BIRBAL SAHNI MEDAL

The Birbal Sahni Medal was instituted in 1957 by Prof. T. S. Sadasivan to commemorate the memory of Prof. Birbal Sahni, his revered teacher and one of the founding members of the Indian Botanical Society. This medal is prepared out of the proceeds of an endowment of Rs.2,500/- and is awarded every year to a distinguished Indian Botanist (life member of IBS) for his/her contributions and devotion to the cause of Indian Botany on the recommendation of the Executive Council*. A special function of the society during the Botanical Conference is held annually in connection with the presentation of this medal and a special lecture by the recipient of the medal.

The following botanists have so far been honoured by this medal:-

PANCHANAN MAHESHWARI MEDAL

Panchanan Maheswari Medal was instituted during 1977 by Dr. K. Subramanyam, Ex. Director, Botanical Survey of India to commemorate the memory of Prof. P. Maheshwari, his revered ‘Guru’ and one of the founding members of the Indian Botanical Society in recognition of his valuable contributions to Botanical Studies and in appreciation of his services to society. The medal is prepared out of the proceeds of an endowment of Rs.5,000/- . The medal is awarded each year to a distinguished Indian Botanist (life member of IBS) for original, sustained, and significant contributions to the advancement of Botany on the recommendation of Executive Council*. A special function during the Botanical Conference is held annually in connection with the presentation of this medal and a special lecture by the recipient of the medal.

The following botanists have so far been honoured by this medal:-

VISHWAMBHAR PURI MEDAL

Vishwambhar Puri Medal was instituted during 1977, by Professor V. Puri commemoration Organizing committee in the name of Professor V. Puri for his well known services to the society and the subject of Botany. The medal is prepared out of the proceeds of an endowment of Rs.5,000/-.The medal is awarded each year to a distinguished Indian Botanist (life member of IBS) for his/her significant contributions to the advancement of Botany on the recommendations of the Executive Council*. In alternate year the medal is to be awarded to a distinguishd person for contributions to Morphology of Angiosperms. A special function is organised during the Botanical Conference in connection with the presentation of this medal and a special lecture by the recipient of the medal.

The following botanists have so far been honoured by this medal:-

Y.S.MURTY MEDAL

This medal is prepared out of proceeds of an endowment of Rs. 10,000/-.Y.S. Murty Medal was instituted during 1985, by Prof. Y.S. Murty Commemoration Committee. The medal is awarded each year to a distinguished young Botanist (Life member/Fellow) member of the society not more than 40 years of age for outstanding contributions in any branch of Botany. A special function is organised during the Botanical Conference in connection with the presentation of this medal and a special lecture by the recipient of the medal.

The following botanists have so far been honoured by this medal:-

*Nomination procedure for the above four Commemorative Medals: The Secretary invites nominations for each medal from the members of the Executive Council, office bearers and medal awardees of the last 5 Years (Birbal Sahni /Panchanan Maheshwari / Vishwambhar Puri and YS Murty medals). The valid nominations are sent for balloting to the members of the Executive Council along with the biodata / proforma duly filled in. A majority shall elect but in case of a tie, decision will be taken by the draw of lots. All nominations should be made on an approved proforma accompanied by a detailed biodata. Proforma is available on the website of the society

YOUNG BOTANIST AWARD (DR. BAHADUR SINGH GOLD MEDAL)

This award was started in 2001 on the advice of Prof. A.K. Koul, Jammu, President of the society in 2000. The medal is given in the name of Dr. Bahadur Singh, Founder Head, Department of Botany, B.R. College, Agra (now R.B.S. College) by his students Dr. S.N. Chaturvedi, Dr.R.L. Paliwal and Prof. S.V.S. Chauhan. The medal is awarded each year to a young botanist below the age of 35 years. The rules are as follows:

Life members up to the age of 35 years can participate. Selection will be based on a Committee of Judges appointed for the purpose. The maximum number of participants should not be more than three. If more papers are received, a committee will select best three papers for presentation during the conference. The application should be submitted to the Secretary, along-with an Abstract and full manuscript on the format of JIBS accompanied by a detailed biodata. The inclusion of second author (Supervisor) along with the student is allowed in research papers presented (amended during 36th AIBC 2013 at Gorakhpur) for award with the condition that: (i) Both the author should be life members, (ii) The guide has to provide a certificate that the work which is being presented is student’s work only.

A separate session shall be organized for this competitive award during the conference. Applicants shall be given 18 minutes for presentation, followed by 5 minutes discussion.

The following young botanists have received this Medal:

K.S. BILGRAMI MEDAL ( FOR BEST POSTER PRESNTATION)

Instituted in 2004 by his student Prof. S. M.Reddy, Warangal, this medal is awarded to a life member (upto the age of 35 years) for best poster presentation (single author). The inclusion of second author (Supervisor) along with the student is allowed in research papers presented (amended during 36th AIBC 2013 at Gorakhpur) for awards with the condition that: (i) Both the author should be life members, (ii) The guide has to provide a certificate that the work which is being presented is student’s work only.

The applicant should inform in advance about his candidature for the poster award contest, and submit the abstract and full manuscript on the pattern of JIBS to the Secretary.

The following members have received this Medal:-

MEDAL FOR WOMEN SCIENTIST

A medal for women scientist upto the age of 50 years was instituted by the Society in 2005 to recognize a distinguished lady botanist from the donations received from Prof. Bharat Rai, Dr. R.R. Rao, Dr. Virendra Nath, Prof. S.N. Chaturvedi, Prof. A.K.Jain and Prof. S.V.S. Chauhan. Applicants (eligible life members) are required to submit detailed biodata, list of publications and reprints of ten best papers published for evaluation. The selection is done by a Committee of three Judges appointed for the purpose.

The following members have received this Medal:

WOMEN BOTANIST AWARD

This award instituted in 2011 from the contributions of Rs.50,000/- made by Prof. Muniamma. This is given to a lady botanist for the best paper presented during the Conference. The rules are as follows:

Lady Life members up to the age of 50 years can participate. Selection will be based on a Committee of Judges appointed for the purpose. The maximum number of participants should not be more than three. If more papers are received, a committee will select best three papers for presentation during the conference. The application should be submitted to the Secretary, along-with an Abstract and full manuscript on the format of JIBS accompanied by a detailed biodata.

A separate session shall be organized for this competitive award during the conference. Applicants shall be given 20 minutes for presentation, followed by a discussion.

The following members have received this Medal:

PROF. Y.S. MURTY MEMORIAL GOLD MEDAL

This medal was instituted in 2012 by the endowment of Rs. 1,00,000/ - received from Late Prof. C.M. Govil and Prof. Y. Vimala and her family members. The Medal is awarded to an outstanding Plant Morphologist/Taxonomist up to the age of 50 years for his/her research contributions in any group of plant kingdom. Applicants (life member) are required to submit detailed biodata, list of publications and reprints of ten best papers for evaluation. The selection is done by a Committee of three Judges appointed for the purpose.

The following members have received this Medal:

PROF. S.N. DIXIT GOLD MEDAL

This Medal is instituted in 2012 by the endowment of Rs. 1,00,000/ - contributed by the students of Prof. S.N. Dixit. The medal is awarded to a Life Member (below the age of 50 yrs) for the best poster presented during the conference.

The applicant should inform in advance about his candidature for the poster award contest, and submit the abstract and full manuscript on the pattern of JIBS to the Secretary.

The following members have received this Medal:

PROF. S.V.S. CHAUHAN GOLD MEDAL

This Medal is instituted in 2013 by the endowment of Rs. 1,00,000/ - contributed by the students of Prof. S.V.S. Chauhan. The medal is awarded to a life member (below the age of 25 yrs) for best oral paper presentation during the conference, all sections included.

The following members have received this Medal:

Life Time Achievement Award

The Executive Council and General Body in its meeting held during the 27th AIBC 2008 at Allahabad decided to institute "The Life Time Achievement Award" to honor a distinguished Botanist for exceptional contributions in the field of Plant Sciences and / or services to the Indian Botanical Society. The members of the family Prof. V. Puri donated a sum of Rs. 1,00,000/- on the occasion of his Birth Centenary to commence this award from 2009. The awardee is selected on the recommendation of the Executive Council.

The following members have received this Medal:

H. Y. Mohan Ram Memorial Award

for Excellence in Teaching and Advancement of Plant Sciences

This award is instituted by the Society and approved by EC & GB during 41st AIBC, 2018 at Gwalior in honor of Prof HY Mohan Ram, a distinguished member and honorary fellow of the IBS. The award is to be given to a distinguished teacher (a life Member). The nominations can be made by the students of the nominee, fellows of the national science academies, and life members of IBS.

PROF. P.C. TRIVEDI MEDAL AWARD FOR EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE

MEMORIAL LECTURES

The society has instituted FIVE Memorial Lecture Awards to commemorate the memory distinguished botanists. The recipients (a life Member) could be considered keeping in view their eminence and long service to the society. Recommendation for the Lecture Awards shall be made by the Executive Council

(i) Prof. LB Kajale Memorial Lecture

Instituted in 1988, this commemoration lecture is to be delivered from 1989 onward for contributions mainly in the field of Angiosperms, Embryology and Biodiversity.

(ii) Prof. Uma Kant Sinha Memorial Lecture

Instituted in 1991 by the Endowment contributed by his family this Memorial lecture award commenced in 1992. This award lecture would be delivered once in two years by an eminent botanist mainly in the field of General and Microbial Genetics.

(iii) Prof. G. Panigrahi Memorial Lecture

Instituted in 1996, this commemoration lecture is to be delivered from 1997 onward for contributions mainly in two fields (Taxonomy, Floristic, Nomenclature & Biogeography of the Indian flora / Angiosperms & Pteridophytes).

(iv) Prof. A.K. Sharma Memorial Lecture

Society instituted a Lecture Award, ‘Prof AK Sharma Memorial Lecture Award’ in honor of Prof. A.K. Sharma. This award lecture would be delivered once in two years by an eminent botanist working in the area of Classical Botany or Plant Biology. The first lecture award shall commence from 2019.

(v) Prof . S.N. Chaturvedi Memorial Lecture*

The Memorial Lecture in honor of Prof S.N. Chaturvedi was instituted in 2018 from the Endowment of Rs. 1,00,000/- contributed by his son Dr. Nikhil Chaturvedi. The award was approved by EC and GB during 41st AIBC,2018 at Gwalior. An eminent botanist shall be selected for this lecture award without restriction of category. The awardee shall have the freedom to deliver the lecture at a place of his choice.

Note : The Society provides Rs. 3000/- as an honorarium to the Lecture awardees (i-iv); and to the host (v) logistics.