Born :- 01-Apr-1891
Died :- 02-Jun-1978
Place of Birth :- Balikuda, Jagatsinghpur
Distinguished Indian/Odia scientist Dr. Pranakrushna Parija’s name will, forever, remain inscribed in golden letters in the history of science for his invaluable contribution to the world in the field of botany.
Dr. Parija was born on April 1, 1891, in the village of Ichchapur under Balikuda in Jagatsinghpur district.
After completing his primary education at Balikuda Middle English School, he successfully completed his Entrance from Ravenshaw Collegiate School, Cuttack in 1909 and then his I.Sc. from Ravenshaw College. He did his graduation in Presidency College under Kolkata University with Honours in mathematics in the year 1919, followed by his postgraduate studies in botany with a scholarship at Cambridge University, London. Here Dr. Parija established himself as an international botanist after his paper on the respiration of plants was published in the ‘Proceedings of the Royal Society’.
In 1938, he was appointed Principal of Ravenshaw. At his initiative, the bachelor's degree course in botany opened in the college in 1942. In 1943, Dr. Parija was appointed Vice Chancellor of Utkal University, became Director of the State Department of Agriculture in 1945, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University in 1949 and Pro-Chancellor of Utkal University in 1951. In 1952, he was elected to the state assembly from the Balikuda constituency.
Dr Parija had put in all his efforts to arouse interest of the people in science education. At his initiative, the historic session of the Indian Science Congress was held in Cuttack. He was also a founding member of the National Institute of Science. Although plant respiration was the main focus of his research, he also conducted research on a number of issues related to normal life, such as rice cultivation and the elimination of water hyacinth. Many of his essays on science were published in eminent magazines like Utkal Sahitya, Mukur, Sahakar and Alok. He published his experiences of his student life in a book titled ‘Mo Chhatra Jeevana’ (My Student Life) in 1984. ‘Akinchanara Jeevana Smruti’ is his autobiography.
For his outstanding contribution to the field of science, Dr. Parija was profusely honoured awarded. In 1955, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Central Government. He was honoured with D.Sc. by the University of Patna, Utkal University, Sambalpur University, Venkateshwar University and Odisha University of Agriculture. He was also made a Fellow at the University of Patna.
Dr. Parija died on June 2, 1978 in Cuttack.
