Prof. Prana Krushna Parija, the founder Professor in the Department of Botany, Ravenshaw College (now University) was a person of international eminence. Graduated from Cambridge University, UK under the guidance of Prof. F. F. Blackman, he did his work on respiratory regulation in ripening apples and proposed Blackman-Parija theory. Prof. Parija setup School of Research in Botany in the then Ravenshaw College in the field of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. Prof. Praija did his research in different field of plant sciences including respiration and osmotic regulation, aquatic weed physiology experimental morphology and rice physiology and anatomy. With his multi-facet talent, Prof. Parija became the Principal of the then Ravenshaw College; Director, Department of Agriculture, Government of Orissa; First Vice-chancellor of Utkal University; Pro Vice-chancellor, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and subsequently member of Orissa Legislative Assembly.

At the national level, Prof. Parija served as the President of the Indian Botanical Society IBS) (1930) and President of Indian Science Congress (1960). He was conferred with ‘Padma Bhusan’ in the year 1955. Prof. Parija was also a literary talent and has penned many literary creations. (For more details please visit: https://www.insaindia.res.in/detail.php?id=F00-0551).