Founder Director (Academics) Chandigarh Judicial Academy & Emeritus Professor, Dept. of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh
Location: Chandigarh
Dr. Virendra Kumar is Professor Emeritus in Law of Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh. He was awarded
University of Toronto Open Fellowship (1969-72) and Resident Massey College Fellowship (1972), which
enabled him to earn the coveted degree of Doctoral of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) at the University of
Toronto, Toronto, Canada, in 1973 – the first Asian to qualify for this academic distinction. He is the
Founding Director (Academics) of Chandigarh Judicial Academy, and served PU as Professor and
Chairman of the Law Department; Dean, Faculty of Law; nominated Fellow; and UGC Emeritus Fellow.
On invitation he contributed a special article, “Hindu Law: Overview,” in The Oxford International
Encyclopaedia of Legal History (Oxford University Press, USA, 2009). He is an eminent teacher, published
108 research papers, and continues to be academically active.* He has been critically examining the
judgments of the Supreme Court in the realm of Family Law and Election Law, and are being published
by The Indian Law Institute (premier legal research Institute of India) in their Annual Survey of Indian
Law since the year 1984 – the survey for the year 2022 is in press. His First Professor (Dr.) Anil Kumar
Memorial Lecture [delivered on April 27, 2022 on Ayodhya Case (2019)] is under publication by the PU
Law Department]. Most recently, his research article on Basic Structure Doctrine of the Indian
Constitution published in Journal of the Indian Law Institute (2007) has found favour with the
Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in their decision-making on the subject of Reservation for EWS.
IAS (retd), 1975 batch, Haryana Cadre. M.Sc. Physics, M.A. Economics, LL.B.
Location: Chandigarh
Shri R. N. Prasher, IAS (Retd.) took over as Chairman of Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission on
04.01.2012. He holds Master’s degrees in Economics and Physics and Bachelor’s degree in Law. Shri
Prasher joined Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1975. An IAS officer of 1975 batch( Haryana Cadre ),
he served the State in various capacities from heading district administration as Deputy Commissioner to
important Government Departments like Home, Town & Country Planning, Education, Food and
Supplies, Excise and Taxation, Transport and Power etc. He has also been Home Secretary, Chandigarh
Administration, Chandigarh (U.T.) during 1990-92. He headed large Govt. Undertakings such as Housing
Board, HUDA, HARTRON etc. He retired in 2009 from the post of Financial Commissioner and Principal
Secretary to Government, Haryana, Irrigation Department. After retirement, Shri Prasher was reemployed as Principal Advisor to Chief Minister, Haryana for one year. He has written on various
subjects. He is fond of adventure activities. He has interest in wood carving and stone sculpture.
Besides all these, he is a religious person. He has trekked to Kailash - Mansarover. During 2011, he paid
obeisance to Mata Vaishno Devi walking daily from Katra (J&K) to Darbar on foot for one month.
Designed a new Highway Patrol System for Haryana Highways that got me IRTE-Prince Michael
International Road Safety Award. Subsequently, World Bank sent me to Bangladesh to give advice for
setting up this system. After retirement in 2009, I was Chairman, Haryana Electricity Regulatory
Commission till 2014. In 2015, I drove alone from Chandigarh to Kanyakumari. In February 2020, I drove
alone to Ganga Sagar. I have been to Kailash Mansarovar by Uttarakhand trekking route and have trekked
repeatedly in Uttarakhand, Himachal and Lahaul-Spiti. I have published research papers in Indian and
foreign journals on comparative mythology of India and other ancient cultures. I have been advocating
through press articles the need to suspend the Indus Water Treaty. Since May, 2020, I have been writing
the Monday lead editorial for the Daily World International published from Chandigarh, focussing on
China.
Location: Chandigarh
Dr. TN Jha, popularly known as Dr. T as christened recently by Ex Californian Senator Mr Monsoya is an Economist by training (as student) and a practicener by being part of Development Banking for more than three decades at apex banking level. In short he completed his master in economics from BHU way back in 1973 and joined JNU to pursue M Phil/Ph d program there under the able guidance of renowned economist named Dr. IZ Bhatty, the then Director General of NCAER, New Delhi where myself along with select few learned friends like Prof Raju had joined as Research Fellow. While persuing Ph d in JNU on theoretically and conceptually complex topic of rural employment, more on account of dimensional variations and it's tricky measurement and at the same time working at NCAER often proved daunting as it involved pleasing the never pleasing research guides in JNU and heavily pressured immediate boss in NCAER. Though nightmarish to please the two different demanding husband like bosses but it proved very very rewarding in terms of gaining solid exposure in empirical based research methods and concepts by getting involved into numerous research projects, including the famous all india income and expenditure survey, Dr. T on completion of Ph d marched further as researcher by joining the DU's famous Agro Economic Research Centre, located in Delhi School of Economics campus to join one prestigious research project on understanding energy efficiency of agriculture- a case of Punjab. His career as a researcher received a double boost when he received an offer from RBI/ NABARD as Economist where the nature of work involved preparing policy and research notes at corporate level to grassroot level development banking in rural and agricultural sector offering a very wide range of experiences in project preparation to their implementations in the realm of both investment projects and shaping of innovative national projects like SHGs and rural infrastructure building. In between he received training in development banking from time to time in internal as well as external institutions towards updation in ever emerging national and international development models. After demitting office upon retirement he offered faculty support to the then upcoming Bihar Central University, Patna to teach PG students in macro development economics and agrarian relations. Working and writing a book with a dedicated team on the sorrow river called Kosi around the same time after retirement remained one of the most fulfilling experience for him. The best of him was yet to come when he worked as advisor to the Planning Department of Bihar Government to prepare a study report on 'Understanding Efficiency of Land Use Pattern in Bihar' - a Regional and time series Analysis. Admittedly, with such a vast research experiences he published in between quite many research papers and books too. Though already in his mid-seventies now he has offered his services and is contributing as a solder to help achieve larger goals of Youth4Nation in reaching out to the youths of the nation towards making them understand and appreciate nationalism, nation building and issues in national security.
Location: Chandigarh
Alok Srivastava is a Physical Chemist with specialization in Nuclear and Radiation Chemistry. He is presently working as Professor and was Chairman (HOD) of the Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advance Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. He also held position of Adjunct Professor in the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology of PanjabUniversity,Chandigarh, India.
He did his B.Sc (Hons) /M.Sc from the Institute of Science, Mumbai (1976-1980) with Distinction and later doctorate from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai (1980-1985) in the field of Nuclear Chemistry. His thesis work was designed to understand the role of structural and pairing effects in low energy nuclear fission of 235U , 239Pu, 252Cf besides 232Th which has strong relevance to the future nuclear energy program of the country. After completing his Ph.D he moved to Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad to carry out post-doctoral research in its Geocosmophysics Group.
He worked as a Humboldt Fellow with Prof. H.O.Denschlag in the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry, University of Mainz, Germany (1986-88) in the laboratory of Prof. F. Strassmann the co-discoverer of Nuclear Fission.
He then moved to European Community as a Consultant and worked in the Institute for Reference Materials previously known as Central Bureau for Nuclear Measurements in Geel, Belgium (1989-1990) where he made significant contribution in the area of radiometrology and nuclear safety and safeguards.
He later moved to USA to work with Prof. W.D.Loveland in Oregon State University, USA and with his collaborator Nobel Laureate Prof. G.T.Seaborg in Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley in the period 1991-1993.
After his return from USA he has worked on short term positions in North Eastern Hill University, Shillong (1994-1995) and Allahabad University, Allahabad (1995-1997) besides Mahindra United World College of India in Pune (1997-1999), subsequent to that he has been working as regular faculty in Panjab University from 1999 till date.
He was invited to work as DAAD Professor of Nuclear Chemistry in Aachen University of Applied Sciences; Juelich, Germany in the period 2002-2004 to establish an International Postgraduate Program entitled “European Master of Science in Nuclear Applications” which exposes students to application of nuclear science in the subject area of environment, energy, material science, waste management and medicine.
He has also been involved with academic programs of Kings College London as well as Pan African University Water and Energy Studies (PAUWES) Institute of Excellence established in Tlemcen, Algeria founded by African Union of States with assistance from German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). He has served as expert on national as well as international committees of academic/research/government organizations like BRNS, DAE, UGC, CSIR, DAAD, AvH, DRDO and ITBP etc.
Prof. Srivastava has been carrying out research research since last 35 years in the area of Public Health, Nano Science, Material Science, Environmental and Geo Science besides Nuclear Safeguards, Radiation Biology and Nuclear Reactions. He has published 85 papers in International Journals and has presented around 140 papers in different National and International Conferences. He has given more than 100 extension lectures and seminars in Academic Institutions around the world.
He has Language Proficiency in ENGLISH, HINDI, BENGALI AND GERMAN
He has edited a book BIO-NANO-GEO SCIENCE: THE FUTURE CHALLENGE published by Ane Books, New Delhi.
He has been Visiting Scientist/Guest Lecturer in different laboratories/academic institutions in Germany, France, Japan, Spain, Netherland, Austria, Brazil, Italy, Algeria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Nepal, Bangladesh and USA. He has been referee of manuscripts being published in International Journals from Wiley, Elsevier, Springer and Taylor and Francis.
He has been involved in science popularization program of National Academy of Sciences India besides Society for Promotion of Science and Technolgy in India. He is President of Humboldt Academy of Chandigarh which has close to 120 members who have had close association with German Academic and Research Institutions.
He is Founder Fellow of a nongovernmental organization (NGO) which is involved in providing awareness about Water and Health in Rural Areas.
Contact Details:
Professor and Former Chairman
Chemistry Department and Centre of Advance Studies
Panjab University,
Chandigarh-160014
INDIA
Membership/Fellowship of Learned Societies:
(i) Vice President: Indian Association of Nuclear Chemists and Allied Scientists (IANCAS)
(ii) Founder Fellow of Institute of Applied Sciences, Allahabad
(iii) President of Humboldt Academy- Chandigarh Chapter
(iv) UP Association of Scientists for Science and Technology Advancement
(v) Fellow of Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Germany (F.AvH)
(vi) High Energy Material Society of India
(vii) Fellow of Indian Chemical Society (FICS)
(viii) DAAD Professorship , Government of Germany