Edavaleth Kakkat Janaki Ammal (1897-1984) was an Indian botanist and Padma Shri awardee mostly known for her work on the study of sugarcane and eggplants. She is the first director of the Central Botanical Laboratory of India, Lucknow. She is also known as the ‘woman who sweetened Indian Sugarcane.’
Wiki/Biography
Janaki Ammal was born on Thursday, 4 November 1897 (age 87 years; at the time of death), in Thalassery, Kerala, India. Her zodiac sign is Scorpio. She completed her schooling at Sacred Heart Convent, Thalassery. Then, she pursued a bachelor’s degree at Queen Mary’s College, Madras. In 1921, she obtained an honours degree in Botany from the Presidency College. In 1925, she pursued a master’s degree at the University of Michigan, USA. In 1931, she obtained a DSc Degree from the University of Michigan, USA.
A photograph of Janaki at the University of Michigan, 1930 (centre)
A picture of Janaki Ammal in her young days
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 5″
Hair Colour: White
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Janaki Ammal was the daughter of Devaki and EK Krishnan. Her father, EK Krishnan, was a judge and her mother, Devaki, was a homemaker. She had 19 brothers and sisters.
Wife & Children
She never married.
Signature/Autograph
Janaki Ammal’s signature
Career
Professor
Women’s Christian College
For a short period, she taught at Women’s Christian College, Madras.
Maharaja’s College of Science
During 1932-34, she became a Professor of Botany at Maharaja’s College of Science, Trivandrum.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
In 1970, she was a visiting Professor, at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay.
Sugarcane Breeding Institute
She worked as a Geneticist, at the Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, from 1934–1939.
John InnesHorticultural Institution
She worked as an Assistant Cytologist, at the John Innes Horticultural Institution, London, during 1940–45.
A photograph of E.K. Janaki Ammal at the John Innes Horticultural Institute, London
Royal Horticultural Society
She worked at the Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley, as a Cytologist, during 1945-51.
Botanical Survey of India (BSI)
In 1951, at the special request of Jawaharlal Nehru, she returned to India and, worked as a special officer, to reorganise the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), from 1952 to 1954.
Central Botanical Laboratory
In 1954, she was appointed the first Director, of the Central Botanical Laboratory, Allahabad, and served there from 1945 to 1959.
Regional Research Laboratory
She was appointed as a special officer, at the Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu, and served there from 1959 to 1962. Also, from 1962 to 1964, she was appointed, Chairman of the Cytogenetics Department, Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu.
Centre for Advanced Study in Botany
In 1970, she settled as an Emeritus Scientist, at the Centre for Advanced Study in Botany, Madras University.
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- Birbal Sahni Medal – 1961
- Padma Shri – 1977
- Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences – 1935
- Fellow of the National Institute of Sciences – 1957
- Fellow of the Linnean Society
- Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society
- Fellow of the Genetical Society of England
- Fellow of the Genetical Society of America
- Member of the British Association for the Advancement of Science
- Member of the Sigma 21 Society of USA
- Fellow of the Botanical Society of India
- Fellow of the Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding
- In 1956, the University of Michigan honoured her with an LLD degree.
- In 2000, the National Award of Taxonomy was instituted in her name, by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, of the Government of India.
Death
Janaki Ammal died on 7 February 1984. She continued her research till she was hospitalised, two weeks before her death.
Facts/Trivia
- With biologist CD Darlington, she co-authored the “Chromosome Atlas of Cultivated Plants” in 1945.
‘Chromosome Atlas of Cultivated Plants’ co-authored by Janaki Ammal
- “Chromosome Woman, Nomad Scientist” by Savithri Preetha Nair is a biography of Janaki Ammal.
‘Chromosome Woman, Nomad Scientist’ by Savithri Preetha Nair
- Janaki Ammal was the first Indian woman to obtain a doctorate in botany in the U.S. in 1931.
- She was the first salaried woman staff member of the Royal Horticulture Society.
- A species of magnolia is named after her, known as “Magnolia kobus Janaki Ammal.”
A picture of “Magnolia kobus Janaki Ammal”
