Reflections COA By Dr. P K MEHTA, Dean, College of Agriculture

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE,
PALAMPUR
‘REFLECTIONS’: 1966-2015
Dr P.K.MEHTA
Dean
• Let us not only remember the
past and its required sacrifice,
let us also remember that we
are responsible to build a
legacy for the generations
which follow us.
Thomas S Mansion
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN THE REGION
CHRONOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS---1893-1906-Agricultural Colleges: Chennai, Nagpur, Kanpur,
Pune, Coimbatore, LYALLPUR-1906
1909-16-L.Ag.-3 year Diploma
1916-1921-4 Yr. B.Sc.(Ag) First Batch of
Graduates
M.Sc.(Ag) started 1923-28
GENESIS AFTER PARTITION----After
partition of the country, the venue of the College
shifted from Lyallpur to Amritsar, and it was camping
as refugee at Khalsa College(November,1947).
In
1949, it moved to a rented building at Ludhiana
(Malwa High School ).
In
1959 it shifted to its present building on the
Ludhiana-Ferozepore Road
1962-Punjab Agricultural University
 COA, PALAMPUR-----To cater to the needs of inaccessible
far flung hilly areas of the then
Punjab, the College of Agriculture,
Palampur came into being as a
Junior College in the backdrop of
serene and picturesque Dhauladhar
Himalaya.
The College was formally inaugurated
by Late Dr. P.N. Thapar, ICS (Retd.),
the founder Vice-Chancellor of
Punjab
Agricultural
University,
Ludhiana on 1stAugust, 1966.
INITIAL CLASSES -----College was started
in Rented Building –Ghughar Tanda
COA-FOUNDATION STONE-1967
• The foundation stone of the College was laid on
23rd May, 1967 by the then Deputy Prime
Minister of India, Shri Morarji Ranchhodji Desai.
SOME GLIMPSES OF FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY
SOME GLIMPSES OF FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY
 FIRST ADMISSIONS-----1966
• COA, PALAMPUR got tremendous
response.
• In total 107 applicants for 25 seats
• 77 turned up for admission
• Despair caused to several good students
because of limited seats.
• Ultimately seats were increased to 40
 FACULTY IN THE BEGINNING----
FACULTY STALWARTS
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A.K.GOSWAMI
AJIT SINGH
B.L.KAISTHA
B.S.KANWAR
C.N.BABU
D.N.SAHNI
G.C.AGGARWAL
G.S.SETHI
G.S.BEDI
•K.D.SHARMA
•K.K.MAHAJAN
•KAUR SINGH
•K.K.DOGRA
•L.D.SHARMA
•M.P.NARANG
•N.C.MAHAJAN
•O.P.SHARMA
•P.K.SHARMA
•R.D.SOOD
•R.P.AWASTHI
•R.L.ADHLAKA
SARANJOT SINGH
•S.P.CHACHRA
•S.K.PHULL
•V.K.GUPTA
•V.P.BHUTANI
•VINAY JINDAL
COA- REGULAR DEANs
Dr Pradeep K.Sharma
COA:SOME FACTS
• Initial Budget Outlay by Planning
Commission=Rs20 lacs.
• Rajpur and Khalet Panchayats donated 51.61
acres land.
• 44.07 acres having more than 80000 tea bushes
was purchased from Raja Rajinder Chand of
Nadaun at a nominal cost of Rs1.09 lacs in 1967.
• In 1974, Wah Tea Estate(Patel Hall), along with
buildings and 75 acres land became a part of
College.
COA-NEW BUILDING
STUDENTS IN THE NEW CAMPUS
AMENITIES IN THE NEW COLLEGE
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
1971-M.Sc. Classes Started
Agronomy, PBG, Soils
TEACHERS WITH DEAN-1974
COA Status After Reorganization of
Punjab:
• The College came in the territorial jurisdiction of the
newly born State , Himachal Pradesh on November 1,
1966.
• Nevertheless, it remained functioning as a part of
Punjab Agricultural University till July 21, 1970.
• With the inception of Himachal Pradesh University on
July 22, 1970, the College became a part of the
Agriculture Complex under the aegis of Himachal
Pradesh University comprising of the agricultural
colleges at Palampur and Solan along with research
stations situated in different places of Himachal
Pradesh
COA as Hub of New University
• It was an historic event when the College of
Agriculture, Palampur served as the nucleus
of HP Krishi Vishvavidyalaya which came into
existence by an Act of the H.P. Vidhan Sabha,
(HPKV Act, 1978) and was inaugurated on
November 1, 1978 by Late Shri
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, the then President of
India.
COA: Present Status
• The College is running 4 years B.Sc. (Hons.)
Agriculture programme.
• Students at Undergraduate as well as Masters’
level in the College are admitted through
entrance test conducted by the University.
• At present the College has 13 departments .
• Presently, M.Sc and Ph.D degree progarmmes
are in vogue in 9 and 8 disciplines, respectively.
COA: Present Status----• The annual intake of students in different
programmes is 99, 116 and 66 in UG, M.Sc and
PhD, respectively.
• At present, a total of 299 UG, 167 M.Sc and 80
Ph.D students are on rolls. Till date, 2000 UG,
1167 M.Sc and 512 Ph.D students have passed
out from the College.
Proficient Alumni
1967-71
1972-76
1970-74
• The Alumni of the College have brought laurels to
the University by securing placements in
administrative services, ARS, SAUs, banking services,
corporate sector, defence services, line departments
in different states, media and journalism, etc.
COA: Present Status----• During the last five years 65 students qualified
NET (ICAR), while 52 students qualified JRF.
• During this period, 6 students qualified CSIR-UGC
JRF and 15 students were through in ICAR SRF.
• Competent and highly motivated faculty of 96
teachers/scientists to teach and guide the
students at UG and PG levels.
• Faculty members are highly decorated and
received 58 national and international acclaims
in the form of awards, fellowships, honours and
other distinctions during the last five years.
COA: Present Status----• College implemented 124 ad hoc research
projects from different funding agencies
worth Rs. 50.63 crore (2009-2014).
• During this period 859 research articles, 432
extension/popular articles and 38
books/manuals were published. Besides,
64seminars/workshops/ advanced trainings/
summer schools were organised by faculty of
the College.
SPECIAL THANKS:
Dr K.K.Katoch, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor
Dr S.K.Phull, Professor(Retired)
Dr B.P.Kaistha, Professor(Retired)
Alumni Association PAU, Ludhiana
THANKS
Time flies over us,
but leaves its shadow
behind.