Prof. K N. Ganeshaiah

INSA Senior Scientist

Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding,

University of Agricultural Sciences

GKVK, Bangalore-560 065

Most recent position

Dean Post Graduate Studies (Retired)

University of Agricultural Sciences

GKVK, Bangalore-560 065

Phone: 080-23636276 (Off) 9342160639 (Mob)

Email: knganeshaiah@gmail.com

Date of Birth  :           10^th May 1953

Place of Birth :          Kotiganahalli, Kolar District

Education       :

Ph. D.  University of Agricultural Sciences, Banga­lore, India, l983

M.Sc. (Agri.) in Genetics & Plant Breeding, UAS, Bangalore, l979

B.Sc (Agri.), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore,  l976

Research areas:

Evolutionary ecology of plants, Insect plant interactions, Insect behaviour, Biodiversity mapping, documentation, utilization and conservation.

Honors/Recognitions/Awards

Fulbright Fellow, USA  (1991)

Parisara Prashasthi, (Karnataka State Environment Award) from the Department of Forest Ecology and Environment, Govt of Karnataka, India (1997).

Vocational Excellence Award  by Rotary Club of Bangalore Yelahanka, 2008

Karnataka Sahitya Academy Datti Award 2008 for the Kannada novel (Kanakamusuku) (2009)

Radio, Hope and Awareness Media Award  from  International Radio Forum – Iran (2010)

Ela Bhat professor, International Centre for Development and Decent work,   Germany (2016)

Varshada Kannadiga (Sahitya):  (Person of the year in Kannada literature, 2022 by TV  Channel :News-18)

Best Book in Science Award by Karnataka Academy of Science, (2023)

Recognition by the  Scientific and Cultural Bodies

Fellow, Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore  (Since 1991)

Fellow,  Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi (Since 1997)

Fellow, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi. (Since 2004)

Fellow Current Science Association, Bangalore.

Honorary Senior Fellow, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, (1995-)

Senior Fellow Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, Bangalore, India. 

Kolar District Kannada Sahitya Parishath Honorary President, 2017

Visiting Professor:

NPST University PingTung. Taiwan (2008-2009) (Invited as a visiting scientist for three months).

Institute of Tropical Agriculture (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), University of Kassel, Germany, (Invited as Ela Bhat Professor for three months  to deliver talks in different universities in Germany and to offer a course on Agro-ecology and Agro ecosystems).

Institute of Tropical Agriculture (2022,2023), University of  Kassel, Germany, As Erasmus Teaching Position (Offered a course on Agro-Biodiversity, and ecology). 

Contribution to Literature (Kannada)

1. Authored Eight Novels

Kanakamusaku–         Science fiction with historical theme

                                    (Translated to Sanskrit)

Karisiriyaana–                        Historical fiction

Kapilipisara–               Science fiction

Chitadanta–                            Historical fiction

ELu RottigaLu –                     Historical fiction

Mukha Dhatu–                        Science Fiction          

Shilakula Valase–                   Historical fiction

Belli Kaala Balli–                    Historical fiction

Rakta Sikta Ratna                  Historical fiction

Kanana Janardhana  Fiction on Human Anthropology

Jala Jaala                               Science fiction         

1. Authored nine short story collections

Shalabhanjike   (A collection of eight short stories)

Padmapani                    (A collection of eight short stories)

                     Nehala                           (A collection of eight short stories)

                     Sigiriya              (A collection of three novellettes)

                     Kaldavasi                       (A collection of three novelettes)

                     Mihirakula                    (A collection of four  novelettes)

                     Perinithandava (A collection of four  novelettes)

                     AaryaVeerya           (A collection of three  novelettes)

                     Gudi mallam                 (A collection of four long stories)

                     Hate Jate Kathe (A collection of science stories for kids)

• Authored six essay collections:

Bhinna Bhimba (Six essays on religion, arts, science and history)

Bhinnota (A collection of 8 essays on evolution of human behavior)

Vi-Charana (A collection of 20 essays  on evolution and Human culture)

Taru Maru (A collection of essays)

Hora nOta (A collection of 9 essays)

Aththitthadavalokana (A collection of essays)

1. Sasya Sagga: My journey through the  mysteries of plant

                      life (Vrutthi Kathana)

1. Divya Suli: My journey in to literature from science  

            (Vrutthi Kathana)

1. Four of the short stories are staged as dramas and one short story is adopted for a movie.

Working with Visual Media 

• One 25 episode TV serial Kaala Garbha  on Archeology and history.
• Co-authored the story for a documentary on Sustainable Rural Agriculture an Indo-German project (2023)

As a columnist

1. Wrote a 25 episode fortnightly Column `Vi-Chaarana’– in a Kannada daily Kannada Prabha (Since 12^th July2015).

Summary of Publications, Products and other outputs