D.N. College, Meerut

The executive committee of Deva Nagri Shiksha Samiti decided to start undergraduate classes in Biology group in 1964 and appointed Dr. N.P. Saxena as Head of Botany Department. He joined D.N. College on July 12, 1965 and thus the department came into existence. Initially it was housed in two small rooms and a laboratory which could accomodate only 20 students. The staff room was shared by Zoology department having almost identical accomodation. Dr. Harendra Kumar joined the department in 1966. The untiring zeal of teachers coupled by their results earned reputation and the department expand significantly. It was joined by Dr. D.K. Agarwal from BSA College Mathura (1968), Dr. R.D. Gaur (1969). Dr. (Mrs) Purnima (1971), Dr. A.K. Sharma (1971), Dr. (Mrs.) Ila Prakash (1972) and Dr. S.C. Jain (1974). In 1998 Dr. A.K. Shukla sought transfer from Agra College and joined D.N. College. Dr. N.P. Saxena retired in 2000 and Dr. D.K. Agarwal expired a few months before his retirement. Hence, Dr. H. Kumar took over as HOD. When Dr. H. Kumar became Principal in 2003. Dr. (Mrs.) Ila Prakash took over. Mrs. Shiwach and Dr. (Km.) Shefali Poonia joined the department in 2001 and 2004 respectively.

A building segment comprising a spaceous laboratory, a museum-cum herbarium, a technique room and two stores were added in 1970 from funds obtained from UGC, New Delhi. A lecture room, two staffrooms and office were also spared by the college for the department. An almost identeal building segment was again added by the college on the first floor in 1999-2000 comprising a laboratory, a lecture room and a staff room.

The college provided basic equipment but a significant addition came through COSIP and leadership project run by the Botany department of Meerut University. The undergraduate department was deemed so well equipped that the university recognised it as a centre for research in 1975-76 much before the start of post graduate classes.

The department started post graduation in 1982 providing separate laboratories to M.Sc. (Prev.) and M.Sc. (Final) classes. Right from the first batch the students of the department started securing positions in the university merit list. As on today the department offers research facilities in field of floral morphology, developmental morphology, embryology, phytopathology, ecology, biometrics and cytology. About 78 research publications have been contributed by the department. So far some 10 students have taken their Ph.D. degree of CCS University, Meerut under the supervision of faculty members and 11 are already registered for this degree. Some minor projects have been successfully completed by the faculty members.



When the college thought of starting undergraduate classes in Biology group, they selected Dr. N.P. Saxena. He joined the college as founder Head of the Botany Department on July 12, 1965. A year later Dr. Harendra Kumar joined in 1966. Their hard work coupled with exemplary results were soon appreciated and the department expanded. There after it was joined by Dr. D.K. Agarwal (1968), Dr. R.D. Gaur (1969). Dr. (Mrs.) Purnima (1971). Dr. A.K. Sharma (1971), Dr. (Mrs.) Ila Prakash (1972) and Dr. S.C. Jain (1994) Dr. A.K. Shukla sought transfer from Agra college and joined D.N. College in 1998 when Dr. N.P. Saxena retired in 2000 and Dr. D.K. Agarwal expired a few months before his retirement, Dr. H. Kumar took over as H.O.d. When Dr. H. Kumar took charge as Principal of the College Dr. (Mrs.) Ila Prakash took over Mrs. Everest Shiwach and Dr. (Km) Shefali Poonia joined the college in 2001 & 2004 respectively.



Initially the department was housed in two small rooms and a small lab, which could hardly accommodate 20 students. In 1970 a building segment comprising a spacious lab, a museum-cum-herbarium, a microtechnique room and two stores was added from a grant of UGC, New Delhi. Another segment comprising a lecturer room, staff room was shared by the college in 1985. A third segment comprising labs, stores and lecture rooms was constructed in 1999-2000 on the first floor.



The department started post-graduation in 1982 providing separate labs for M.Sc. (Prev.) and final classes. Right from the first batch, the students have been securing positions in the University merit list.

Dr. N.P. Saxena carried research environment to D.N. college with himself. He worked as a visting scientist at E.T.H. Zürich (Switzerland) in 1970-71. The College provided basic needs but the bulk came from cosip & leadership project through Meerut University. The Under-graduate department was so well equipped that it was recognized as a research center by the Meerut University in 1975-76. The department provided and still provides research facilities in the fields of floral morphology embryology, palynology (under Dr. N.P. Saxena and Dr. D.K. Agarwal), development morphology (under Dr. Ila Prakash). Biometrics and Cytology (under Dr. H.Kumar) Phythopathology (under Dr. A.K. Sharma and Dr. S.C. Jain) and Ecology (under Dr. Purnima and Dr. A. K. Shukla). The department has so far published 80 research papers. Some 10 students have taken the Ph.D. degree of C.C.S. University, Meerut and 11 are presently registered for the degree. The faculty members have also successfully completed a few minor UGC projects.



The department has a separate library for P.G. and Research students. It has 6653 books and numerous journals such as JIBS, Phytomorphology, Journal of Palynology, Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant breeding etc. Besides, it has a large collection of annual reviews in different disciplines of botany.