|
 Chennaionline
is doubly proud that its popular column
Chennai Trees is being published as a book 'Trees and Tree
Tales: Some Common Trees of Chennai' by Oxygen Books, New
Horizon Media, on September 20, 2007, Thursday.
The author, Prof K N Rao, though in his
eighties, is full of beans. A distinguished botany professor who
has authored several textbooks for college students, he is also
the author of several short stories in Telugu published in
prestigious Telugu periodicals and a thought-provoking book in
English called 'Voices of Human Civilization', published by
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
After completing his early education in his
native town of Nellore (Andhra Pradesh), where he was born on
July 17, 1924, he graduated from P R College in Kakinada. The
next stop was Benaras Hindu University for his postgraduation in
botany.
After his studies, he joined the faculty of
Pachaiyappa’s College, Chennai, in 1947 and taught there for 36
years till 1983. After a short stint in Kavali, Andhra Pradesh,
he joined D G Vaishnav College, Chennai, and retired from there.
He has authored several textbooks for college
students and his book ‘Outlines of Plant Physiology’ was
translated into Hindi. A collection of his articles published in
journals were brought out as ‘Flowers and Showers’. He
contributed more than 30 items to the biology volume of the
Telugu Encyclopaedia brought out by the Telugu Bhasha Samiti.
After retirement, he prepared and edited
study material for Brilliant Tutorials, Chennai, and the Indian
Institute of Ecology and Environment, New Delhi.
Says a note from Oxygen Books, 'Trees and
Tree Tales...' is to arouse the interest of an average
Chennaivasi in the trees in the metropolis, "which they see but
do not notice". The book covers indigenous species such as the
banyan and peepul and exotics such as the baobab. Besides the
profiles of trees, Prof K N Rao gives the legends connected with
them and peppers the narrative with real life incidents.
The chief guest at the book release function
will be Dr R Ponnuraj, retired professor of botany, Kandaswami
Kandar College, Vellore. Journalist and writer N Meera
Raghavendra Rao will receive the first copy of the book.
The book release will be held at 6 p.m. at
Sri Parvati Art Gallery, 28/160, Eldams Road, Alwarpet, Chennai
- 600 018, to which all are welcome. |
