By Shams Ur Rehman Alavi
EA Siddiq is among the leading scientists of the country and he is widely respected for his research in the field of agricultural research.
Hailing from Tamil Nadu, Siddiq, had a tough life in his early years and it was a long journey for him—from an unprivileged childhood to becoming a researcher and scientist of high repute.
His research on genetic research & applied breeding of rice, for improving the yield and quality, led to development of several high-yielding rice varieties including Pusa 1 and quick maturing varieties like Pusa 2-21, Pusa 33, Pusa 4 and Pusa 834.
Siddiq was born in 1937. He hails from village Ilayangudi in Ramanathapuram, which now falls under the newly carved out Sivaganga district. He was brought up by his mother, as his father was in Burma during the World War II.
His mother wanted him to excel in studies. She passed way but EAS carried forward the dream and worked hard.
After a degree in Bioscience (Trichy), he devoted himself to genetics & plant breeding. In his book, EAS has written about his life and the painful phase. Today, he is acclaimed worldwide for his contribution in he field of agriculture. But he remains a man who is humble to the hilt and is rooted to the ground.
Legendary MS Swaminathan has this to say about EA Siddiq:
“I always admired two of his significant contributions—innovative breeding approaches that enabled him evolve the world’s first high yielding dwarf statured basmati rice variety Pusa Basmati 1 that provided the plant type base for a few more to follow and increased by many folds, India’s basmati rice export and the variety Pusa-44 that by virtue of its amenability to combine harvest is sustaining the most productive rice-wheat system in the north western segment of the Indo Gangetic plains”.
“As the Project Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad and Deputy Director General ICAR Delhi, how he helped handicapped rice ecologies of rainfed eastern India to raise its production and productivity by his meticulous planning and execution of the coordinated network projects and the extensive frontline demonstrations, speak of his research managerial efficiency”.
Siddiq’s contribution in the field of science, has brought him numerous awards like Om Prakash Bhasin award, Norman Borlaug Award, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai prize, INSA Medal, Vasvik Foundation National Award, Amrik Singh Cheema Award,
Research leadership award under the aegis of Agriculture Today, Prof Sundar Lal Hora Medal in 2011 & Dr BP Pal Memorial award.
Other awards and accolades include his nomination as an Elected fellow of National Academy of Science, Allahabad
National Academy of Agricultural sciences, New Delhi and Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, Adjunct professor, Indian Agricultural Research Institute 2012-2016, NASI Platinum Jubilee Senior Scientist Fellow,
INSA Senior Scientist Fellowship 2017-2019 and Green Revolution Golden Jubilee Award ICAR.
Even two decades after his retirement, he maintained association with the institution and kept focus on the work. He has also been helping underprivileged students and has set up a non-profit trust to fund education of students who are needy and hail from economically backward regions.
Siddiq was member of PM’s scientific advisory council too. Till recently he has been visiting the lab and kept interaction with staff and research stcholars on a regular basis at the daily at the Institute of Bitoechnology, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University where he served as honorary professor, a quarter century after his retirement.
Email: shams.alavi@gmail.com
