BHU vice-chancellor DP Singh gets Environmentalist of the Decade Award

Varanasi, June 5, 2010: Banaras Hindu University vice-chancellor Professor DP Singh won the Environmentalist of the Decade Award on the occasion of World Environment Day on Saturday.

Dr Singh won this prestigious award for his outstanding contributions in field of environmental front in short span of two years as BHU vice-chancellor.

Earlier, the university celebrated the World Environment Day by organizing a function. Former deputy managing director of Indian Council of Medical Research Dr VP Sharma was the chief guest while Professor RS Tripathi of National Botanical Research Institute and Dr SN Subbarao of Gandhi Peace Foundation were the special guests.

Dr DP Singh a multi-faceted personality

An academician by experience, an environmentalist by heart, Professor Dhirendra Pal Singh was born in the village Simrau in the District Etah, in the reputed family of Shri Khushal Singh Ji on 8th December, 1956. He obtained his Ph. D. degree in Botany with Specialization in Environmental Science from Garhwal University, Srinagar.

Prof. D.P. Singh has over two and half decades of rich professional experience and is a well known personality in the field of environment, educational management and administration. His contributions in Teaching, Training, Research and Development in the areas of higher education, environmental sciences and vocational education are note worthy. Prof. Singh possesses a rich and ascending career graph replete with excellence, drive, and dynamism. Besides providing vibrant leadership in shaping up of academic and research environment of institutes and universities of national and state level, Prof. Singh has contributed immensely in teaching and research which is evident from his publications in the form of books and research papers. He started his career as teacher and rose to the position of the Vice Chancellor of two important Universities of India. He has held many responsible positions in institutions of repute including PSS Central Institute of Vocational Education, an apex institution of MHRD at Bhopal as Professor in Environmental Science and Head of HSE Division. He has also served in institutions of higher education and environmental education.

Prof. Dhirendra Pal Singh joined as 24th Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi – the largest University and a great seat of learning, after completing his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Sagar, the oldest University of Madhya Pradesh that has also been accorded the status of central university by his tireless efforts. Prof. Singh is working with a pious mission of providing a sparkling and vibrant leadership role in shaping up of our national policies on education to compete with the international standards. Highly inspired by the life and philosophy of the founder of the university Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya ji, Prof. Singh is trying his best to realize the vision and high ideals set by the great visionary. His administrative vision and high ideals for the University is reflected by his sincere efforts to develop a blueprint for next twenty five years for optimal growth and development of BHU and to cope up with the growing needs of the goal of 'Excellence in Higher Education'. His dream to promote human values among the university fraternity and desire for value based education in the campus is inspiring and is gradually taking a concrete shape.

Through his unassuming style, firm belief in the principle of participative leadership, and deep rooted humanistic values and approach, the Banaras Hindu University has achieved several laurels under his dynamic leadership in a very short time span of about two years since his joining as Vice Chancellor. Recently, BHU has been ranked first among 140 Indian Universities surveyed in first ever India Today-Nielson Survey on the country leading higher educational institution, which identifies the centres of excellence at a time when university education is at the centre of national controversy and is in need of radical legislative reforms. It will be highly appreciated if HRD Ministry come forward and make a note of such survey and the universities which have excelled get special attention by the ministry to promote at least few Universities to make an appropriate investment to build them world class universities. BHU should get top priority as being situated in area which symbolizes heights of poverty, unemployment and other related problems will certainly be ideal place to cater the need of whole Purvanchal, Bihar and near by states. Let us salute BHU in the leadership of Prof. D. P. Singh for maintaining its glorious history and keeping pace with excellence in higher education.

Under the dynamic leadership of Prof. D.P. Singh, the University has emerged as National leader in the field of Environment. Among the many initiatives taken on the Environmental front few are the university has adopted an Environmental Calendar that was unveiled by none less than Hon'ble President of India, Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil, on 14th March, 2009. A foundation stone of a new Institute of the Banaras Hindu University i.e. the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development was laid down by His Excellency Shri B.L. Joshi, the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. Establishment of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Chair for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development is another major achievement of the University in the area of environment and sustainability. To ensure protection of environment and to enhance pro-environmental activities in the university premises, the BHU Policy on Environment and Sustainable Development has been adopted. Prof. Singh leadership has helped in planting 400 acres of forest at Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Barkachha with the funding of Ministry of Rural Development; Government of Uttar Pradesh in addition of developing 500 acres of Biodiversity Park with the support of National Biodiversity Authority Chennai, will put BHU in leadership role in gaining of Carbon Credits in the country.

Other initiative like all the new buildings to have rain water harvesting system, vertical expansions of the future buildings in BHU so that more green area is left for eco-friendly campus, every faculty and institute to have provision for safe disposal of degradable and non-degradable waste including used Pooja flowers of Kashi Vishwanath Temple to be converted into organic fertilizers, use of less insecticides and pesticides at agriculture farm, use less of petroleum and smoke pollution free zone are some wonderful initiative which have helped making BHU one of the most eco-friendly and green campuses in the country and is providing a model not only for Purvanchal but whole of India. Down to earth Prof. Singh loves to paddle bicycle at least on the last working day of every month. When Prof. Singh initiated, 'The Cycling Drive' on 5th June, 2009 on World Environment Day and declared that he will use bicycle every last working day, many in the campus and Varanasi had not taken him sincerely. Prof. Singh is a man of his world as he has kept his promise till date. Many in Delhi and other part of country recognize him as the Vice Chancellor who paddles bicycle for his office work. The contributions are many more... the above are tip of ice burg. We feel it is 'quite a contribution' by a single man, who has made the differences in the Environmental front. We have been proud to publish these contributions and the impact has been realized in whole of Purvanchal.

It is the nature of mankind to acknowledge such contributions to sustain and improve the quality of life. We as the forth pillar of democracy have leading role to acknowledge and spread these contributions to the masses.

Photo caption: BHU vice-chancellor Dr DP Singh (right, in light green shirt) receiving the Environmentalist of the Decade Award in Varanasi on June 5, 2010.

Source: PPP Cell-BHU