The Himachal Agricultural College, Solan was established in 1962 and affiliated with the Punjab University Chandigarh. Dr. S.S. Jain, Mycologist and Plant Pathologist, was the officer on special duty appointed by the Himachal Pradesh State Government Department of Agriculture to set up the college. In 1970, Himachal Pradesh University was established and the college became one of its campuses. In 1978, Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University (Krishi Vishvavidyalaya) was established and this campus became its Horticulture Complex and finally, on December 1, 1985, it assumed the status of a State University as Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry. Now, it is one of the best universities of Horticulture and Forestry in India. The university has played an important role in improving opportunities for livelihoods and the economic prosperity of farming communities.
This university is located at Nauni in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, 13 Km from Solan on Solan-Rajgarh road, at an elevation of 1300 metres above sea level. The city of Solan is situated on a national highway (NH22) and is well connected by train and bus services. I got admission in M.Sc Entomology in 1968 and completed it in 1970. At that time, the college was shifted to a new building at Chambaghat (previously it was in Solan). I completed my Ph.D. Entomology during 1977 -1980 at the Chambaghat campus, which is 3 km from the city centre of Solan.
Purananand Adlakha was the Principal during my M.Sc. and Dr. D.R. Thakar was Dean during my Ph.D. studies. Dr. Dogra, Dr. Bhalla, P.L.Sharma, Dr. Adlakha, Dr. Amit Nath, Dr. Verma, Shri Chatrat, Shri Jain and Dr.Hameed were professors in the Department of Entomology. All the professors were very hard-working and cooperative. All the students and professors were so great and helpful that I always felt at home during my stay at Solan and I have great respect for the people of Himachal.
Class fellows and friends:
Dr. Janku Ram Thakar PhD Entomology, Associate Director Research and Extension.
Balak Ram Sharma BSc Agriculture, Assistant General Manager, State Bank of India.
Dr. Naval Kumar Sharma PhD Entomology, Professor and Head Department of Entomology.
Dr. Malkiat Singh Duhra PhD Entomology, Professor cum Sr. Entomologist and Director Sugarcane Research Programme. Punjab Agricultural University.
Dr. T.D Verma PhD Entomology, Professor Entomology.
Dr. Krishan Lal Verma PhD Entomology, Joint Director Extension.
Dr. Harmeet Singh Dhaliwal PhD Entomology, Professor Entomology.
Dr. Parshotam Lal Tandan PhD Entomology, Principal Scientist ICAR Bangalore.
Dr. Umash Kumar Kohli PhD Vegetable Breeding, Professor and Head of Vegetable Breeding
Dr. Bridge Bihari Lal Koshal PhD Horticulture, Professor and Head Horticulture.
Dr. Amit Nath PhD Entomology, Professor and Head of Entomology.
Dr. Ashok Kumar Verma PhD Entomology, Professor and Head of Entomology.
Dr. Inderjit Singh Hundal PhD Vegetable, Director KVK Hoshiarpur.
Dr. Sudesh Kumar Arora PhD Vegetable, Professor Vegetable, Punjab agricultural university.
Dr. Mohan Singh PhD Vegetable, Professor Vegetable, Punjab agricultural university.
Roshan Lal Gupta MSc Horticulture, Deputy Director Of Horticulture.
Dr. Durga Das Lakhan Pal BSc Agriculture, Joint Director Agriculture.
Dr. Amar Singh Kashaw PhD Horticulture, Joint Director Extension.
Malkiat Singh MSc Agriculture, went to America.
Dr. Parshotam Lal Sharma PhD Soil Science, Joint Director General India.
Dr. Ramesh Kumar Sharma PhD Plant Pathology, Director Seed Punjab agricultural university
Dr. Indu Sharma PhD Plant Pathology, Director Wheat Research Station Karnail.
Dr. Shri Nivash Sharma PhD Entomology, Joint Director Extension.
Dr. Mehar Chand Tharar PhD Vegetable Professor Vegetable.
Dr. Santokh Singh Sokhi PhD Plant Pathology, Director Extension Punjab agricultural university.
Dr. Mohan Lal Singla PhD Entomology, Director Research Station Kheri Sangrur Punjab agricultural university.
Ajit Singh Dhillon, BSc Agriculture, Business Seed production.
Daler Singh BSc Agriculture, Agriculture Officer. Punjab agricultural Department.
Ram Lal Vema MSc Horticulture, Deputy Director Horticulture.
Jagdesh Verma BSc Agriculture, I.A.S. Deputy Commissioner Shimla, Joint Director Finance.
Surat Ram Sharma PhD Pathology, Senior Scientist I.C.R.
Dr. P.L Gotam PhD Plant Breeding, Vice-Chancellor Pant Nagar Agricultural University.
Dr. R.D Sharma PhD Pathology, Professor Pathology.
Dr. S.P Bharatwaj PhD Entomology, Professor Entomology.
Dr. J.K. Gupta PhD Apiculture, Professor Entomology.
Dr. S. K Sharma PhD Entomology, Joint Director Extension.
Dr. Ashok Thakar PhD Entomology, Joint Director Extension.
Dr. Kashap PhD Entomology, Professor and Head of Entomology Department.
Dr. Pawan Kumar Mehta PhD Entomology, Professor and head Entomology Department.
Harbans Singh Barar MSc Forestry, went to Canada.
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