The Central Botanical Laboratory (CBL), Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, organized an inaugural function for the unveiling ceremony of Dr. E.K. Janaki Ammal portrait and an exhibition room in the memory of Dr. Janaki Ammal at CBL on April 12, 2024. On this occasion, Dr. A.A. Mao, Director, Botanical Survey of India, has unveiled the portrait and the memorabilia as the Chief Guest of the occasion. He expressed his happiness over the event and said that Dr. E.K. Janaki Ammal is a towering pillar in the history of BSI because she laid down the reorganization plan for the survey long back in 1954. At that time, she had the vision that an institute of the stature of the Botanical Survey cannot be fully functional unless it has many regional centres spread across different geographical regions for holistic assessment and cataloguing of the entire phytodiversity of the country.
Dr. Pratibha Gupta, Scientist-F and Head of Office, CBL, opined on the occasion that Dr. Janaki Ammal heralded the competence of women in the field of science in those days and became the first woman scientist from India to get a doctorate degree in botany from the United States. Her work on the Chromosome Atlas of Cultivated Plants has been hailed as one of the most monumental works in the field of cytology. She also enlightened the audience that Dr. Janaki Ammal was conferred with the Padma Shri award due to her diligence and devotion towards her work.
The programme was attended by Dr. J. Jayanthi, Dr. R.K. Gupta, Dr. Devendra Singh, Dr. K.A.A. Kabeer, and Dr. Tapan Sil along with all the scientists of the Botanical Survey of India from all its units in Kolkata and Howrah. The Head of Offices from the Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre, Dr. Lal Ji Singh, and from the Central Regional Centre, Dr. Vinay Ranjan, were also present in the program. Dr. Manas Ranjan Debta delivered the Vote of Thanks on this occasion. The program ended after the National Anthem.
