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Thinking green

Scientist Vasanthy George was recently honoured with the Chevalier Award

PASSION FOR PLANTS Vasanthy George at the award function

Clad in a cotton sari this frail woman tirelessly walks through the portals of the French Institute in Pondicherry, which she entered in 1970. The first woman scientist of the French Institute of Pondicherry, Vasanthy George was recently honoured by the French Government with the Chevalier award of Palmes Academy for her contribution to science.

Ever since she was invited to join the institute (Professor Legris was head of the scientific section then), Dr. Vasanthy has dedicated herself to the study of Palynology. The microscopic study of modern and fossil pollen and spores is called Palynology.

"Pollen grains serve as tiny clues for archaeological studies and pre-historical history of our plant. When I joined the Ecology Section it was specialising in forest evolution in India and South India. I studied about the evolution of forests and grasslands in South India. I collected sediment samples from Palani, Niligiris and BR Hills in Mysore to study the history of vegetation and climate changes," she says.

Her doctoral thesis submitted to the University of Madras — "Palynology and certain aspects of histology of South Indian Vernonieae" — has been catalogued by the American Library Congress, Washington. She has presented about 27 papers at international conferences and published many papers on various aspects of Palynology in collaboration with French, Canadian, Indian and American scientists.

She retired from the institute in October 2005 as Director of Research. She now works as a consultant with the institute. She is working in collaboration with Pierre Grard, who was formerly the head of the Ecology Department, to complete a novel pollen-identification software tool, which provides a graphic explanation of the pollen character that helps in identifying the patent plant. "I want to publish all my unpublished data in an e-form. Also I want to write about the evolution of science in India and contribution of the French Institute to science in India and 50 years of pollen lab."

Daughter of George Moses, who served as Superintendent of Police in Pondicherry and also ADC to the first Lt. Governor, Dr. Vasanthy was groomed by her father, who was also a writer and poet. She was born in Marakanam and the family moved to Pondicherry after the French left the Indian shores. Her father came here to reorganise the police force. He was instrumental in starting the police training college in this Union Territory.

"He wanted me to become an IAS officer but seeing my interest in plants... which is a passion since childhood... he asked me to continue studying botany. He was a great support and encouraged me in all my initiatives. I am the third person to win a medal in my family. First it was my father who got a police medal, then it was my brother G. Mohan Keerthi Kumar, who got a medal in Masters in Law and now it's me. This award has come as a surprise to me. I am indeed thankful to Pierre Couteron, head of Ecology Department and Jean Pierre Muller, the Director of French institute. I am also thankful to Dr. G Thanigaimoni, who initiated me into Palynology."

It's no surprise that Dr. Vasanthy maintains a garden and a kitchen garden at home and wherever she goes she picks up a plant for her garden.

DEEPA H RAMAKRISHNAN

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