CHANDIGARH: November 26, 2009: As a true scientific homage to the late Prof I C Pande FNA former HOD, Geology Dept, PU, 2nd I C Pande Memorial Lecture was delivered by Prof Jai Krishna, HOD Geology, BHU, Varanasi titled “MAKING OF THE HIMALAYAS” (as understood through study of ammonoids). Guest of honour was Psychology Professor Emeritus Jitendra Mohan & it was Chaired by Prof B K Das; among others as eminent guests was Prof Braham Prakash Retd from IIT Rurkie who was visiting PU as Chancellor’s nominee in selections; founder teacher of Geology Dept PU Prof S B Bhatia FNA. Veteran Geologist & also former HOD & currently President of Palaeontological Society of India Prof B S Tewari (nearing 90) send a message from Lucknow as SMS & e mail saying: “my warmest congratulations for founding Prof. I C Pande Lecture Series. I feel such academic functions at CAS in Geology, Panjab University is essential and brings honour to staff of the institution. Making of Himalayas lecture by eminent Prof. Jai Krisna of B H U is in gratitude and respect of Prof. Pande is most welcome. I appreciate your kind gesture”.
Dr Jai Krishna in a simplistic presentation demystified the story of origin of the Himalayas, which was the first love of Prof I C Pande too. He used ammonoid fossils (SALIGRAMS worshipped by HINDUS) as stop watch; black box of the sequential story of Himalayan rocks correlating these with rest of India and the world tracing the geological history because of their very fast evolution and fast global dispersal. He brought out the story of the ancient mega continent GONDWANALAND, its break up and India’s journey northwards colliding with Asia creating the mightiest, most dynamic and fascinating mountain chain on the planet holding great potential in science as well as research for resources besides a bigger potential than Grand Canyon for Geo & Ecotourism in a sustainable manner for making India a very rich country.
Students, guests and young faculty thoroughly enjoyed the lecture as well as very witty and psychologically scintillating comments of Professor Jitendra Mohan and the informal but solemn nature of the interaction which was deeply appreciated by Chancellor’s nominee Prof Braham Prakash himself an old student of Geology Dept & Fellow researcher with the guest speaker at Mac master University, Canada in late sixties. According to Prof A D Ahluwalia Chairman, nearly 80 such guest lectures in last 15 months by eminent authorities dropping in the department on invitation as well as on their own & it has generated a new quality in the courses and students; mindsets and approach. The beginning of a new paid Course of M Sc Honours School in PETROLEUM GEOLOGY & gift of ONGC Chair endowment are new assets as well as challenges to the department. Dr Jai Krishna an old student of Prof I C Pande was a guest resource person in petroleum geology at PU. according to Prof A D Ahluwalia, Chairman, Geology Department.