21/11/2021
To My beloved Teachers, Dear Students, colleagues, friends and all well wishers,
I am very much happy to share my happiness with you all, the good news that I have been awarded my Ph.D Degree in Botany from Kannur University, Kerala State on November 15, 2021 for my Thesis entitled " STUDIES ON PHYTOCHEMISTRY, PALYNOLOGY AND DNA BARCODING OF SPECIES OF THE GENUS AMORPHOPHALLUS IN PENINSULAR INDIA".
I was always having a dream to have a Ph.D. degree since 1990, when I left Calicut University to join as a Teacher in Navodaya Vidyalaya Samilti while persuing my Ph.D. after my M.Phil. in 1988. That unfinished dream came true after 30 years at the age of 58 plus. Many people asked me, why a PhD degree at this age at the verge of retirement?.The answer is: It's for my self satisfaction. Age is not a barrier for learning and education is a life long process.
The complete credit for this achievement goes to two of my very committed research supervisors Late Dr. Abdul Jaleel. V and Dr. Abdussalam, A. K. Dept. of PG Studies and Research in Botany, Sir Syed College,Taliparamba under Kannur University, Kerala and Universities Research Centre for Botany. I am grateful to both of them for their invaluable guidance at every step of the research started in the year 2015.
This FB post is to express my sincere gratitude to them and all those who helped me directly or indirectly to complete the work.
Firstly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Abdussalam, Asst. Professor, Sir Syed College, Taliparamba for his invaluable support and continuous guidance of my Ph.D. study and related research publications. His inspiring guidance and motivation especially after the sad demise of my First Research Guide Late Dr. Abdul Jaleel, helped me at all times throughout the research and writing of the thesis. I cannot imagine having a better mentor for the research project. More than a guide, he was was like a younger brother to me and lifted my spirit throught the journey with his ever smiling face.
I will be failing in my duty as a humble human being, if I don't express my sincere gratitude from the core of my heart to my First research Guide and Mentor Late Dr. Abdul Jaleel V, Former HOD, Dept of PG Studies & Research in Botany, Sir Syed College. It was he who instilled the genesis of this work in my mind in 2014, motivated and encouraged me constantly to take up this work. Had he not motivated me and came forward to guide, I would not have taken up this work while I was busy in my work in JNV Mahe, Puducherry as Principal. I canot forget the number of field trips undertaken with him to various parts of South India especially, the forests of Western Ghats spread over from Agasthyamalai Hills of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Silent Valley,Wayanad etc to Western ghats of Karnataka ranging from BR Hills to Anshighat of Karwar Dist. in serach of the very rare, endemic wild species of this medicinaly important plant Amorphophallus of the family Araceae from South India. Locating and collecting different species of this seasonal plant at right time of its emergence from soil and getting the flowering specimen from different places was one of the most difficult phase I encountered during this work. When I comes back after different collection trips without success as most of the species are very limited and its exact season was not known, hence I was disappointed and even thought of dropping the research plan. It was he who instilled the confidence and kept the tempo high to continue which ultimately proved success. The untimely demise of Dr. Abdul Jaleel was a great loss for me and Araceae Taxonomy in particular. I am sure, his soul must have felt very happy to see his first student completed the work, submitted the thesis and the PhD degree is awarded to him. I sincerely dedicated my Thesis in loving memory of my Mentor and guide Late Dr. Abdul Jaleel.V.
No statement would be adequate to articulate my deep sense of gratitude to Professor K. M. Gothandam, Dean, School of Biosciences & Technology, VIT, Vellore for extending the facilities of his laboratory to carry out many experiments of the research work. He and his Scholars always welcomed my visit to his lab and offered all support for my experiments. I remember the valuable support extended by his scholars Dr. Srinivasan, Dr. Sreena Raj, all other friends at Bioscience Lab, VIT and Mr. Alwyn ,Technical Asst.of SEM.Lab. for the assistance given for the Scanning Electron Microscopic studies.
I place on record my profound gratitude to Dr. Tajo Abraham, HOD, of the Research Centre and Principal, Sir Syed College for extending the research facilities and full support offered during my work. I thank all other faculty members and guest faculty, Dr. Ajayan, and Post Doctoral Fellow, Dr. Ratheesh Chandra for their timely comments and guidance.
With great respect, I remember all my teachers of Botany Dept., Sir Syed College, Taliparamba where I studied from Pre Degree to M.Sc. I am very lucky to persue my research work also from the same Department after many years under the guidance of the supervising teachers who are younger to me. The research period was a memorable one for me as I got the opportunity to work with many youngsters that made me to feel young at mind. I sincerely thank all my teachers who attended the open defence viva on Oct. 15, 2021 which shows how much they love their students.
I was very fortunate to have the blessings of all my teachers through out my studies. The constant encouragement and motivation given by Professor M. Sivadasan, Former HOD, Dept.of Botany, Calicut University and Former Chair of Taxonomy, Govt.of India, right from my Calicut University days when I started my research under his guidance in 1988, was a source of inspiration to take up this work. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Professor C.K. Vanidevi Teacher, Former HOD,Botany Dept. and Principal of Sir Syed College for her love and care shown towards me since my college days. Her frequent enquiry about the progress of the work stimulated me to finish the work timely.
Iam indebted to Shri. Biswajit Kumar Singh, Former Commissioner, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti for his encouragement and Shri. Vinayak Garg, the Present Commissioner of NVS, for permitting me to undertake this research. I will be failing in my duties if I don't record my sincere thanks to Shri. A. N. Ramachandra, Former Joint Commissioner, NVS for his constant motivation and encouragement to complete the work. He often reminded me to complete the work by finding time whenever I was busy due to official engagement.
Besides my supervisors, I would like to thank the learned Professors who evaluated my doctoral thesis and the Chairman of Open defence, Dr.Afroz Alam, Associate Professor, Department of Bio Science & Biotechnology, Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan. Their valuable comments and critical questions inspired me to look at the research in a wider perspectives and also enhanced my understanding. The appreciation given by the Chairman for the quality of work and the presentation made on the day of Open defence will be cherished for ever.
I express my loving acknowledgment and heartfelt gratitude to my wife Mrs. Sunanda Raghavan. She shared with me all the emotional dynamics of my study patiently and tolerated my absence at home. Her encouragement and love made the whole work tedious free and comfortable. The critical comments and queries of my son Dr. Nitish R. Nambiar also contributed a lot in shaping this work in a better form.
Last but certainly not the least, I am really very much thankful for the blessing of my mother aged 95 and the Almighty for their grace which gave positive energy and determined will power to finish this research work successfully.
Regards
Dr. Raghavan Kavalan
Deputy Commissioner
Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti
Noida.
