PAU, JNU, Jaipur . I served in five universities in different positions ( Delhi University,Udaipur University, Punjab AG University, GJ Technical University,JNU.Jaipur) and all of them supporting my academic journey.

I was selected to work with a company in Chicago on Growth Hormones in 1978 but did not join., courtesy VC! J

While at PAU I was sanctioned PL480 project on Photosynthesis and along with Dr DS Bhatia, Dr Pushp Sharma we used Groundnut as a model system.Our research studies fetched lot of praise from Profs. Govindjee and others.

The beginning of my academic journey was initiated by research on Cytology,Biosystematics under the stewardship of Late Prof.PNMehra but Prof.PTThomas FRS convinced me into Plant Genetics and Breeding,

Late Prof.JJChinoy , Prof.SMSircar enthused me to work in Plant and Cell Physiology, where I obtained several awards. My review on NonPhotosynthethic carbon dioxide fixation published in Biological Reviews from Cambridge along with Dr ASBasra opened up new avenue in research and became focal point of discussion amongst the Plant Physiologists.Amongst the two referees for this review I happened to meet Late Prof.aPrees during one of my visits to Cambridge who heaped praises for the same. Prof RG BidWell was another referee.

On superannuation from PAU in 1995,I moved to GJU university and then invited to SADTM which became JNU,Jaipur in 2007. My interest in Molecular Biology was aroused by brilliant research of my close friend Prof.PKGupta and later Dr Sujatha Mulpuri from Hyderabad who volunteered to train some of my students in this discipline. As many as 12 students did PhD in Molecular Biology successfully.

While at JNU,Jaipur I owe special thanks to Prof PC Trivedi ex Vice Chancellor Gorakhpur University and Faizabad University who goaded and inspired me to author and edit books. I am mesmerised by his sunbeam smile.He was kind to bring out three Felicitation volumes on my 70,75 and 80 birthdays.

At JNU,Jaipur with the departure of Dr Mukesh , Himakshi Bhati opted to work in our group, she had deep training in Nanotechnology and coaxed me to acquire and try my hands on this upcoming novel discipline. We worked hard and published a Textbook together with Dr Ritesh Kaur.

Late in age I ventured into Nanotechnology ,enthused by one of my ardent students who did PhD with me, Dr Himakshi . We authored more than 20 research papers and several Reviews.

People worship 365 gods but for me two Gods dominated my thinking,GENES and EVOLUTION and even though I was a rolling stone trying to gather..... My thinking focus revolved around these two Gods.

I took positive outlook , desired for different aspects and succeeded.

I retired at 80 and kept Music my hobby, my perpetual love. Now rejoice with my lovely wife and two lovely daughters and three grand children. Two grand children who are settled in life.

My hard work and those of my students led to 45 books authored and edited, more than 500 research publications in Journals of Repute, 9 Fellowships from various Academies and Societies and as many as 7 Awards. Having mentored nearly 100 PhD students and many of them occupying top positions professionally in India and abroad. Awarded two PhDs in Genetics and Plant Breeding and Biochemistry.

Currently Editing two Journals at 83 to keep myself busy and academically alive., Jour Plant Sci Res (35 yrs old) and Int Jour of Life Sciences (7 yr old)

Have loveable friends .

No regrets.

My advise, never curse yourself when disappointed , set a goal, adopt a hobby, work hard and honestly to accomplish your goals. Life is full of happiness and disappointments. Do not be dismayed ,it happens with every one.Life is like that! Take it as a challenge with optimism, make good friends and cultivate self confidence.

Friends LIFE IS LIKE THAT!

21Swapna Paul, Sonali Gupta and 19 others

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