Janaki Ammal - A Lifestory
Pioneer Botanist: Cultivating Indian Science, One Cell At A Time
Janaki Ammal Edavalath Kakkat was a pioneering botanist and cytogeneticist whose work significantly impacted our understanding of plant breeding and evolution. Born in 1897 in Tellicherry, Kerala, India, into a family known for its intellectual pursuits, Janaki Ammal defied societal norms by pursuing higher education in botany. She earned her bachelor's degree from Queen Mary's College, Madras, and subsequently her master's degree from Presidency College, Madras. Her academic brilliance led her to the University of Michigan in the United States, where she obtained a doctorate in botany in 1931.
Returning to India, Janaki Ammal worked as a professor of botany at various institutions, including the Maharaja's College for Women in Trivandrum and the Women's Christian College in Madras. Her research focused primarily on cytogenetics, the study of chromosomes and their role in heredity. She made significant contributions to understanding the chromosome numbers of various plant species, particularly sugarcane and eggplant. Her work on sugarcane was instrumental in developing highyielding, diseaseresistant varieties.
Later, Janaki Ammal joined the Sugarcane Breeding Institute in Coimbatore, where she continued her research and made breakthroughs in intergeneric hybridization, crossing different genera to create new and improved plant varieties. Her expertise was highly sought after, and she was invited to work at the John Innes Horticultural Institution in London, where she conducted cytogenetic research on a wide range of plants.
In 1951, she returned to India and served as the Director of the Central Botanical Laboratory in Allahabad. She later became a Special Officer at the Botanical Survey of India in Calcutta, where she worked to preserve and document the country's rich plant diversity. Janaki Ammal's contributions to botany were widely recognized, and she received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career. She is remembered as a trailblazing scientist who broke barriers and paved the way for future generations of women in science. Her dedication to research and her profound understanding of plant genetics left an enduring legacy in the field of botany. She passed away in 1984, leaving behind a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.
