Shamim Jairajpuri
Encyclopedia
Mohammad Shamim Jairajpuri, D.Sc., commonly known as Shamim Jairajpuri, (born 1942) is an Indian zoologist and academic who is known for his contributions to the field of nematology
. He has had an active career in higher education in India, including helping to establish Maulana Azad National Urdu University
, and has received a number of honors and awards, including two awards from the Indian National Science Academy
. He has also received the Janaki Ammal National Award for Taxonomy bestowed by the Indian
Ministry of Environment & Forests, the first individual to have been so awarded.
, Azamgarh District
, Uttar Pradesh
, India
in 1942, Jairajpuri attended Aligarh Muslim University
(AMU), receiving a Ph.D. in 1964 and in 1970 a Doctor of Science
(D.Sc.) degree in Zoology for his work in Taxonomy
.
He has also served as the President of the Nematological Society of India from 1979 to 1981. He was vice president of the Indian National Science Academy and the Zoological Society from 1989 to 1991, standing during those years also as Director of the Zoological Survey of India
. He was the Founding Director of the Institute of Agriculture, serving from 1993 to July 1996. In 1998, he became the first Vice Chancellor of the newly formed Maulana Azad National Urdu University and was credited in The Milli Gazette
as "a leading personality" in the establishment of that university. He remained in that position until 2003. He was also during that time an honorary professor in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Hyderabad
. In 2000, he became President of the Indian Society for Parasitology, serving until 2005. In 2001, he became the Chairman of the Programme Advisory Committee of the Zoological Survey of India and the Botanical Survey of India
, a position he held until 2004.
journal Nematologica, in which he has placed 80 papers, and the French
Revue de Nematologie, in which he has placed 40.
Nematology
Nematology is the scientific discipline concerned with the study of nematodes, or roundworms. Although nematological investigation dates back to the days of Aristotle or even earlier, nematology as an independent discipline has its recognizable beginnings in the mid to late 19th century.- History...
. He has had an active career in higher education in India, including helping to establish Maulana Azad National Urdu University
Maulana Azad National Urdu University
Maulana Azad National Urdu University is a Central University located in the city of Hyderabad in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh...
, and has received a number of honors and awards, including two awards from the Indian National Science Academy
Indian National Science Academy
The Indian National Science Academy , New Delhi is the apex body of Indian scientists representing all branches of science & technology.-History:...
. He has also received the Janaki Ammal National Award for Taxonomy bestowed by the Indian
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
Ministry of Environment & Forests, the first individual to have been so awarded.
Biography
Born in JairajpurJairajpur
Jairajpur is a village in Azamgarh District, Uttar Pradesh, India. Notable nematologist Shamim Jairajpuri and famous islamic scholar Maulana Aslam Jairajpuri was born in Jairajpur.Jairajpur has also given birth to famous personalities like Dr Aftab Ahmad FRCS ,who is working as Consultant in Great...
, Azamgarh District
Azamgarh district
Azamgarh district is one of the three districts of Azamgarh Division in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Etymology:The district is named after its headquarters town, Azamgarh. Azam, son of Vikramajit, founded the town in 1665. Vikramajit a descendant of Gautam Rajputs of Mehnagar in pargana...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1942, Jairajpuri attended Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...
(AMU), receiving a Ph.D. in 1964 and in 1970 a Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
(D.Sc.) degree in Zoology for his work in Taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
.
Positions
Jairajpuri has had an active career, primarily in association with AMU, at which university he became a professor in 1983. He served as Chairman of its Zoology Department for two terms, from 1988–1989 and from 1997–1998, and as Dean of the Faculty of Life Science for two terms, from 1993–1995 and from 1997–1998. In 1991, he was coordinator of the Agricultural Center.He has also served as the President of the Nematological Society of India from 1979 to 1981. He was vice president of the Indian National Science Academy and the Zoological Society from 1989 to 1991, standing during those years also as Director of the Zoological Survey of India
Zoological Survey of India
The Zoological Survey of India is a premier Indian organisation in zoological research and studies. It was established on 1 July 1916 to promote the survey, exploration and research of the fauna in the region...
. He was the Founding Director of the Institute of Agriculture, serving from 1993 to July 1996. In 1998, he became the first Vice Chancellor of the newly formed Maulana Azad National Urdu University and was credited in The Milli Gazette
The Milli Gazette
Milli Gazette is an English-language compact newspaper in India that describes itself as Indian Muslims' Leading English Newspaper. Feature articles generally cover global news concerning Muslims, focusing specially on Indian Muslim issues....
as "a leading personality" in the establishment of that university. He remained in that position until 2003. He was also during that time an honorary professor in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Hyderabad
University of Hyderabad
The University of Hyderabad is a post-graduate teaching and research institute in India. It was established by an act of the Parliament in 1974 as a Central University. The university also offers courses under distance learning programs...
. In 2000, he became President of the Indian Society for Parasitology, serving until 2005. In 2001, he became the Chairman of the Programme Advisory Committee of the Zoological Survey of India and the Botanical Survey of India
Botanical Survey of India
The Botanical Survey of India is an institution set up by the Government of India in 1887 to survey the plant resources of the Indian empire.-History:...
, a position he held until 2004.
Publication
Jairajpuri is widely published in books, monographs and journals. From 1977 to 1979, he was chief Editor of the Indian Journal of Nematology. Journal publications include the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
journal Nematologica, in which he has placed 80 papers, and the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Revue de Nematologie, in which he has placed 40.
Honors and awards
- Gold medal, 1997, Zoological Survey of India
- Gold medal, 1998, Zoological Survey of India
- Janaki Ammal National Award for Taxonomy, 1999, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India.
- Har Swarup Memorial Award, 2000, Indian National Science Academy
- Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship, 2004, Indian National Science Academy
- D'Souza Memorial Award in Nematology, 2005
- Honorary Fellowship for lifetime achievements in nematode research, 2006, Nematological Society of India
- Shiksha Ratna Puruskar, 2007, by India International Friendship SocietyIndia International Friendship SocietyThe India International Friendship Society is a prominent – though not the only – voluntary organisation seeking to strengthen the ties between India and the international Indian diaspora in the hopes of utilising their potential for the benefit of the country, and at the same to build bridges of...
- Lifetime Achievement Award in Parasitology, India Society for Parasitology
Sources
- Biodiversity and Ecological Stability, Jairajpuri.
Further reading
- Interview, Vigyan Prasar Science Portal, Government of India.