Lichenological studies have been prevalent in Europe and North America for over two centuries, and consequently hand-books or text books dealing with basic information on lichens have frequently been published in English and different European languages. Most of them have usually been beyond the reach of average Indian student or were somewhat unsuited as they lacked examples of Indian lichens. Lichenological studies in India do not go beyond about five decades and no suitable hand-book has been pubslihed in India for the basic information on them. In this handbook I have tried to include all the different and upto date information in a concise manner giving examples of Indian lichens as far as possible.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dharani Dhar Awasthi
Dharani Dhar Awasthi was born on the auspicious day of Maha-ashtmi, Thursday the 28th September 1922 at village Naret, Askote (ca 80° 21'E and 29° 46' N) in Uttaranchal. He received his early (High School and Intermediate) education at Pithoragarh and Almora. The Graduate (B.Sc. in 1943) and postgraduate (M.Sc. in 1945) studies were undertaken at the University of Lucknow. As a research student in Mycology at the University he was selected to undergo a two year (1946-48) training in Systematic Botany and Taxonomy at Calcutta (=Kolkata) Botanical Garden and Herbarium (CAL), where he developed interest in the study of lichens, that was actively pursued as a Faculty member of Lucknow University. As an investigator of Indian lichen flora, Awasthi received his Ph.D. degrees from the Universities of Lucknow and Colorado (U.S.A.). He was a Fulbright Alumnus for studies in U.S.A. He was a Faculty Member of Lucknow University from 1952 to 1982 in the Department of Botany and continued there till 1990 in connection with CSIR research projects as Emeritus Scientist and INSA Senior Scientist publishing prolifically mainly on Indian lichens. Dr. Awasthi was elected a Fellow (FASc and FNA) by Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore and Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi in 1978 and 1984 respectively. He is an honorary member of the British Lichen Society. The prestigious ACHARIUS medal by the International Association for Lichenology was awarded to him in 1992. On account of the pioneering efforts to establish lichenological studies in India, Dr. Awasthi is also referred to as Father of Indian Lichenology.
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