Professor (Mrs.) Archana Sharma

Born : February 16, 1932 Died : January 14, 2008

Professor (Mrs.) Archana Sharma, PhD, DSc, FNA, FASc, FNASc, Professor of Genetics, University of Calcutta, and General President, Indian Science Congress Association (1986-87) had been deeply involved in the study of chromosomes for more than three decades. She obtained Ph.D. (1955) and D.Sc. (1960) from University of Calcutta. She remained Professor of Genetics, Centre of Advanced Study in Cell and Chromosome Research, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, Kolkata.

Academic and Research Achievements :

Professor (Mrs.) Archana Sharma had deep interest in cytogenetics, human genetics, and environmental mutagenesis. She developed new techniques for studying chromosome structure, applied throughout the world, and deduced from evidence of a new concept of speciation in vegetatively reproducing plants. Her other studies related to induction of division in adult nuclei and cause of polyteny in differentiated tissue in plants; cytotaxonomic investigation on flowering plants; assessment of chromosomal and genetical polymorphism in normal human population in eastern India and their comparison with pathological conditions; differentiation patterns in human fibroblasts in relation to polyteny as a factor in ageing; genetic polymorphisms in relation to environmental agents on living systems; clastogenic and mutagenic effects of various pesticides and metals on multiple test systems; assessment of genotoxic and clastogenic activity of environmental agents in subtoxic doses in exposed populations in relation to different modifying factors like diet, genetic predisposition, drugs, etc.; and use of dietary factors and plant products in modulating the cytotoxicity of known pollutants – metals and pesticides. She authored more than 350 papers and eight books including: Chromosome Techniques – Theory and Practice; The Chromosomes and Methods in Human Genetics. She developed a school of research in human genetics and genotoxicity, and several of her students are occupying important positions in Institutes and Universities both in India and abroad.

Awards and Honours :

Professor (Mrs.) Archana Sharma won the Sir S.S. Bhatnagar Award (1976); JC Bose Award by UGC (1974); UGC National Lecturer (1980); FICCI Award in Biological Sciences (1983); Birbal Sahni Medal by Indian Botanical Society (1984); Padma Bhushan (1984); and Platinum Jubilee Lecture Award by Indian Science Congress (1989). She was President of the Indian Science Congress (1986-87) and was elected Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi (1977); Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore; National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad; and Indian Botanical Society (President 1989). She represented India as official delegate of the Government of India and the Indian National Science Academy in various international conferences in USSR, USA, China, Germany, Sweden, UK, Denmark and various other countries.

Other Contributions :

Professor (Mrs.) Archana Sharma served as Member of the Science and Engineering Research Council of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India; Member of the University Grants Commission; Environmental Research Council; Union Ministry of Environment; Panel for Cooperation with UNESCO; Department of Education; various technical committees of UGC, DST, DBT and other bodies; International Academy of Science, Germany (1990); and, the INSA Council (1980-82). She edited 15 books, was Co-editor of The Nucleus; and served on the Editorial boards of Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy, and many other journals.

In her life and career, she was a true Indian, being born in Pune (Maharashtra), brought up in Rajasthan and married and settled in West Bengal. Her academic degrees were obtained from different universities, those of Patna, Rajasthan and Calcutta.

She was an excellent teacher with always a friendly smile and understood students psyche very well. She had an amiable temperament and was helpful to the students even beyond their studies and always there for many who reached out to her for guidance and support. She was affectionately called “Didi” by her students, fellow members /colleagues or others working in the Department be it a sweeper, gardener, or the office assistant from not only her own Department but from other departments of the University as well.

Professor (Mrs.) Archana Sharma had travelled extensively for academic exchange to various parts of the world. She was deeply philosophical, religious, and dedicated a good part of her time, despite busy schedule, in the service of the poor through her long association with Ramakrishna Mission and Sri Sarada Math.