T. Venkatapathi Reddiar

T. Venkatapathi Reddiar is an Indian horticulturist and florist, credited with the development of over 100 varieties of crossandra flowers and casuarinas.[1] He was honored by the Government of India, in 2012, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.[2]

T. Venkatapathi Reddiar
Born29 March 1946
Koodapakkam, Puduchery, India
OccupationHorticulturist
Awards1.Padma Shri

2.Vezhan Vittighar Award

3.Limca Book of Records
Websitehttp://lntc72.com/

Biography
Crossandra infundibuliformis
Casuarina equisetifolia 0004

Venkatapathi Reddiar was born on 29 March 1946 in Koodapakkam village of the Indian Union Territory of Puducherry.[3] His schooling was broken while he was in grade 4 as he had to assist his family in farming but, taking a fascination for horticulture, he learnt the science through self-education.[3][4] He obtained translated versions of scientific journals for his studies and attempted reportedly innovative practices at Lakshminarayana Crossandra Innovative Centre, a laboratory and research centre founded by him in 1972. Initially he worked on micropropagation of different varieties of flower plants but soon started deploying tissue culture techniques at the laboratory he had set up.

Reddiar is credited with the standardization of the technique of nodal stem cuttings in mist chamber.[3] He is reported to have developed over 100 varieties of plants such as Crossandra and disease resistant Casuarina.[5][6] One of the crossandra varieties he has developed has been christened Abdul Kalam Crossandra, after the erstwhile President of India. Another variety of casuarina developed by him is dedicated to the incumbent Chief Minister of Puducherry, N. Rangaswamy and is known by name, Rangaswamy Casuarina.[5][7][8] He is reported to have devised farming techniques for Delhi Crossandra which yields 20 kg of flowers per acre per day.[3] He is also credited with the development of 30 high yielding mutant varieties of Crossandra using gamma radiation, with assistance from the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam.[3][9][10]

Reddiar, whose hybrid varieties have been planted in the Mughal Gardens of the Rashtrapati Bhavan,[9] lives in Koodapakkam in Puducherry.[1]

Awards and recognitions

Venkatapathi Reddiar, holder several patents,[11] was honored by the International Tamil University, Maryland, USA[12] with the degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) in 2011.[13] The same year, in 2011, he received the Vezhan Vittighar award from Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE).[11] He also features in the Limca Book of Records, an Indian repository of records and achievements, for his innovations.[7][8] Reddiar, who has been invited by the President of India for a lunch with him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan,[9][4][10] was awarded the civilian honour of Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2012, making him the first person from Puducherry to receive the award.[7][8][6]

References
  1. "Chennai Vision". Chennai Vision. 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  2. "Padma Shri" (PDF). Padma Shri. 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  3. "LNTC". LNTC. 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  4. Nair, Rajesh B. (27 January 2012). "Padma Shri, fruit of labour". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  5. "Economic Times". Economic Times. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  6. "Pondicherry Tourism". Pondicherry Tourism. 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  7. "Money Control". Money Control. 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  8. "Indian Frontliners". Indian Frontliners. 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  9. "Indian Express". Indian Express. 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  10. "IBN Live". IBN Live. 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  11. "Tafe" (PDF). Tafe. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  12. "International Tamil University". International Tamil University. 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  13. "Zoom Pondy". Zoom Pondy. 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
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