Former PAU dean Bhatia dead

LUDHIANA, Jan 18: I.S. Bhatia, a renowned scientist and professor of biochemistry and former dean, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Punjab Agricultural University, died suddenly on Sunday.

Born in July 1923, Bhatia did his Ph.D from the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA. After returning he served in various institutes and universities, like CFTRI Mysore, IIS Bangalore, Toklai Tea Research Station, Assam and PAU. He was head of the Department of Biochemistry from 1966 to 1979 and later, dean, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities up to July 1983.

After retirement, he served as professor emeritus at Punjab University, Chandigarh and Punjab Agricultural University here. He was fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemistry, London. He was on the panel of CSIR, ICAR, CFTRI, UGC and many other academic and scientific bodies of the country.