
Dr Kachroo—a devotee of Science
Meet Dr. P N Kachroo– a staunch devotee of Science who ‘breathed and lived’ Science. A Science Editor, a Botanist, an environmentalist and an able Administrator, Dr. Kachroo represented the zenith of excellence in the world of science.
A hard task-master, guide and a perfect human being, Dr Kachroo was a stunning combination of all the positive and good qualities of life all rolled in one. Distinguished personalities like Prof Abdul Qayyum Sidiquii, Prof. Abdul Majid Kak, Prof. S. G. Sarwar, Prof. Sonawullah Shiekh, Qazi Mohammad Shafi, Kurshid Ahmad Malik, Muhammad Yousuf Khan, Dr C. L. Trisal, Abdul Majid Shawl, Basharat Ahmad Geelani and Deepak Budkhi besides scores of other eminent personalities were all his taught.
From Lahore to Guwahati to America
Born on 16th of October, 1924 in Ali Kadal area of Srinagar in the family of Pt. Anand Ram Kachroo and Smt. Daya Devi Kachroo, Dr Kachroo had his early schooling from Srinagar and later he went to DAV College Lahore to complete his graduation .His wife Prem Lata further contributed to his love for Botany, prompting him to Formen Christian College, for pursuing M.Sc. Hons, where he chose Cytomorphology as his specialized field and completed the same in 1947. It was followed by his enrolment for Ph.D. from Amritsar, which he completed in 1955.
From Amritsar, Dr Kachroo moved to Guwahati in search of a job. His love for research made him to work even at Guwahati where he researched on Taxonomy, Floristic, Morphology and Phytogeography of the ferns of Assam.From Guwahati, he joined Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) as a Botanist with headquarters at Burdwan, West Bengal. Here again, he took up the research work regarding the ecology of the mainland water bodies of DVC specific areas.
In 1956, Dr. Kachroo left for America to avail the Smith Mundit Fullbright Fellowship to study the phytogeography of Alaska at the University of Michigan. He returned to India in 1959 to edit Research Journals of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), New Delhi.

Comments
Sanjay Tickoo
People like Dr.P.N.Kachroo are very rare to find. His legacy speaks for His relentless efforts and zeal to the contribution of Botany. Besides He chose Kashmir and J&K University as His carrer graph that reflects upon His love for the native place. Jewel of Kashmir.
Kashmir Rechords
Thanks for the update