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Eminent botanist Prof Somdev Sharma, who was a faculty with DAV (PG) College, Dehradun, taught Hussain in the 50s. Encourse his research, Somdev set up his personal herbarium, a monumental collection of specimens, particularly from Uttarakhand. He passed away a few years ago, leaving behind a precious legacy. In 2016, his family decided to give away his precious scientific research and legacy to Forest Research Institute (FRI) and one of his most eminent student dr. Wazahat hussain who is still carrying his legacy of plant taxonomy was invited by the family member for the handing over ceremony.<\/p>\n
Recalling his teacher, Prof Wazahat Hussain said Somdev Sharma was an authority on flora of the region. He travelled on foot to Yamunotri and Gangotri and collected specimens which are still preserved in his herbarium. Each and every specimen is identified by the date on which it was found and the location from where it was found. The flowering and fruiting of each and every flora also finds mention in the accompanying field note book.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomdev Sharma was immaculate and always gave his 100 per cent. He was a methodological person and his identification was thorough,\u201d remembers Prof Hussain.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis dedication to the subject was unparalled. I still remember once Somdev Sharma had a cardiac problem and was admitted to a hospital in an unconscious state. When I went to meet him at the hospital to enquire about his health, he told me that as he went unconsciousness, he had a dream of heaven that had rich and diverse flora. Somdev Sharma\u2019s herbarium is a treasure of flora and I am happy that the Forest Research Institute (FRI) has now taken responsibility to preserve the rare herbarium,\u201d Prof Wazahat Hussain had said.<\/p>\n
An internationally \u00a0known Taxnomist himself, Prof Wazahat Hussain did his MSc in 1958-59 followed by PhD in 1958-59 under guidance of eminent botanist of his times Prof. K Chaudhary on Flora of Aligarh. He has been awarded best teachers award from Sulemania University Iraq and Bengazi Garyounuis University, Libya. \u201c I felt honoured to be at FRI where one of my teacher worked and the rich legacy of my another teacher whose works will be preserved at FRI herbarium, which is country\u2019s largest herbarium. It will be enriched with the work of Prof. Somdev Sharma whose herbarium is undoubtedly the largest private collection in India which was earlier \u00a0housed in simple surroundings at his residence on Balbir road,Dehradun,\u201d he had said.<\/p>\n
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Eminent Taxonomist Dr Wazahat Hussain get Sheikh Zayed International award 2022 S.M.A.KAZMI Dehradun , Oct 12 Internationally acclaimed taxonomist Prof Wazahat Hussain, a former Chairman, Botany Department, Aligarh Muslim University, has been awarded the second Sheikh Zayed International award 2022 in traditional herbal medicine instituted under the patronage of \u00a0Sheikh Nahyan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2619,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,78,92,62,33,91,59],"tags":[849,848,852,851,850],"class_list":["post-2618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-featured","category-health","category-international","category-national","category-uttarakhand","tag-aligarh-muslim-university","tag-dr-wazahat-hussain","tag-dubai","tag-sheikh-zayed-international-award-2022","tag-taxonomist"],"yoast_head":"\n