Narendran, Thekke Kuruppathe (1944-2013)

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Born on 24th February 1944 at Trichur, Kerala, India, Dr. T. C. Narendran received his M.Sc degree in Zoology from the St. John’s College, Agra, India. After a short stint of early research career on reproductory biochemistry of insects, his interest shifted to the study of taxonomy of Parasitic Hymenoptera. He obtained his Ph.D degree in Zoology from the University of Calicut, and joined the Zoology faculty of the university in 1972. He became the professor of Zoology and later Head of the Department of Zoology at the University of Calicut (Retired in 2004 March).

(Provided by Himender Bharti 2013) Professor Dr. T. C. Narendran, the inspiration, is an exemplary academician as well as an insect taxonomist of distinction and repute. He has put in more than 40 years in teaching and research at the Department of Zoology, University of Calicut,Kerala,India. His research contributions to the science of taxonomy have been very substantive in realizing the faunal diversity of the Parasitic Hymenoptera not only of the Indian Region, but also of the other parts of the world. His contributions to the teaching and development of taxonomy have resulted in the training of a large number of taxonomists. He has been very successful in inculcating among the Indian biologists, especially a vast community of students and teachers, a growing interest in taxonomy by offering free expertise as well as identification services. He has had the opportunities to pursue his post-doctoral research on the systematics of Parasitic Hymenoptera, in reputed research institutions abroad, viz., The Natural History Museum, London, UK., CAB International Institute of Entomology, London, UK., The Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., USA., etc. He was privileged to have the advanced training under Dr. Z. Boucek, ‘the father of modern Chalicidology’, of CAB International, thus gaining the subtle expertise on his field of specialization. Some of his well-recognized contributions have come from his collaborative works with international scientists like Dr. Z. Boucek (London), Dr. D. Kovac (Germany), and Dr. K. Konishi (Japan). His pioneering works on the biosystematics of some of the families of Chalcidoidea are considered masterpieces. As a visiting scientist he has worked in some of the renowned museums of the world, like the British Museum of Natural History, London; U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington and a few others. Several Indian and overseas academic and research institutions have sought for his advisory and consultative services related to many programmes and projects on systematics and biology of Parasitic Hymenoptera. He has discovered and described more than 1043 species of insects, which represent nearly 1.7% of insect diversity known from India. He has to his credit more than 350 research papers published in scientific journals in India and abroad and also 9 books, including 6 research monographs. More than 25 students have so far been awarded doctoral degree under him. After his retirement as Professor and Head of the Department in 2004, Prof.Narendran is continuing his research on the taxonomy of parasitic Hymenoptera and currently 6 students are working under his guidance on a part time basis for their doctoral degrees. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the science of Insect Systematics, he has been conferred with the following honours and awards.

HONOURS AND AWARDS

The prestigious E. K. Janaki Ammal National Award for Taxonomy constituted by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India, for the year 2004. It carried a medallion, a scroll, and a citation and cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000 /- (Rupees One lakh -).

Recipient of Swadeshi Shastrapuraskaram in 2008 (His Excellency the Governor of Kerala presented the award)

Life Fellow, the Indian Academy of Science, Bangalore since 2000.

The Royal Society, London grant for Research at the Natural History Museum, London in 1979-1980.

The Harvard University, USA awarded Ernst Mayr grant for research at the Natural History Museum, London, in 2008

Visiting Scientist’s Research grant of the Smithsonian Institution at the Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Washington, D.C. in 1986.

Appreciation Certificate of USDA, Washington, D.C. for the achievements and accomplishments in research on Chalcididae in 1988.

Founder Fellow, Entomology academy of India, Chennai, since 2007.

The University Grant Commission’s Postdoctoral fellowship for research at Budapest, Hungary in 1994.

Life Fellow, Indian Academy of Entomology, Chennai, since 1999.

Elected Vice President, the Ethological Society of India, Bangalore in 2003.

Member of Research Advisory and Monitoring Committee (RAMC) for Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (Nominated by MOEF, New Delhi), 2006.

Member of the committee for Collaborative Research of National Biodiversity Authority - 2006

Member of the Research Advisory & Monitoring Committee of Zoological Survey of India

Coordinator of AICOPTAX on Hymenoptera

Chairman of Programme Advisory Committee(Southern Zone) of Zoological Survey of India

Member of Research Coordination Committee of Central Silk Board(Govt.of India

TAXONOMIC PUBLICATIONS

 * [[Media:Karmaly & Narendran 2006.pdf| Karmaly, K.A. & Narendran, T.C. 2006. Indian ants: genus Camponotus: 165 pp. Teresian Carmel Publications, Kerala.]]


 * [[Media:Narendran 1997.pdf|Sheela, S.; Narendran, T. C. 1997. A new genus and a new species of Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from India. J. Ecobiol. 9: 87-91 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Narendran 1998.pdf|Sheela, S. and T. C. Narendran. 1998a. On five new species of Tetramorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) from India. Entomon 23(1): 37-44.]]


 * [[Media:Sheela & Narendran 1998.pdf| Sheela, S.; Narendran, T.C. 1998b. A new species of the genus Paratopula Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from India. Geobios New Rep. 17(1): 23-26.]]


 * [[Media:Sheela, Narendran & Tiwari 2000.pdf| Sheela, S.; Narendran, T. C.; Tiwari, R. N. 2000. Redescription of a little known Myrmicine ant Recurvidris recurvispinosa (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rec. Zool. Surv. India 98(2): 93-98 PDF]]