My Saga with Genetics Department

My Saga with Genetics Department 

Dwarkanath K Murthy

The department of genetics at Osmania University was founded in  1966 by Professor O S Reddi, evolving from a radiation biology unit of zoology department, with the recommendations by Homi J Bhabha and blessings of then chief minister Kasu Bhrahamand Reddy and lead by visionary Dr. D S Reddy the then Vice Chancellor of OU. Had the advice of Doyen Dr. M S  Swaminathan time to from time,  who visited the department couple of times. The department was the first of it's kind in any traditional University in the country to start a full fledged course offering MASTER OF SCIENCE degree in GENETICS.

Stimulus to join GENETICS

It gives me a great pleasure to celebrate my 50th year association with the University, having enrolled at Saifabad College in 1966 for BSc l,  and 47th in the department, enrolled in 1970 in the fourth batch MSc genetics course.

It was during my II BSc in 1968 - the Year HARI GOBINAD KHORANA was awarded the Nobel prize, I got in touch with GM Reddy who came to my residence to meet my father, he being a neighbouring plot owner. GM had just returned from 12th international congress at Genetics at Tokyo,  1968 - these were the stimuli to join the course. It is around at the same time the OU celebrated golden jubilee and the outstanding department was ours, with the most interactive and colourful practical display. I visited the same along with my father, we were exposed to the novel experiences. T Padma was the one explaining the blood grouping and testing for colour blindness, ironically both me and my dad were found to be colour blind, a rarity. The segregation patterns in maize cobs the most fascinating one  showing mathematical distribution, was explained by Dr. Bharathi, now in US, Padma & Bharthi were class fellow from first batch. The next fascinating thing was the use the tiny fly DROSOPHILA, which I had never noticed earlier, used as an important tool in Genetics was demonstrated by Ramachander &  Uma.  The best part of the department was the RADIATION LAB with upto date vinyl flooring, the  Geiger muller counter, robotic control for handling radioisotopes,  etc, way back in 1968 was much in advance to the day. Dr. Krishna now in US was the enthusiastic showman. Highlight was the Cobalt-60 source catering to South India for radiation experiments. Seeing all these under the dynamic leadership of OSReddi and ably supplemented by GMReddy and team of teachers including Polasa and others, I never felt like missing a chance. I was fortunate to make it in the first list. Rest is a history of my 47 years association with the department.  

The whole picture of my student days comes alive in front, the virtual images may be in black and white, with all my 10 teachers driving us to make us understand GENETICS. We were 11, a proud lot as the course was not offered anywhere in the country. The only other place in Hyderabad with some genetic work was a lab in the then RRL (IICT) now CCMB. Hope the present generation would look at the department in a historical perspective and appreciate the vision of Prof.OS Reddi and Prof.GM Reddy and six dedicated teachers drawn from various places, MSRao, Hanamanulu Polasa, SSubramanyam, JSMurthy, MCPadma & TPRedddy. M Krishna  and Ebenezer officiated as RPO & Animal curator respectively. By the time I enrolled as student we had KVaidyanath & TPadma the first batches serving as teachers.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN THE SOURCE FOR CREATION OF DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY, INSTITUTE OF GENETICS & HOSPITAL FOR GENETIC DISEASES, CENTRE FOR PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, UNDER GRADUATE DEPARTMENTS AT NIZAM COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FOR WOMEN and has several recognised centres for research, besides departments at affiliated colleges of OU

DEPARTMENT COMPLETES FIFITY YEARS

Today in it's "FIFTIETH YEAR" GENETICS DEPARTMENT is holding the uniqueness in research, publishing 50-60% of the papers of science faculty with 13 departments. The only crippling factor is the dearth of staff, which is a bear minimal at 8, this is of course a phenomenon with all departments of the University, mainly due to lack of recruitment over period of two decades. At one point of time the department could boast of 26 staff,  with 50% being professor. Positions left vacant were never filled up proportionately. The state and central (UGC-MHRD) government play this role. Hope this would improve.

The department has the best of the equipment worth crores with  up to date infrastructure. Projects worth a crore are operated in spite of dearth of senior faculty commensurately.

I Had the privilege of spending my first 11 years in the department and next 28 years at prestigious Nizam College and returning back into the parental fold to HEAD the department  (2008-2009) till superannuation. Had an  opportunity to be back with the Nizams for 4 more years at the behest of the VC to assist in operating a DBT project, besides heading three UG departments. I Continue to be associated with the department for  past seven years, post superannuation as a research supervisor. 

GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS & CONFERENCE 

On the 27 and 28th of February 2017 the department organised as a part of OU centenary, Golden Jubilee of Department a two day seminar on MOLECULAR INSIGHTS IN GENETICS & BIOTECHNOLOGY - EMERGING TRENDS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS 

AT THE OU FELICITATION FUNCTION FLANKED BY PROF.ROJA RANI, HOD GENETICS; PROF.T PARTHASARTHY , DEAN UGC AFFAIRS OU, PROF. S. JITHENDER KUMAR NAYAK, VICE PRINCIPAL, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE OU. 28th FEBRUARY 2017. MEKASTER AUDITORIUM

A BRIEF REPORT OF THE FUNCTION

The highlight of the function was to felicitate the retired HEADs OF THE DEPARTMENT and professors associated from 1966 onwards. 

We were not lucky to have our founder revered OSReddi, due to his advancing age at 89. Rich tributes were paid to him with his profile and picture duly projected. He was quoted for his contributions by most of the speakers. 

This was followed by remembering those who have left us with presentation of their picture and profile. The foremost among them was late Professor Gujral Madhav Reddy (1933-2009) affectionately called GM, one could call him the COFOUNDER along with OS, also responsible for creation of an autonomous body CENTRE FOR PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY - CPMB.

This was followed by tributes to late Professors M Sanjeev Rao, S Subramanyam, JS Murthy, K Vaidyanath and MC Padma (remembered by her student)

Following Former Prof. & Heads felicitated:

T Papi Reddy(78)

T Padma(70)

M Vishwanath Reddy(79)*

P Hanmanth Rao(72)

S Y Anwar(68)

P B Kavi Kishor(64)

K Prabhakar Rao(67)*

Dwarkanath K Murthy(67)

Mohd Ishaq(67)

S Prabhakar Rao(67)*

S Vishnupriya(64)*

Prathiba Nallari(60)

Professors (Retired) Fecilitated

P P Reddy (74)

Y R Ahuja (87) (continues as a  Research director at Vasavi Medical Centre)

D Manohar Rao (70)

A K Sarala(67)*

Padma Balaravi(64)*

M Sujatha (70)

L Anand Reddy(72)

S Rambhav (70)#

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*could not attend

#Prof of Biochemistry associated with department for decades

The chief guests during felicitation were Prof T Parthasarthy, the Dean UGC affairs, OU, Prof Jitendra Nayak, Vice Principal, University College of Science OU, ably convened by Prof Roja Rani incumbent HOD and organised by Dr. SOMESWAR Rao, dynamic Assistant Prof of Genetics, an alumni of IISc. 

The department has enrolment of over 100 doctoral students scattered across various institutes, besides research associates at various levels, post doctoral students numerous projects funded by state, central and foreign agencies and scores of Assistant Professors on Contract (not a healthy sign) assist the 8 permanent faculty.

All the colleges/institutes which are associated/affiliated were duly represented in large number. Quite a few senior professors hold emeritus status and many contribute honorarily 

The entire proceedings of felicitations and two day conference was anchored by dynamic Assistant Prof JYOTHI of University College for Women OU. Credit of the successful deliberations should also go to good anchoring. Specially she was able to add spicy adjectives to the 30 odd CVs which she was flooded with.

The above account is only the small fraction of felicitation of the two day affair. The ultimate function was felicitation of Prof Prathiba on her Demitting the office following her superannuation. Prof. Prathiba had a glorious career with 140 publications 22 PhDs and several awards. (Prof JS Murty her mentor may be showering the blessings from heaven)

Some more names we could recollect, associated between 1966 and early 70s

Dr. Mathews (Teacher associated during inception)

Dr.Hanumanlu Polasa (Founder of microbiology department & Registrar OU)

Dr.MC Padma (late) (Tribute paid by Ishaq, ex-HOD)

Dr.DN Ebnezer    Animal Curator

Dr.Maryala Krishna, ex-Radiation Protection Officer

Dr.S Niranjan Goud, ex-Radiation Protection Officer/Assistant Professor 

Dr.K Rama Subba Reddy, Chemistry Prof associated with Genetics 

Dr.C Subramanyam, Professor of Biochemistry originally with Genetics

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