Awards

Prof. Kamal

Former Head

DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, UP

About Prof. Kamal
Prof. Kamal, born on September 2, 1941, in Kushinagar District, overcame his modest background to achieve academic excellence. He pursued his education at Uditnarayan Kshatriya Inter College before earning his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Gorakhpur. His research journey began at Gorakhpur University under Prof. K.S. Bhargava, leading to his Ph.D. in Botany. Joining the university as a lecturer in 1969, he dedicated his career to mycological research, focusing on soil microbiology, aeromycology, and plant pathogenic fungi. His work extended across India and into Nepal, earning him advanced training at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology under Prof. Emil Müller. He held esteemed fellowships, including at Tribhuvan University in Nepal and Dr. H.S. Gaur University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, and actively contributed to scientific conferences and organizations, serving as President of the Mid-Eastern Zone of the Indian Phytopathological Society and Vice-President of the Mycological Society of India. With over 250 research papers, Prof. Kamal significantly advanced the taxonomy of foliar fungi, discovering more than 200 new species and several new genera. His work appeared in prestigious international journals, and he collaborated with renowned mycologists worldwide. As a mentor, he guided over 60 Ph.D. students and co-authored four books, along with a monograph on Indian cercosporoid fungi. Respected for his integrity, wisdom, and dedication, he remained an influential educator and researcher. His perseverance and intellectual contributions, despite his humble beginnings, left a lasting legacy in mycology.

Award Instituted by:Dr. Sanjay Singh, Scientist-F, National Fungal Culture Collection of India (NFCCI), Agharkar Research Institute, Pune – 411004, India.