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Dr. Gurdev Khush, celebrated rice breeder, donates papers to UC Davis Library
Dr. Gurdev Khush, celebrated rice breeder, donates papers to UC Davis Library Kevin Miller ,May 8, 2023 Colleagues have referred to him as the “most decorated agricultural scientist in the world.” UC Davis adjunct faculty emeritus Dr. Gurdev Singh Khush is a world-renowned rice breeder and geneticist who won the prestigious…
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Dr Gurdev Singh Khush Foundation Recognized Excellence in Agricultural Sciences
/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 08-05-2024 */ .elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block} Dr G. S. Khush Foundation recognizes excellence in agricultural sciences City Air News March 19, 2024 The prestigious Dr Gurdev Singh Khush Foundation for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences once again celebrated excellence in agricultural innovation at its Annual Awards Ceremony held at PAU’s PAL Auditorium. Dr Gurdev Singh Khush, renowned as the granddaddy of paddy and a Padma Shri recipient, led the event by honoring outstanding scientists and students from PAU and GADVASU with awards, scholarships, and travel grants. In his presidential remarks, Dr Khush applauded the winners and acknowledged the faculty’s role in nurturing deserving students. He thanked PAU’s Vice Chancellor, Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, for hosting the foundation and praised the organizing and selection committee for their dedication. Dr Khush encouraged the awardees to continue their efforts for the betterment of the community. The details are cited on: https://www.cityairnews.com/content/dr-gurdev-singh-khush-foundation-recognizes-excellence-in-agricultural-sciences
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Institute, Museum Dedicated to World Food Prize Laureate GS Khush Inaugurated at PAU
‘Father of Rice Revolution’: Institute, Museum dedicated to World Food Prize Laureate GS Khush inaugurated at PAU October 17, 2023, Express News Service Dr Khush, the developer of world’s most grown rice varieties and having his roots in Rurkee village of Jalandhar, had graduated from PAU and later moved to the US as he went on to become world’s most successful rice-breeder. An institute and a museum dedicated to World Food Prize laureate Dr Gurdev Singh Khush (88), the legendary rice-breeder fondly known as “Father of Rice Revolution” and ‘Paddy Daddy’, was inaugurated at his alma-mater Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, Monday. Dr Khush, the developer of world’s most grown rice varieties and having his roots in Rurkee village of Jalandhar, had graduated from PAU and later moved to the US as he went on to become world’s most successful rice-breeder. On Monday, he was in attendance as two new establishments- Gurdev Singh Khush Institute of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology; and Gurdev Singh Khush Museum – were inaugurated in his name at the university. Punjab agriculture and farmers welfare minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian inaugurated the projects dedicated to Khush as a part of the events for the XXth Triennial Congress of International Association of Agricultural Museums (CIMA), that kickstarted at PAU, Monday, in collaboration with The Heritage Foundation. Khuddian hailed Dr Khush for his unwavering commitment and hard work that have gone a long way in loading the godowns with food grains, wiping tears by shutting the doors for famine and bringing smiles with the rebirth of agriculture as well as humanity. Dr Khush who was the guest of honor, while expressing gratitude for projects dedicated to him, said that this institute would focus on advanced sciences entailing genomics and biotechnology as well as the development of high-yielding and insect-pest and disease resistant crop varieties. About the museum, he stated that it would stimulate the younger generations for the years to come. Dwelling upon bajra like rice production, Dr Khush paid glowing tributes to a renowned agricultural biotechnologist Dr DS Brar who had a long association with the School of Agricultural Biotechnology at PAU. Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, vice-chancellor, PAU, highlighted Dr Khush’s colossal contribution to the rice farming via the development of more than 300 rice varieties, being cultivated across the globe. “A PAU alumnus, Dr Khush’s academic brilliance and ground-breaking research have made him an iconic figure in the realm of rice breeding,” he added, while lauding his benevolence and philanthropic gesture of donating 35 million to PAU for bolstering research and teaching. Dr DS Cheema, former dean, College of Agriculture, PAU, called it a historic day with the twin celebration of the establishment of Gurdev Singh Khush Institute and Museum at PAU, and World Food Day on October 16 across the world. Dr JS Sandhu, professor, school of agricultural biotechnology, said that the rice varieties comprising IR 8, PR 106, IR 36 and IR 64 were the revolutionary varieties that brought in the Rice Revolution after the Wheat Revolution in the late 1960s. Dr Khush’s oldest role in the advancement of agricultural sciences speaks of his unswerving dedication, he added. PAU’s Director of Research Dr AS Dhatt said: “Although he has spent his life abroad, yet his mind has always been absorbed in PAU. His vital contribution to plant breeding technologies is indeed laudable and an unparalleled feat.” The new museum celebrates the success journey of Dr Khush who was born and brought up in Punjab; studied at PAU, Ludhiana and US; and served at the University of California, USA and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines. In addition to the prism of life, professional education and career profile, the museum features his research work and torrent of accolades bestowed upon this highly decorated scientist. The major attraction is the scientific applause for the ‘rice-man’ Dr Khush, in the words of Father of Green Revolution Dr Norman E Borlaug, “Dr Khush has done much to provide basic building block to millions of people throughout the world;” and Father of Green Revolution in India Dr MS Swaminathan who had said, “Dr Khush combines remarkable capacities in both theoretical and practical work.” The museum also showcases Director General of IRRI Dr Ronald Cantrell’s encouraging words, “While Dr Khush’s name may have passed through the lips of many, his life’s work has passed through the lips of almost half of humanity.” © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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Punjab American Heritage Society
Dr. Khush was the Guest of Honor at the 27th Punjabi American festival on May 28th, and he was presented with Life Time Achievement Award by the Punjabi American Heritage Society. Professor Gurdev Singh Khush, a world-renowned Agronomist and Geneticist considered as founding father of the Green Revolution, that led to the ending of hunger in many parts of the world. He invented many rice varieties. He got 12 Doctorate degrees conferred on him by many renowned Universities, including Cambridge. He is the recipient of many awards, including the World Food and the Padam Shri.
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Dr. Khush Honored by the UCD Chancellor May
Friday, June 9, 2023 UC Davis’s first-ever Punjabi Week Celebrated The activities, coordinated by the UC Davis Punjabi Club, connected students to their heritage and spread cultural awareness By RUMA POUDELL — [email protected] Davis is situated in the heart of the first South Asian community in the United States. Most of the South Asian migrants who came to the Sacramento Valley area came from Punjab, a region in northwest India, and the community developed there in the late nineteenth century due to an abundant agricultural background. This year, Punjab took center stage during Davis’ first-ever Punjabi Week, showcasing the region’s vibrant tradition and rich heritage. Each day of Punjabi Week brought together students, connecting them to and teaching them about Punjabi culture through art, music, dancing, food and meaningful discussion. To kick off the week, students and faculty met under a decorated canopy on the Quad, where they were served jalebi, a traditional sweet snack, and various other treats. Punjabi music was blasting, dholis were smacking their dhols and bhangra dancers were dancing. The event was lively and had a great turnout. Amandeep Kaur Dhaliwal, a first-year English and international relations double major, spoke about the connections Punjabi Week created. “As a freshman who didn’t really know many other people who were Punjabi, I personally got to know so many people,” Dhaliwal said. “I think it creates this sense of family and community with people who are similar to you and share the same values.” A Gurbani Sangeet (the classical Sikh music style) concert was held on the second day. The event was led by undergraduate instrumental musicians and singers. Students like Rasleen Kaur believe in their culture and faith despite unbelievable hardship, which is a feature of Punjabi culture that was displayed through the selected songs performed. The next event was a webinar hosted by women in the Punjabi community, during which they discussed the heritage of their food, different recipes and Punjab’s culture of hospitality that has carried over into the United States. Nicole Ranganath, a member of UC Davis’s Middle East/South Asia studies (ME/SA) faculty, as well as the filmmaker and curator of the Pioneering Punjabis Digital Archive, touched on her experience with this facet of the culture. “As a recipient of Punjabi hospitality, it is extremely humbling,” Ranganath said. “One of the core features of Punjabi culture is generosity and sharing your time, your wealth and your energy with other people. [Guests] come to your home and you give the best of everything you have.” On Thursday, a documentary by Harleen Kaur Bal, a UC Davis Ph.D. student studying sociocultural anthropology, was screened for the community to learn about the challenges that working-class Punjabi immigrants face today in California. The documentary focused on Punjabi immigrants who work in dangerous conditions in the meat-packing industry due to limited job options. Lastly, on Friday, Professor Gurdev S. Khush was honored by Chancellor Gary May and Dr. Estella Atekwana, who is the Dean of the College of Letters and Sciences, for donating his personal and research papers to the university library. Professor Khush is one of the most distinguished faculty at UC Davis, and his research efforts have led to an astounding advancement in increasing the world’s supply of rice. The night was filled with rich discussion reflecting on Professor Khush’s life and his legacy, as well as food and socializing. Punjabi Week was a success as a result of hard work and support from the Interim Director of the Davis Humanities Institute, Archana Venkatesan and the ME/SA program, along with many dedicated student leaders. The ME/SA program began 20 years ago and has been growing ever since. ME/SA’s role is to offer classes and major and minor programs that connect students to the history and contemporary issues in countries in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, including Punjab. Through classes and student-led activities, students can learn about the cultures and languages of these countries. “There was never a platform distinctively dedicated to the Punjabi community as a whole without boundaries dividing by religion or geographic boundary,” Prabhjot Singh, a third-year biological sciences major and co-founder of Punjabi Club on campus, said. “So for this first-ever Punjabi Week, everyone came out and showed so much enthusiasm and got things started off on a strong note.” While a few days cannot encapsulate all of Punjabi culture, Punjabi Week is part of a long-term effort to do so. The week brought community members together with a cohesive vision of how to serve students as well as the greater community. Everyone is welcome to get involved in the events organized by the Punjabi Club, which include movie nights, language tutoring sessions and cultural festivities. UC Davis will begin offering elementary and intermediate Punjabi language classes in fall quarter 2024. Dr. Kuldeep Singh will teach Elementary Punjabi (CRN 53009) and Intermediate Punjabi (CRN 52464). During the fall, Professor Ranganath will also be teaching two classes — Social Justice in the Middle East and South Asia (CRN 41436) and the South Asian Diaspora (CRN 41438). Written by: Ruma Poudell — [email protected]
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