Birbal Sahni (1891-1949) was a renowned Indian paleobotanist who made significant contributions to the fields of botany and geology. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of paleobotany in India and played a vital role in the development of earth sciences in the country. Here is an overview of his life and contributions:

Birbal Sahni was born on November 14, 1891, in Bhera, British India (now in Pakistan). He was the son of a prominent physician and was deeply interested in natural sciences from an early age. He pursued his education at Government College in Lahore and later earned a D.Sc. degree from the University of London.

Sahni began his career as a lecturer at the University of Cambridge and later worked at the Botany Department of the University of London. In 1920, he returned to India and founded the Department of Botany at the Lucknow University. He also established the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany in Lucknow, which remains a prominent research institute in the field of paleobotany.

Sahni’s significant contributions include his extensive research on plant fossils, which provided valuable insights into the evolutionary history of plant life. He conducted extensive field studies and discovered numerous plant fossils in various parts of India. His work not only contributed to the understanding of ancient plant species but also helped in determining the geological ages of rock formations.

Birbal Sahni received several honors and awards during his lifetime, including the prestigious Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1936. He was also elected as the President of the National Academy of Sciences, India. His research and contributions to paleobotany continue to be highly regarded in the scientific community.

After his death in 1949, the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany in Lucknow was named in his honor. The institute carries on his legacy by conducting research in the field of palaeobotany, paleoecology, and evolutionary biology. Sahni’s pioneering work laid the foundation for the study of ancient plant life in India and significantly enriched the field of paleobotany worldwide.