DR. GIRISH CHANDRA

     Dr. Girish Chandra has been teaching Zoology and Entomology at Kirori Mal College of Delhi University for the past 35 years. He did his M.Sc. in Zoology and Ph.D. in Entomology from University of Delhi  and specialised in the taxonomy of parasitic Hymenoptera and biological and integrated methods of pest control in agriculture and forestry. He has published over 23 research papers in entomology that include a reseach monograph on parasitic wasps belonging to Ichneumonidae family of Hymenoptera. 

  He worked as Research Assistant at Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control and then as visiting Postdoctoral Scientist at International Rice Research Insititute, Manila on the biological control of pests and Integrated Pest Management of rice pests.

     In May 1979, Dr. Chandra received the Best Paper Award 1979, at the 10th annual conference of the Pest Control Council of the Philippines held at Manila, for the paper entitled, "Taxonomy and bionomics of the insect parasites of Rice leafhoppers and planthoppers in the Philippines and their importance in natural biological control."

       Dr. Chandra also worked as honorary Business Manager and Managing Editor of Oriental Insects, an international journal of insect taxonomy, zoogeography and evolution, earlier published from Delhi University but now published from the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. Still serving on the Editorial Board of Oriental Insects. 

 

                   List of publications by Dr. Girish Chandra 

 

1. Rao, V.P., Mathur, K.C., Chacko, M.J., Krishaswamy, S. and Girish Chandra, 1968.  Studies on natural enemies of pine shoot borer in India (for the
   USA).  CIBC Annual Report, 1968: 41-43.
2. Rao, V.P., Mathur, K.C., Chacko, M.J. and Chandra, G. 1969.  Studies on natural enemies of pine shoot borers in India (for the
   U.S.A.). CIBC Annual Report, 1969: 43-44.
3. Nagarkatti, S. and Chandra, G. 1969.  Supply of natural enemies of citrus whitefly (for the University of
   California).  CIBC Annual Report, 1969: 55.
4. Gupta, V.K.  and Chandra, G. 1972.  Oriental species of Xorides (Moerophora) Foerster(Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).  Oriental Ins., 6(4): 409-417.
5. Gupta, V.K. and Chandra, G. 1974.  Oriental species of Xorides (Xorides) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).  Oriental Ins., 8(4): 395-411.
6. Gupta, V.K. and Chandra, G. 1975.  A new Agriotypus from Burma and redescription of A. gracilis Waterson (Hymenoptera: Agriotypidae). J. Nat. Hist., 9: 351-355.
7. Chandra, G. 1976.  On a collection of Banchinae from Australia (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).  I. Genus Leptobatopsis Ashm.  J. Nat. Hist., 10: 1-6.
8. Chandra, G. 1976. On a collection of Banchinae from Australia  (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).  II. Genus Syzeuctus Foerster.  J. Nat. Hist., 10: 223-229.
9. Chandra, G. 1976.  On a collection of Banchinae from Australia (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).  III.  Genus Lissonota Graven.  J. Nat. Hist., 10: 331-345.
10. Gupta, V.K. and Chandra, G. 1976.  Oriental species of Xorides (Gonophonus) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Entomon, 1(2): 163-170.
11. Chandra, G. and Gupta, V.K. 1977.  Ichneumonologia Orientalis.  The tribes Lissonotini and Banchini.  Oriental Ins. Monograph No. 7: 1-290. 37 plates, 11 maps.
12. Chandra, G. 1978.  Oriental species of  Ischnoceros and Odontocolon (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).  Oriental Ins., 12(3): 319-325.
13. Chandra, G. 1978. A new cage for rearing hopper parasites.  Int. Rice Res. Newsletter, 3(1): 12.
14. Chandra, G. 1978.  Natural enemies of rice leafhoppers and planthoppers in the Philippines. Int. Rice Res. Newsletter, 3(5): 20-21.
15. Chandra, G. 1979.  Tetrastichus  sp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a new parasitoid-predator of the brown planthopper. Int. Rice Res. Newsletter, 4 4): 18.
16. Chandra, G. 1979. A review of Oriental Dryinidae (Hymenoptera).  Paper presented at workshop on Advances in Insect Taxonomy in India & the Orient.  October 9-12,
    Manali, India. Abstract No. 57, p.69.
17. Chandra, G. 1979.  Taxonomy and bionomics of insect parasites of rice leafhoppers and planthoppers in the Philippines and their importance in natural biological control.  Philipp. Ent., 4(3): 119-139(1980).
18. Chandra, G. 1980.  Dryinid parasitoids of rice leafhoppers and planthoppers in the Philippines.  I. Taxonomy and Bionomics.  Acta Oecologica/Oecol. Applic., 1(2): 161-172.
19. Chandra, G. 1980.  Dryinid parasitoids of rice leafhoppers and planthoppers in the Philippines.  II. Rearing techniques.  Entomophaga,
20. Chandra, G. et al. 1980.  Biological control of rice insect pests. Slide-tape Instructional Unit, PC-12, Rice production training series, IRRI, Manila, Philippines.  Set of 80 slides, tape and printed script.
21. Chandra, G. 1984.  Stenchaetothrips biformis (Bagnall): Correct name for rice thrips.  Int. Rice Res. Newsletter, 9(1): 22.
22. Dyck, V.A., Chandra, G., Aguda, R.M., Dulay, A.C. and Palis, F.V. 1980. Natural enemies of rice planthoppers and leafhoppers: Their biolology and value in pest management.  Paper read by Dr. Dyck at the International Congress of Entomology at Kyoto in Aug. 1980 (Mimeographed).
23. Chandra, G. 2005. Searching and oviposition behaviour of Anagrus flaveolus Waterhouse, an egg parasitoid of delphacid rice hoppers in India. Entomon, 30(4): 303-307.

 General Articles

1.      Insects: Masters of our planet. New Outlook, 1984-85 : 15-18.

2.      Why insects look like they look? New Outlook, 1985-86 : 37-44.

3.      Ant societies. New Outlook, 1986-87 : 43-48.

4.      Spider tactics. New Outlook, 1987-1988 : 71-76.

5.      Science and secrets of yoga. New Outlook, 1988-89 : 42-49.

6.      Honey and the Honey bee. New Outlook, 1989-90 : 74-77.

7.      The seeing machine. New Outlook, 1990-91 : 55-60.

8.      AIDS: Nothing comes to aid the AIDS affected person. Science Master, 7(2) : 15-18 (1986).

9.      Brain, Mind and Meditation. New Outlook, 1991-92 : 55-60.

10.  Obituary: Jan Pieter van Lith (1912-1979). Oriental Ins., 15(3) : 2329-332 (1981).

11.  The riddle of Human origin. New Outlook, 1992-93 : 14-20.

12.  The mystery of Mass Extinctions. New Outlook, 1993-94 : 14-19.

13.  Greed (English poem). New Outlook, 1994-95 : 18.

14.  Unbhigyata (Hindi poem). New Outlook, 1994-95 : 9.

15.  Building up a yogic mind. New Outlook, 1995-96 : 44-49.

16.  Intelligent body, Spiritual mind. New Outlook, 1996-97 : 35-40.

17.  The need for Spirituality. New Outlook, 1997-98 : 15-21.

18.  Man on the seventh planet. New Outlook, 2000-2001 : 22-25.

19.  Control thoughts, be happy. New Outlook, 2001-2002 : 43-46.

20.  Uttaranchal ko dekha hamne (Hindi poem). New Outlook, 2001-2002 : 8.

21.  Man—A self-destructive species. New Outlook, 2002-2003: 39-42.

22.  The Caged Silence (English poem). New Outlook, 2002-2003: 45.

23.  Patal Bhubaneshwar: The underground abode of Gods. New Outlook, 2003-2004: 50-53.

24.  The Science of Pranayama. New Outlook, 2004-2005: 13-15.

 

        The Caged Silence

           A poem by Dr. Girish Chandra                

 

Waiting in the dark, doorless abode

In hapless slumber, albeit hope

Yearning for silence that speaks aloud

 Listen to my soundless, ceaseless shout

            Pained by pleasures, pricked by greed

            Anguished by joy and lashed by deed

            Like a restless dove in the claws of gloom

            Soaring high but certainly doomed

Listen to the deafening noise of thought

And shed the life’s lifeless shroud

Rise to the desperate, silent groan

Dive deep within to fathom me unknown

            Make me drift to the deepest empire

            In a golden castle bereft of desire

            Insulated from the endless croaks of mind

            And the thought of sensuality left behind

Where reverberates the music, silence can make

Where silence is not dead but alive and awake

Where silence is ecstatic, drunk and deep

Where silence is dynamic like the divine sleep

            Here is my Eden and here I belong

            Here serenity, silence, stillness beckon

            To experience the bliss of ceased violence

            And to hear the thunder of caged silence

 

                                    ___________

 

  Greed

(A   poem by Dr. Girish Chandra)

 

Soaring high in the sky

O! Vulture why?

Your sight always passes

Along rotten carcasses

That high and enviable spot

Gained by the wings-a gift of God

Or may be by your struggled effort

From there you could have been

Looking for beauty you hadn’t seen

Or you would have listened with keen

Music emanating from many a stream

With sharp eyes of yours

You could have peeped

 Into hungry stomach and tears

Or the burden that many a life bears

But still as you fly and soar

You see carcasses and nothing more

Why? O Vulture! Now I understand

However high today you may stand

You remain a vulture that won’t change

Higher and higher as you soar

Your greed for carcasses increases more

 _________________

 

 Selfishness

A poem by Dr. Girish Chandra                      

 

Beautiful butterfly

Yesterday you fluttered by

When I was a flower beautiful

My cup of nectar still full

My rosy petals glistened in pink

In my smile you would often sink

As you glided and danced around

I took your friendship to be sound

But now–

As I turned into a fruit ugly and sour

You danced but ignored me every hour

This dance, this charm and love of yours

Today seem to be meant for others

For my fidelity what did I gain?

Your caterpillars pierce and leave me in pain

But in your vanity you forgot the trend

That time remains nobody’s friend

Life is like a fast flowing stream

And tomorrow when you wake up from dream

You will loathe seeing your shattered wings

And your golden luster blown to winds

Then I’ll laugh at your selfishness

For I’ll still be a fruit full of sweetness

                         _____________