Template:Multiple issues Template:Infobox scientist
Professor Dinabandhu Sahoo is an Indian botanist, scientist, environmentalist, and academic administrator. He is the Chairperson of the Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council and the Head of the Department of Botany at the University of Delhi. He is widely known for his work in marine bioresources, sustainable development, the introduction of the Cherry Blossom Festival in India, and the grassroots application of science and technology in coastal and rural India.[1][2]
He is an elected Fellow of multiple Indian science academies, including the National Academy of Sciences, India (FNASc) and the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (FNAAS).[1]
Early life and expeditions
Sahoo was part of the 7th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica in 1987 and holds the distinction of being the first Indian student to visit the continent. During the expedition, he hoisted the Indian flag and contributed to the foundational work for India’s permanent research station, Maitri.[1][2]
By the age of 27, he had travelled across all seven continents and five oceans within a record time of 18 months. Subsequently, he undertook two scientific expeditions to the Arctic.[1]
Academic and administrative career
Sahoo has held several key academic and administrative roles, primarily at the University of Delhi, including:
- Chairperson, Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council[2]
- Head, Department of Botany[2]
- Founder Director, Centre for Himalayan Studies
- Director, Cluster Innovation Centre
He also served as the Vice Chancellor of Fakir Mohan University, Odisha.
At the national level, he served as the Director of the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Department of Biotechnology, Government of India (2014–2019), overseeing biodiversity conservation and bioresources management in the northeastern region of India.[3] Sahoo has additionally held adjunct academic positions at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology and the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar.
Government advisory roles
He has served in advisory capacities to several Indian state governments, including:
- Scientific Adviser to the Chief Minister of Meghalaya (2019–2024)
- Adviser on Higher Education and Research, Government of Manipur
- Adviser on Climate Change, Government of Manipur
On 19 August 2015, he was part of a scientific delegation that presented on the sustainable development of Northeast India before the Prime Minister.[1]
Scientific contributions
Sahoo is recognized for promoting the application of science and technology at the grassroots level, particularly in coastal and rural communities. Actively involved in seaweed cultivation and utilization, he trained villagers in coastal states, a movement often referred to as a “Blue Revolution” in India.[1]
His inspirational journey and societal impact, titled Teach a Man to Fish, was featured in the best-selling book I Have a Dream, which has been translated into several Indian languages.[1]
Public initiatives
Cherry Blossom Festival and Biodiversity
Sahoo is widely known as the "Cherry Blossom Man of India" for conceptualizing and organizing India’s first Cherry Blossom Festival in Shillong starting in 2016.[1][2] His efforts sparked a movement in the North East Himalayas that led to the planting of approximately 60,000 cherry blossom trees across the northeastern states. This initiative aimed to inspire environmental protection in fragile ecosystems, alongside boosting local economies and tourism.[3][2] He was also instrumental in establishing a state-of-the-art orchidarium in Shillong.[1]
Carbon Garden
At the University of Delhi, Sahoo developed India’s first "Carbon Garden", an urban ecosystem model designed as a scalable, scientific response to toxic air pollution and declining soil quality. Occupying a compact 2,000 square feet, the garden features 45 to 50 perennial plant species, including hydrophytes and xerophytes, as well as a Kadamba tree airlifted from Bhubaneswar.[4][5]
Unlike traditional parks, the Carbon Garden functions as a self-sustaining natural filtration system year-round. It relies on microorganisms like algae, fungi, and bacteria living on plant surfaces to actively break down toxic gases such as methane and carbon monoxide.[4][5] The model has been promoted at a national conference as a blueprint for creating "mini biodiversity parks" in densely populated, land-starved cities to mitigate health risks and serve as ecological fencing.[4][5]
Sahoo has delivered public talks on global warming and sustainability, including a TEDx talk at IIM Shillong and a presentation at the National Assembly of South Korea.[1]
Publications, awards, and honours
Sahoo has authored 13 books and published multiple research papers in botany and sustainability.[1] For his contributions to applied science and technology, he was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.).[1]
His major recent awards include:
- Top Sustainability Laureate Award (2023): Presented by India Green Awards in Udaipur, for his work in sustainable development, climate change, and bioresources management.[3]
- Distinguished Leadership Honour (2026): Conferred by the Times Foundation at the Times of India National CSR Summit in New Delhi, recognizing his outstanding impact and innovation in driving inclusive social change.[2]
Eponyms
In recognition of his extensive scientific contributions, several taxa have been named in his honour:
- Prunus dinabandhuana (a cherry blossom species)[2][3]
- Caulokaempferia dinabandhuensis (a new ginger species)[2][1]
- Papilionanda Dinabandhu Sahoo (an orchid hybrid registered in the United Kingdom)[1]
International engagement
Sahoo has engaged heavily in international academic and scientific collaborations, visiting as many as 38 countries and presenting or collaborating at over 80 institutions globally. His travels have spanned Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Professor Dinabandhu Sahoo - A Glimpse. Department of Botany, University of Delhi.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Cherry blossom founder Deenbandhu Sahu honoured with Times Foundation's distinguished leadership honour. Janta Serishta(2026).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Professor Dinabandhu Sahoo from University of Delhi also known as the founder of Cherry Blossom receives Top Sustainability Laureate Award. The Sangai Express(16 January 2024).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 India's first Carbon Garden built at DU: How it cleans air and restores soil. India Today(11 February 2026).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 DU's Carbon Garden offers new weapon against toxic air. The Times of India(25 March 2026).