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{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Khadg Singh (KS) Valdiya
| image = Ksvaldiya.png
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_date = 20 March 1937 <ref name="ksvaldiya">{{cite web | url=http://ksvaldiya.info/ | title=ksvaldiya| publisher=ksvaldiya | date=2013 | access-date=17 February 2015}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Kalaw]]([[Myanmar]])<ref name="ksvaldiya "/>
| death_date = 29 September 2020
| death_place =
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| othername =
| occupation = Geologist
| yearsactive =
| known for = [[Tectonics]], [[Environmental Geology]]
| spouse =
| domesticpartner =
| children =
| parents = Dev Singh Valdiya Nanda Valdiya <ref name="Apna Uttarakhand">{{cite web | url=http://www.apnauttarakhand.com/khadg-singh-waldia/ | title=Apna Uttarakhand | publisher=Apna Uttarakhand | date=2015 | access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref>
| website = http://www.ksvaldiya.info/
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]] 2015 The G.M Modi Award for Science and Environment 2012 L.N. Kailasam Gold Medal 2009 [[Padma Shri]] 2007 Hindi Sevi Samman (Atmaram Award) 2007 Prince Mukarram Gold Medal 2000 National Mineral Award of Excellence 1997 D.N. Wadia Medal 1995 National Mineral Award 1993 S.K. Mitra Award 1991 P. Pant National Environment Fellow 1982–84 National Lecturer 1977–78 L. Rama Rao Gold Medal 1977 [[Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize]] 1976 Chancellor’s Medal at Lucknow University 1954 <ref name="ksvaldiya "/>
}}
'''Khadg Singh (KS) Valdiya''' was an Indian geologist<ref name="IAS">{{cite web | url=http://www.ias.ac.in/php/fell_detail.php3?name=wadia&intials=Spenta%20Rustom&year=01-08-1950 | title=IAS | publisher=IAS | date=2015 | access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref> and a former vice chancellor of [[Kumaon University]], known for his contributions in the field of [[geodynamics]].<ref name="INSA">{{cite web|url=http://insaindia.org/detail.php?id=N80-0858 |title=INSA |publisher=INSA |date=2015 |access-date=5 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.is/20150205170004/http://insaindia.org/detail.php?id=N80-0858 |archive-date=5 February 2015 }}</ref><ref name="The Tribune">{{cite web | url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/uttarakhand/residents-exult-at-padma-bhushan-to-geologist-valdiya/35151.html | title=The Tribune | date=29 January 2015 | access-date=5 February 2015}}</ref> A 2007 recipient of [[Padma Shri]],<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Padma Awards |date=2015 |access-date=5 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6U68ulwpb?url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2014 }}</ref> he was honoured again by the [[Government of India]] in 2015 with [[Padma Bhushan]], the third highest Indian civilian award.<ref name="Padma Bhushan">{{cite web |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=114952 |title=This Year's Padma Awards announced |publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] |date=25 January 2015 |access-date=2 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6VrWjEuo3?url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=114952 |archive-date=26 January 2015 }}</ref>

==Biography==
Internationally recognized for his path-breaking work in the fields of [[Geology]] and [[Environmental Science]],{{source?|date=December 2018}} Prof. Valdiya was born to Dev Singh Valdiya and Nanda Valdiya on 20 March 1937 in [[Myanmar (Burma)|Myanmar]]. In 1947 his family returned to their hometown in [[Pithoragarh]] in the Indian state of [[Uttarakhand]].<ref name="The Tribune" /> After schooling in Pithoragarh,<ref name="The Tribune" /> he did his bachelor (BSc), masters (MSc) and doctoral (PhD) studies at [[Lucknow University]] and joined the university as a member of faculty in 1957.<ref name="INSA" /> A 1965–66 [[Fulbright]] scholar at [[Johns Hopkins University]], he had also taught at [[Rajasthan University]], [[Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology]], [[Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research]] (JNCASR) and [[Kumaon University]].<ref name="INSA" /> He was the vice chancellor of Kumaon University in 1981.<ref name="Apna Uttarakhand" /><ref name="INSA" />

Valdiya had been involved with the establishment of such geological institutions as [[Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology]], Central Himalayan Environmental Association, Nainital, G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Almora, and the Geology Department of the [[Kumaon University]].<ref name="INSA" /> He is an elected fellow of [[Indian National Science Academy]], [[National Academy of Sciences, India]] (FNASc),<ref name="NASI">{{cite web|url=http://www.nasi.org.in/fellows.asp?RsFilter=V |title=NASI |publisher=NASI |date=2015 |access-date=6 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328004526/http://www.nasi.org.in/fellows.asp?RsFilter=V |archive-date=28 March 2015 }}</ref> [[Indian Academy of Sciences]] (FASc),<ref name="IAS" /> and the [[Third World Academy of Sciences]] (FTWAS)<ref name="TWAS">{{cite web | url=http://twas.org/member/valdiya-khadg-singh | title=TWAS | publisher=TWAS | date=2015 | access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref> and is a fellow of [[Geological Society of India]], [[Geological Society of America]] and Geological Society of Nepal.<ref name="INSA" /> He had served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Council to the [[Prime Minister of India]].<ref name="Apna Uttarakhand" />
He has written over 110 research papers, authored 22 books, edited 9 books and penned 40 articles in [[Hindi languages|Hindi]] towards popularization of science.<ref name="INSA" />

==Field of Specialization<ref name="ksvaldiya "/>==
[[Tectonics]] with special reference to [[active fault]]s.

[[Environmental Geology]] with special reference to natural hazards and geo-hydrology of springs.

==Key Contributions==

'''Geology'''
He has made significant{{source?|date=December 2018}} contributions to Himalayan Geology through a sustained and comprehensive study of the Kumaon Himalayas. These include pioneering studies of cyano-bacterial stromatolites leading to fixing of age of crucial stratigraphic horizons; systematic investigations of economically rich magnesite deposits; sedimentological and palaeocurrent study of the Precambrian flysch leading to reconstruction of palaeogeography of northern India; and the structural study of geodynamically sensitive areas leading to the tectonic synthesis and evolutionary history of the Himalayas.

Departing from mainstream thinking and pursuing independent lines,{{source?|date=December 2018}} K.S. Valdiya has contributed to Himalayan Geology through a sustained and comprehensive study of the Uttarakhand Himalayas. His internationally recognized works{{source?|date=December 2018}} are based on the painstaking mapping of mountainous terrain, traversing thousands of kilometers on foot. This body of work has made the Uttarakhand Himalayas one of the best documented, most thoroughly studied sectors of the Himalayan Mountain Arc.

He has provided highly original{{source?|date=December 2018}} scientific insights to the quintessential Continental Collision on the basis of his study of the dome-shaped Crustal upwarps in the immediate proximity of the zone of collision of India with Asia.

His recent work has focused on active faults and land-form development — landscape reshaping related to neo-tectonism. In addition, his studies on natural hazards like mass-movements and hydro-geology of mountain springs having great bearing on management of environment and planning for the ecological integrity of the mountains.

'''Environment & Social Development'''

His well-researched{{source?|date=December 2018}} scientific report on the destabilizing effect of limestone quarrying formed the principal basis of the Supreme Court banning limestone mining in the Mussourie Hills.

In a pioneering and benchmark{{source?|date=December 2018}} study on declining discharges of mountain springs, he developed the concept and methodology of spring sanctuary and demonstrated its workability by successfully augmenting the spring discharge in a catchment area of a multidisciplinary 10-year project on sustainable development. (The programme of spring sanctuary has been adopted in many areas in Uttarakhand).

Deeply an intimately involved in ecodevelopment through people’s participation such as the development of spring sanctuaries, afforestation in village panchayat lands, linkages of animal husbandry, horticulture and agriculture in 7 villages in Kumaun under the aegis of an NGO (Central Himalayan Environment Association)

'''Organization Development'''

KS Valdiya was intimately involved in the conceptualization, establishment and development of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (now at Dehradun), the Central Himalayan Environment Association (Nainital), the G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (Katarmal, Almora), and the Department of Geology in Kumaun University (Nainital).

'''Popularization of Science'''

For the last few years, KS Valdiya has been working on a Science Outreach Programme to popularize Science among young students, in the remote regions of Uttarakhand.

Along with leading teachers and specialists from various disciplines, he has been delivering and organizing lectures on the application of science, the avenues & opportunities for young minds, as well as offering career guidance to pre-university college students.

==Books==

He has written over 110 research papers, authored over 20 books, edited 9 books and penned 40 articles in Hindi towards popularization of science.

These include ''Geology of Kumaon Lesser Himalaya'' (1980), ''Aspects of Tectonics: Focus on South-central Asia'' (1984), ''Environmental Geology: Indian Context'' (1987), ''Dynamic Himalaya'' (1998), ''Saraswati, the River That Disappeared'' (2002), ''Geology, Environment and Society'' (2005), ''The Making of India: Geodynamic Evolution'' (2010), and ''Ek Thi Nadi Saraswati'' (2010, in [[Hindi language|Hindi]]).<ref name="ksvaldiya "/>

His autobiography "पथरीली पगडंडियों पर" was published by PAHAR <ref>[http://pahar.org/invitation-book-release-on-12th-april2015/ PAHAR](People's association for Himalaya Area Research)</ref> in 2015.

In year 2017, He wrote a biography of famous environmentalist and Chipko leader Padma Vibhushan [[Sunderlal Bahuguna]] named ‘हिमालय में महात्मा गांधी के सिपाही सुंदरलाल बहुगुणा’ <ref>[https://www.amazon.in/HIMAYA-MAIN-MAHATAMA-GANDHI-SIPAHI/dp/8173099782](हिमालय में महात्मा गांधी के सिपाही सुंदरलाल बहुगुणा) </ref> published by Sasta Sahitya Mandal <ref>[https://www.sastasahityamandal.org] (सस्ता साहित्य मण्डल)</ref>

==See also==
* [[Geodynamics]]
* [[Neotectonics]]
* [[Sedimentology]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2010–19}}
{{SSBPST recipients in Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean & Planetary Sciences}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Science & Engineering}}
{{portalbar|India}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valdiya, Khadg Singh}}
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Indian geologists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:Indian endocrinologists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean & Planetary Sciences]]
[[Category:People from Pithoragarh]]
[[Category:Medical doctors from Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian medical doctors]]
[[Category:Sarasvati River]]

Khadg Singh Valdiya - Revision history

imported>JJMC89 bot III at 14:33, 24 July 2021