Anupam Varma, born in Delhi in 1940,
graduated from the University of Allahabad in 1959 and obtained M.Sc. degree in
Botany from the same University in 1961. In 1964 he went to Rothamsted
Experimental Station, UK under Commonwealth Fellowship Programme for higher
studies. After obtaining Ph.D. degree from London University in 1967, he joined
the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. Since then he has been working at the same
Institute in varying capacities as Senior Virologist (1968-75), Principal
Virologist (1975-84), Professor of Virology (1984-86), Professor of Plant
Pathology (1986-88), Head, Division of Plant Pathology (1988-95), Dean, Post
Graduate School (1995-2000),National
Professor ICAR (2000-2005) and INSA Senior Scientist (2005 onwards). From 1979
to 1981 he worked with the FAO of the United Nations for developing a National
Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria. He has been a Visiting
Scientist at the Australian National University, Canberra, Scottish Crop Research
Institute, Dundee, UK, and INRA, Bordeaux, France. Prof. Varma has
made important contributions to fundamental and applied aspects of plant
virology, which are widely quoted and acclaimed. He has established a strong
school of molecular virology in the country, which has provided lead to our
understanding of the complexities of the devastating diseases caused by begomo,
ilar, poty and tospoviruses in horticultural and field crops.Prof. Varma’s researches have played a key
role in developing technologies for the management of viral diseases, through
conventional and biotechnological approaches. Prof. Varma is a Fellow of Indian National
Science Academy, National Academy of Sciences, India, National Academy of
Agricultural Sciences (Founder Fellow), Indian Phytopathological Society and
Indian Virology Society. He was the President, Agricultural Sciences, Indian
Science Congress (1988-89), Vice-President, Indian Virology Society (1990-92),
Founder Secretary, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (1990-98),
President, Biological Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, India (1993),
Secretary General, International Society of Plant Pathology (1993-98),
Vice-President, International Congress of Plant Pathology, Edinburgh (1998),
President, Indian Phytopathological Society (1998-99),Vice-President,
International Society for Plant Pathology (1998-2003), Vice-President, Indian
National Science Academy (2005-2007), Chair, ICSU Regional Committee for Asia
and the Pacific (2006-2008), and currently he is Chair, National Committee of
International Union of Microbiological Societies and Chair, Apex Committee:
Technology Vision 2020 for Agriculture and Fisheries.He was the Indian Editor, Journal of
Phytopathology, Germany (1989-2005). He was the Chief Editor of Indian
Phytopathology from 1992 - 1994, and he has served on the editorial board of
many science journals In recognition of his contributions to science Prof.
Varma has been honoured with several prestigious awards like the VASVIK and Om
Prakash Bhasin Awards for Science and Technology, and Millenium Plaque of
Honour Award of the Indian Science Congress Association; PNASF Gold Medal
Award, 2009.