By Sukanta Kishore Mohanty
Life is full of events. We acquire a lot of experience in education and other applied subjects from many of our teachers during our students days. Later on when we enter upon the great world of life, we forget many things like the flowing water in a river. But some memories that remain etched in us lifelong bears eloquent testimony to it. During my Post-graduation, I was deeply influenced by a professor whose teaching and orientation shaped my subsequent career. She is none other than my revered teacher Prof (Dr) Kamal Kumari Patnaik a front ranking botanist of Bio-Chemistry. Her astute and relentless effort in the field of Bio-Chemistry (Plant metabolism) of different plants and their utility in the society has carved a niche for her among her peers.
She is the first woman Odia Botanist to receive a doctorate degree. Born on 1st January 1936 at Bhanja Nagar of Ganjam district, she passed her M.sc from Ravenshaw College, in the 1st class, then went to the Allahabad University for higher research and achieved her PhD. Under the able guidance of Dr. Shriranjan.
Dr. (Mrs) Patnaik was very much influenced by her teacher Dr. Shriranjan and famed Oida Botanist Dr. P.K. Parija. It is discernible in her later workday life. Like Dr. Parija she included all types of plants in her research in the field, to the medicinal forest herbs and red algae of the Chilka Lake. Her publications in various national and international journals are examples of her wide range of various investigations and study.
Her teaching career spans more than three decades in the Shailabala Women’s College and then Ravenshaw College (Ravenshaw University). She encouraged and inspired many a student during this period. She was promoted to the post of a Professor in 1982 and headed the Dept. successfully till 1993. In 1993 she joined OPSC as a member and completed a full tenure there.
Her research papers in various journals and books she wrote on environmental science popularized her among the Odias as these were published in Odia book form like “Paribesha katha” and “Udbidhara usadhiya Guna” are the most popular publications of Dr. (Mrs.) Patnaik. Her eight science books for school children have come a long way in enhancing scientific curiosity among the young. She is also very much known for her translation of the book “Jiba Jagat”.
Many of her researches, aimed at the well being of the society and brought new enzymes and Bacteria to the light. She has also discovered some medicinal plants to cure asthma from root tuber of the (Patal Garuda) plant. Odisha has a sizable population of the aborigins (Adibasi). She researched on various plant projects related to the life of these aborigins.
After 1970, a group of research workers started their research in polymer science in Chemistry department of the then Ravenshaw College. As we know, polymer as a conspicuous compound built up with a conglomeration of monomers. This polymer, produced artificially, is used in making different essential goods. This facilitated the life style of people as a whole, but the plastic refuse (waste) of it posed a problem for environment.
During this time Dr. Patnaik researched on some red algae as the source of natural polymer. This writer availed the opportunity of cogitating deeply on the compound of carbohydrates nitrogenous in Gracilaria sps, of red algae collected from Chilka Lake, thoroughly.
Natural polymer such as starch, glycogen, cellulose, protein, nucleic acid etc. show some specialty in comparison to artificial polymeric. Natural polymer mainly divided into two types, homopolymur and co-polumur. Again these are the two types as per their arrangement in the compound i.e. linear and branched.
The alcoholic extract of seaweed at high temperature (37*c) was liquid in nature and it was solidified in low temperature (28*c- room temperature of the laboratory). The hydrolysate product of such solidified mass showed the presence of sugar and amino acids.
The most interesting point was the occurrence of raw material of “Agar-Agar” copolymer which was obtained from hot alcoholic extract. This “copolymer” was found to be made up of sugar and amino acids. The natural polymer does not pollute the environment because it is biodegradable:
Dr.(Mrs.) Patnaik was associated with many institutions and has brought about many positive changes in the social life of Odisha. Her attempt to popularize science and highlight environmental issues among school students is note worthy. Her appearance on Television. and All India Radio Cuttack brought her closer to general public at large.
Her commitments to research have produced 10 PhDs, 20 M. phils and 30 P.G. Dissertation papers. Her place in the domain of plant research will remain enshrined in golden letters.
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