Prof. B.L.Kaul
Dr. B.L.Kaw a pioneer Parasitologist, Helminthologist father of the subject Zoology in J&K State was born in 1907 at village Nadigaum, Shopian, Kashmir. He received his primary education at Shopian, Matriculated in 1922 from Govt. High School Bagh-i-Dilawar Khan Srinagar and did his intermediate in 1924 from the prestigious S.P. College Srinagar. He passed his B.Sc as student of Govt. College Lahore from the Punjab University Lahore (now in Pakistan) in 1926 since this facility was not available in Srinagar. He joined P.G. Department of Botany at the University of Allahabad and after attaining M.Sc. Botany in 1928 returned to Srinagar to take up the job of demonstrator in Biology at S.P. College. In 1935 he joined the university of Lucknow for M.Sc Zoology and LL.B; the twin degrees were awarded to him in 1937 and upon his return he was appointed as Lecturer in the newly created Department of Biology in the then Prince of Wales College, (now G.G.M. Science College) Jammu. He nurtured the department for twelve long years.
In 1949 when the University of Jammu and Kashmir was established the education department of our State started graduation courses in selected subjects at S.P. College Srinagar and Dr. B.L. Kaw was entrusted with task of starting B.Sc Course in Zoology in 1950, this helped our students to study these courses in our own State instead of moving out.
Prof. Kaw was perhaps the brightest star in the Constellation of Professor in the field of biology then, which included Prof. Bahadur Singh, Prof. SL.Raina, Prof. S.K.Kaul, Prof. D.N. Fotedar (who later joined P.G. Department of Zoology University of Jammu & Kashmir), Prof. Qazi Mubarak, Prof. Shafi-ud-din, Prof. B.N. Kaul, Prof. K.L. Razdan, Prof. S.N. Tickoo, Prof M.K. Munshi, Prof. S. Mustafa, Prof. J.N. Wattal, Prof. G.Q. Bhat and Prof. Nahvi. The departments of Botany and Zoology were so well established that later a UGC recognized research Centre in Limnology was established in S.P.College under Dr. D.P. Zutshi and., Dr B.A. Subia in 1977-78.
Dr Kaw, under the supervision of eminent Zoologist and Helminthologist of India Prof. G.S. Thapar, worked on the Acanthocephalan parasites of fishes and other vertebrates, which earned him a Ph.D degree in 1949 from the Unversity of Lucknow. He was thus the first scientist from J&K State to be bestowed upon with an academic honour. An authority on Acanthocephala his work was acknowledged in Classical Treatises on Helminths and Acanthocephalan parasites by Yamaguti and Skrjabin, the greatest authorities in the field, and in recognition of his meritorious work in the field of Zoology and Parasitology Prof. Kaw was made Fellow of the Zoological Society of India {F.Z.S.I} and subsequently Fellow National Academy of Science {F.N.A.Sc.}. He was a permanent member of the Indian Science Congress.
Prof. Kaw had mastery on the Flora and Fauna of J&K State and as such he used to take his students on field trips in the Kashmir Himalayas, generating in them love for nature and interest in Natural history and was thus a driving soul in creating generations of researchers in the field of biology in the forties and fifties of last Century. Most of his students became eminent researchers, taxonomists, teachers and doctors and occupied key positions in many universities, research institutions and colleges in India
Prof. Kaw was promoted as Principal in 1959 and posted at the newly established Govt. College Bhaderwah in District Doda. He played a key role in establishing Science Labs, Library and a Hostel for the institution; this helped in establishing the academics especially the Sciences on firm footing in the area. He retired from this College in 1962 and even after retirement he remained associated with the Board of studies in Zoology and syndicate of the erstwhile university of Jammu and Kashmir.
Post retirement he developed interest in religion and Philosophy and had an urge to study the Vedas, the Upanshids and other Hindu scriptures for which he studied Sanskrit at such a late age. He came under the influence of enlightened Gurus at Swargha Ashram at Hardwar. He was of the opinion that Science and spirituality complemented each other and a person with a scientific mind found it easy to understand the intricacies of spirituality and experienced spiritual bliss. For this he would advise people to learn Sanskrit and dabble in the treasure house of Philosophy and knowledge of the Hindu scriptures,
When Prof. Bidh Lal Kaw passed away in 1977 he was highly praised for his role in developing the spirit of enquiry and scientific temper among his students and this legacy has been carried on by generations of students who have brought Jammu and Kashmir on the world map of research in Biological Sciences especially Zoology.
Keeping in view his contribution in the growth of biological Sciences in our State it would be apt to create an award “Dr. B.L. Kaw Award” for our young researchers in the field of Natural History by the universities of our State.
While I write this tribute to my teacher I realize the quantum of struggle undertaken by Prof. Kaw to introduce Science and scientific temper especially the research temper in the young minds of our state. In writing this I feel greatly honoured.
(The author is a biologist, ecologist and environmentalist)
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