DR HD SRIVASTAVA , IVRI

If you see my post on HOD of IVRI, the first is Dr HN Ray ,second Dr GD Bhalerao and third was Dr HD Srivastava- thus in between the two ,there is Dr Bhalerao whose details I am trying to gather.

Dr HD Srivastava was the student of Dr Mehra from Allahabad University. No doubt Dr Srivastava has reshaped the department and beside doing survey work , initiated experimental work in parasitology particularly helminthology.

I can say without any doubt that Dr Srivasstava was fortunate to have a good team of scientists who led extensive growth in research. The name of Dr SC Dutt comes on uppermost who came ,after partition of the country,to join division of Parasitology,IVRI. Dr Dutt was contemporary scientist with Dr HD Srivastava and became his student as well since he submitted his Ph.D thesis to Bombay University under his supervision. It is an open secret that research work on schistosomes and many other parasites and discovering life cycle of Stephanofilaria assamensis to which the duo were awarded Rafi Ahmed Kidwai award of ICAR was mainly handled by Dr SC Dutt as at times reflected by authorship of research papers. As I have mentioned somewhere that retirement of Dr HD Srivastava was celebrated by scientific fraternity by publishing a commemoration volume on Dr HD Srivastava in 1969. Now the volume is rare and may be found only in selected places. I have good occasion to read this volume which contained research papers on Parasitology contributed by international parasitologists. Below is the brief on Dr HD Srivastava taken from the book published by Indian Science Academy, New Delhi as commemoration volume, sadly, does not include any articles ,reflecting personality of Dr HD Srivastava

Dr Srivastava HarDayal

Born 15th June 1908

DSc(1938) ,University of Allahabad

Research Achievements :Srivastava studied various aspects of helminthology-survey,morphology,taxonomy,life history,pathogenecity,etiology of obscure diseases, treatment,control,including biological control, host-parasite relationship,immunity and zoonosis.He did extensive work on the morphology and taxonomy of trematode parasites of Indian fresh water and marine fishes,life history,pathogenecity and biological control of Cotylophoron cotylophorum of ruminants ; a unique form of dermatitis in cattle(cutaneous microfilariasis),referred to in literature as Srivastava's dermatitis of cattle; causative parasite of cutaenous bleeding in buffaloes; prenatal infection of Neoascaris vitulorum in buffaloes; life history of Stephanofilaria assamensis , the causative parasite of hump sore of cattle, and its treatment; schistosomiasis in Indian domestic animals; verminous pneumonia in buffaloes and life history of Artyfechinostomum sufrartyfex and Gastrodiscoides hominis, trematodes of great zoonotic importance.

Positions : Helminthologist, Senior Professor of Parasitology, Head Division of Parasitology and Director , Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar/Izatnagar; Emeritus Scientist, ICAR.

Learned and Professional Societies : Fellow, National Academy of  Sciences(India), President, Zoological Society of India and Helminthological Society of India; Founder President, Indian Society for Parasitology.

Awards and Honors : Bhalerao memorial gold medal (1960), Rai Ahmed Kidwai memorial prize ,in collaboration with Dr SC Dutt (1968).

Policy making Bodies : Member Unesco Expert Committee on Animal Ecology for Arid Zone, ;also served on several expert committees of ICAR.

Died 26 October 1989