-Report by Dr. Arvind Purohit, Jodhpur

Dr. Dinkar Sahal, group leader, Malaria at ICGEB, delivered a  lecture on A conversation over the biological questions in relation to health and diseases at Mahila PG Mahavidyalay, Jodhpur on 18th November. Dr. Sahal was speaking to commemorate the memory of Professor HC Arya, former Head of the Botany Department, and Dean, faculty of Science,JNVU, Jodhpur. His lecture was a scientific feast enumerating the latest information on molecular biology and biotechnology of malarial infection, medicines and drug resistance. Dr. Dinkar presented his topic with great command, ease and facility that despite the intricacies of subject, the audience could grasp the essence of his talk. The speaker combined his narration with quotes from literature and philosophy and his ppts were so beautiful and live with animations that the audience, including the girl students, remained glued their seats. The talk triggered many questions from seniors and students alike and at the end it proved a real, joyful, interactive conversation. 

The initiative of starting this Prof. HC Arya endowment lecture series has been taken by one of the many PhD students of Prof. Arya, Prof. SD Purohit, who presented the life and work of his teacher through a short video film. This presentation was, besides a nostalgic remembrance and an objective account of the academic glory of his mentor, was superb in the quality of all dimensions of video film making. 

The event was also coupled to remember Prof. BD Sharma, a great teacher of Botany and an eminent paleontologist. Dr. Dhanpat Bahra, student of Dr. BD Sharma dedicated his one book on lower plants to his teacher and got it released by the personalities on dias. 

The function was chaired by Dr. LN Harsh, former Vice Chancellor, Agriculture University, Jodhpur and among guest dignitaries, there were Prof. DK Purohit, Prof. SP Vyas, the chairman of PGM, Dr. Manorama, the Principal, and Prof. NS Shekhawat, who shared memoirs of their association and studentship with Prof. Arya and Prof. Sharma. 

The audience comprised of the students and science faculty, specially of Botany department of PGMV and hosts of direct and indirect students of Prof. HCA and Prof. BDS, like Dr. Arun Kumar, Dr. Arvind Purohit (myself) Dr. Anil Vyas and Dr. KK Bora. 

The function, on one hand, was an open and out statement that Old was gold, and on the other portrayed the progress in new biology (lecture of Dr. Dinkar Sahal) and potential of present generation of students, specially of the girl students of PGMV (their outstanding performance at IIT,Jodhpur was highlighted by Prof. NS Shekhawat). 

It's a matter of joy and pride to share that we, Dr. LN Harsh, Dr. SD Purohit, Dr.D Bohra, Dr. NS Shekhawat, Dr. KK Bora, Dr. Arun and myself are the products of that golden era of Botany department of JNVU, Jodhpur and names of Professors like that of Dr. Arya, Dr. Bhandari, Dr. Sankhla, Dr. Sharma, Dr. Sen, Dr. Raina, Dr. Srivastava, Dr.Kaushik, Dr. Purohit were the architect of that golden era which made the department a cynosure of Botany. Whatever we are, making a living and contributing, are because of one singular fact, that we were nurtured under the shadow of those gigantic trees.