Professor (Dr.) Avtar Singh Atwal Dean PAU

Professor Avtar Singh Atwal (June 25, 1927 - September 26, 2014) is remembered as the father of modern beekeeping in India. He authored 16 books, 150 research articles, and 100 reviews and strategy articles on agricultural education, research and development. His monumental book ‘Agricultural Pests of South Asia and Their Management’ is one of the most popular books ever written on this subject. He was an outstanding teacher, researcher, and administrator. Atwal left a deep void in the fields of Apiculture, Ecology, Entomology, and Sustainable Agriculture.

Professor Atwal was born on June 25, 1927 at village Khanewal, District Multan (Pakistan). He did his B.Sc. Agriculture from Punjab Agricultural College and Research Institute, Lyallpur in 1947, in first class and was awarded the Gold Medal. He got a Ph.D from University of Adelaide, Australia in 1954. He started his professional career as Lecturer in Entomology in 1947. He was Entomologist, Government of Punjab and State Locust Control Officer (1961-1963), Professor and Head Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (1963-1966). He also worked as Dean College of Agriculture, Dean Post Graduate Studies and Director of Plant Protection, Forestry, Ecology, and Agrometeorology at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. After superannuation, he worked as full time member of Punjab State Planning Board. He died on September 26, 2014 after a brief illness. He was the first popular Entomologist in North West India.