Man behind horticulture in India
By Shivangi Shanker
Nature has great importance in everyone’s life. The history of India continues to show life in companionship with nature. These days, Increasing population and excessive exploitation of natural resources is causing the world towards destruction. It remains a threat to human existence. Hence, it has emerged as a social imbalance as well as a natural imbalance. In the initial age, education about various dimensions of natural balance was imparted to the individual systematically from Gurukuls, where along with social and cultural balance, the importance of wild animals and forests was established. So that the coming human generation can establish a casual relationship between the balance of education and nature even in conflict. There was a time when if someone had to pluck leaves from a tree, he had to take permission from that very tree. Bajrang Bali also had to do this while taking Sanjeevani when he had gone to bring Sanjeevani for the treatment of Lord Lakshman in our epic the Ramayana. It can be easily understood how naturally nature was embedded deeply in Indian culture. In other words, the history of horticulture in India is very old. Ramayana’s story also not only is known its greatness but also makes risk familiar with its greatness. Here, in the school of life, living beings, animals, the eternal world, mountains and rivers are seen with a feeling. In such a situation, if a society or an individual spends his entire life in bridging this imbalance, then it is automatically welcome.
In this way we can say that horticulture is also an important part of the same nature of nature. In other words, Horticulture is the cultivation of plants in gardens or greenhouses, as opposed to the field-scale production of crops characteristic of agriculture. Dr. Deependra Chahar is a name who has dedicated his entire life to the understanding and development of horticulture. Dr. Deependra Chahar is a well-known Archaeo –Horticulturist of India. Just like the archaeological department digs and studies and finds some improvements, in the same way, some improvements are also being made in horticulture every day by Dr. Chahar. Archaeology helps us understand not only where and when people lived on the earth, but also how they lived. Archaeologists examine change over time, seeking patterns and explanations. In the same manner Mr. Chahar has done tremendous work in the horticulture field like solving environmental problems, nutritional challenges in horticulture. Mr. Chahar thinks that by prioritizing horticultural practices, countries can conserve natural resources, stimulate economic growth, and enhance food security.
He was born in a small village called Nagla Parmal near Agra Uttar pradesh. He hails from Strong Agricultural Background, and attained his B.Sc., M.Sc., and PhD from Raja Balvant Singh College Bichpuri. Dr. Chahar is a good learner-listener and he cleared a competitive exam with outstanding merits for Horticulturist in Archaeological Survey of India. He joined the most prestigious Duty of Archaeo Horticulturist in the department of Custodian of Indian cultural Heritage and Monuments. Dr. Chahar’s first posting was in July 2006 at Old Fort New Delhi. Dr. Chahar contributed his domain expertise in developing new Archaeological parks at Qila Rai Pithora. He studied deeply about style and period flora and implemented the same at his initial project for ASI. In his tenure in Purana Qila was hub of activities and discussions about contemporary Horticulture and Period Gardening. Dr. Chahar has hands-on mastery on the Art and Science of Making Bonsai. He has trained many of his fellow colleagues in Bonsai Making.
Dr. Chahar was given Responsibility of Comprehensive conservation measurement plan at the World famous Red Fort of Delhi where he carried out inventory, identification, and database of existing flora &. After the immense success of this pilot project ASI gave him the responsibility to conduct the above program at the summer palace of Raja Ranjit Singh Amritsar Punjab. These two Monuments were in the hearts of Delhi and Amritsar but surprisingly many rare species of indigenous plants having immense medicinal and commercial value were enlisted by this project carried out under direction of Dr. Chahar.
Seeing the success of his work, the government gave him even bigger responsibility. He was sent to Agra to take up study of Historic monuments and ASI Gardens like Tajmahal, Agra Akbar Tomb, Itmad- ud-Daulah, where in taxonomic study of 132 Plant species belonging to 53 Families were recorded. Agra posting was in charge of erstwhile Horticulture Div. 2 which had vast jurisdiction of UP, MP, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand. It was Dr. Chahar who gave domain expertise in development of ASI Gardens at British Cemetery Meerut, Raisen Fort Museum Garden, Area in front of Agra Fort, and Ghosna Mound Mathura, Cave Gardens at Ajanta, Ellora, Daulatabad Fort, Sanchi Stupa, Bhoj and Vidisha Tempels, Bheem Vedika and many more. He referred historical references and books to find suitable period flora and Style of Garden to be implemented on above ASI sites.
He aggressively collected all indigenous mango varieties of Awadh regions, for that he travelled deep and broad in Eastern UP and an ideal mango orchard of indigenous variety was created at Residency park, in the heart of Lucknow city. He gave emphasis on creation of orchards of Guava, Amla, Citrus, and pomegranate which is generating good revenue for ASI nowadays. Rose gardens created by Dr. Chahar is most famous in Lucknow till now. Dr. Chahar implemented all his knowledge for betterment of Charbagh pattern Gardens, he revived the water channel system of Humayun’s Tomb Delhi. He took deep study over Nanakshahi Style of Garden which was on the Verge of extinction; Dr. Chahar revived it and implemented it in Monuments related with Maharaja Ranjit singh.
We can say with full confidence that Mr. Chahar is a person with investigative nature. They like to do something new every day. He is naturally a person dedicated to research. He was studious and hardworking since his student days. His vast scope of work has been exemplary and praiseworthy for all. He is also remembered as a successful and sensitive person in the field of horticulture and archaeological departments. During his time of service, Dr. Chahar has also prepared a generation who will remain dedicated to serving the society and the country in time to come. The need of the hour is that the coming generations should keep learning from such special personalities.
