Prof. (Dr.) Ram Dayal (1930-2016): An Obituary

Dr. Ram Dayal (born in 1930), formerly Professor & Head, Department of Mycology & Plant Pathology, Institute of Agriculture Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, and a researcher, writer, dedicated mycologist and above all a teacher of high repute, breathed his last on Friday, 29/07/2016, morning at 3:30 am at his residence in Varanasi, after a brief illness.

Graduated from University of Allahabad and worked under the guidance of late Prof. R.K. Saksena, a distinguished mycologist of international repute, University of Allahabad, Dr. Ram Dayal worked primarily on biology and taxonomy of lower fungi with special reference to soil-inhabiting nematophagous fungi. He authored several books, viz. ‘Chytrids of India’, ‘Advances in Zoosporic Fungi’, ‘Zoosporic Fungi of India’ and ‘Introduction to Fungi’. Specialized on soil-inhabiting chitrids and nematode-trapping fungi in agricultural soils, he had published more than 150 research papers in journals of national and international repute. He was the Fellow of National Academy of Sciences (Allahabad) and Life Member of Indian Phytopathological Society and Mycological Society of India.

I have known Prof. Ram Dayal, since 2 decades. We had organized a DST-sponsored 10-day duration hands-on workshop on “Techniques in Aquatic Fungi’ at Department of Botany, Goa University, during 1-10 September 1994 and Prof. Ram Dayal was one of the resource persons. A renowned expert on zoosporic soil fungi, he taught the participants everything that he knew during the workshop. Since then, we continued our academic and research interactions and Prof Ram Dayal became a close friend of mine.

He had invited me and my wife to Varanasi which we could accomplish only last year. His former student and presently Professor at the Department of Mycology & Plant Pathology, BHU, Prof. Asha Sinha, organised my visit to Varanasi. I delivered two guest lectures at their Department, in the first week of Nov 2015 and Prof Ram Dayal attended my lectures. It was a moment of immense joy for me. I and my wife visited his residence in Lanka, Varanasi, in the evening. Then at the age of 85, Prof. Dayal was very alert and well-receiving. He was very happy to see us at his place, one of his dreams that he said.

With passing away of Prof. Ram Dayal, we lost a distinguished Indian mycologist and a wonderful human being. I pray Bhagwaan Kashi Vishwanath and Bhagwaan Shri Ram to bless his soul with peace.

D. Jayarama Bhat

Our Recent Visit to Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand

I (along with my wife) spent a 4-week duration at Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand, recently, as Visiting Professor, advising research scholars on and developing researches in taxonomy of fungi. Besides, I gave a couple of seminars and a week-long duration hands-on-training on application and importance of ‘çonidiogenesis’ in fungal taxonomy. It was quite an excitement to me also, being with them and having seen a number of interesting and rare fungi under microscope. I am sure that my visit and our activities therein were useful to those young and enthusiastic students from various Asian countries joined MFLU, aspiring to make big in mycology. Being used as food (mushrooms, Tofu, cheese, etc.), producer of medicines (yeast, antibiotics, immune-suppressants, bio-molecules, etc.) and biofertilizers (mycorrhizae, Trichoderma, etc.), the importance of fungi and their taxonomy in the development of a nation need not be over-emphasized.  

Centre of Excellence in Fungal Research at Mae Fah Luang University, is an active school of mycology where a number of students from various Asian and European countries are researching on fungi, especially in fungal taxonomy and biodiversity studies, ecology, biology and so on, using conventional and advanced techniques, under the leadership of Prof. Kevin D Hyde. I am happy to have been invited to MFLU and shared my thoughts with them, especially on fungal taxonomy. 

The May Fah Luang University campus in Chaing Rai is very beautiful and picturesque. Modern academic and administrative buildings, free and fast Wi-Fi in the entire campus, modern sports complex with well-laid tracks, numerous student dormitories, several food-courts catering students from across Asia, staff quarters, guest-house, excellent landscaping, well-laid roads, well-grown avenue trees and defined woodlots, joggers park, regularly pruned lawns, thoughtful rain-harvesting ponds and absolutely clean surroundings. As I wrote earlier from my previous visits, Chiang Rai, the northern most city of Thailand bordering Myanmar, China and Laos (Golden Triangle) and Mekong River, is a hilly mountainous province with lush green forests and advanced agriculture and horticulture activities. They grow a variety of rice, plenty of vegetables, fruits of all kinds and varied cultivated mushrooms. Everything brought to the market, daily, fresh and clean. They are also very artistic in displaying their produces in the market. The city of Chiang Rai has a recently-opened restaurant named ‘Accha – Indian Fusion’ where we frequented quite often and relished Indian dishes. The city is undoubtedly clean and tidy. Though for a brief period, I and my wife enjoyed our stay at MFLU.

The border town, Mae Sai, to where Gawahati, Assam, will be soon be connected through Asian road-link via Myanmar, is located just 35 km north of city of Chiang Rai.   

The Centre of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, will be organising an International Conference entitled ‘Towards a Natural Classification & Industrial Utilization of the Fungi’ during 10-13 January 2017 in Chiang Rai, and it will be a golden opportunity for all those desirous  to visit north of Thailand and learn more on fungal taxonomy.

D. Jayarama bhat