Birbal Sahni Biography: Birthday, Wiki, Career, Education, Wife, Parents, Death, FAQs

Birbal Sahni Biography: Birbal Sahni was a famous Indian paleobotanist who studied fossils of the Indian Subcontinent and also was interested in geology and archaeology.

Birbal Sahni plays a huge role in the study of Indian fossils plants and plant development in India. He founded the Palaeobotany institution which is currently known as the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany in 1946.

Sahni’s contribution includes the development of science education in India and also was the president of the  National Academy of Sciences in India.

Let’s dive into a more detailed view of the about Birbal Sahni:

Birbal Sahni Biography:

Birbal Sahni Wiki

Birbal Sahni was born in Bhera, Shahpur, and is currently known as Pakistan Punjab. He was born to Ishwar Devi and Lala Ruchita Ram Sahni and was the third child of Lala Ruchita Ram Sahni who was the Indian meteorologist and scientist.

Both Birbal and his parents often visit Bhera which was near the Salt Range. At a very young age, Birbal Sahni got interested in Khewra Salt Mine geology.

Birbal was also interested in science because of his grandfather who used to do amateur research in chemistry and influenced Birbal into science.

Ruchita Ram often took his son on long treks to the Himalayas, Pathankot, Rohtang, Narkanda, Chini Pass, Amarnath, Machoi Glacier, and Jozila Pass which made him more interested in geological matters.

Birbal Sahni Birth date and Birthplace

Birbal Sahni was born on 14 November 1891 in Bhera, Shahpur, which is now known as Pakistan Punjab.

Birbal Sahni Education

Birbal Sahni completed his early education at Mission and Central Model School Lahore, Government College University, Lahore, and Punjab University in India.

He was then influenced by his brothers, went to England, and completed his graduation from Emmanuel College in 1914. After that, he studied under Albert Seward and got his D.Sc. from the University of London in 1919.

Birbal Sahni Career

Birbal Sahni was a famous botanist who worked on a review of Indian Gondwana plants in England. In 1920, he returned to India and worked as a Professor of Botany at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, and Punjab University.

In 1921, he became the first professor and head of Lucknow University’s Botany Department. He was the one who revealed the Bennettitalean plant Williamsonia sewardi and a new kind of petrified wood known as Homoxylon.

In 1946, Birbal Sahni founded the Institute of Palaeobotany in Lucknow and began the Paleobotanical Society which focused on the scientific study of fossil plants.

Birbal Sahni Relationship and Wife

In 1920, Birbal Sahni before returning to India, he married Savitri Suri who was the head of Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleosciences from 1949 to 1969.

Savitri Suri was the daughter of Sunder Das Suri who was an Inspector of Schools in Punjab. Suri was very fond and interested in Birbal Sahni work’s and provided him with constant support throughout his life.

Birbal Sahni Parents, Mother, Father and Brother

Birbal Sahni mother was Ishwar Devi and his father was an Indian meteorologist and scientist Lala Ruchita Ram Sahni. Birbal Sahni younger brother was Mulk Raj Sahni and his nephew was Ashok Sahni.

Birbal Sahni Death

Birbal Sahni FRS died on 10 April 1949, he died on the night of 9th April due to a heart attack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Who is the father of palaeobotany?

Birbal Sahni was known as India’s “father of palaeobotany” who was a famous Indian palaeobotanist and was an expert in the study of fossils of the Indian Subcontinent.

Q2: Who is Birbal Sahni mother?

Birbal Sahni was the son of Shrimati Ishwar Devi and the third son of Ishwar Devi and Profesor Ruchi Ram Sahni.

Q3: What year did Birbal Sahni publish two papers?

Birbal Sahni’s next papers came out in the New Phytologist in 1915 which was about the anatomy of Nephrolepis valubilis.