Journal of the Geological Society of India | 2019
Rabi Narayan Mishra (1940–2018)
Abstract
Rabi Narayan Mishra popularly known among his colleagues and admirers as RNM was born on 2nd Sept 1940 at Cuttack, Odisha and obtained his master’s degree in geology from Utkal University in 1959 with a Gold Medal. He taught at Sundargarh Govt. College during 1959-60 and because of his inimitable style of teaching sprinkled with shlokas, he instantly became a role model for his students. Later he worked with the Coal Board during 1960-63 and was entrusted with the assignment of correlation of coal seams. He carried out detailed Mineral Exploration for coal, iron ore, base metals, limestone, manganese, chromite, gold, graphite and diamond in Indian Bureau of Mines (1963-66) thereafter in Geological Survey of India (1966-2000) with three and half years of deputation in the Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (1973-1976). He was deputed to UNO as expert on International Classification of Ore Resources (1979) and as an advisor on Mineral Industry to Emirate of Fujiarah (1982). He was awarded Ph.D on Exploration norms in Iron and Manganese ores in Sandur Schist belt, Karnataka during 1979 by Utkal University. He obtained PGDOM (Office Management) from IIMS during 1987. Dr. Mishra was associated with detailed geological study and exploration of iron and manganese in the Sandur Schist Belt of Karnataka, deciphering their sedimentary setting, metamorphic grade, structure and tectonic set-up. He identified Kumaraswami iron ore deposit for detailed exploration and exploratory mining. Because of his relentless involvement and contribution in iron and manganese exploration he was bestowed with the first S. Narayanaswamy award by Geological Society of India, Bangalore in 1982. While on deputation to MECL, he carried out exploration of Chiria iron ore deposit in Jharkhand state, considered as the single largest iron deposit of the country. As Director, Airborne Mineral Survey and Exploration (AMSE) wing (now RSAS), Bangalore he supervised exploration in Gadag and Hutti Gold deposits. He was transferred to AMSE Wing, Western Zone, Jaipur where he guided the basemetal exploration projects culminating in the discovery of hidden base metal deposit at Kayar, Ajmer district, which is now being mined by Vedanta Resources. This deposit is credited to be the first concealed deposit being discovered on the basis of aerogeophysical signatures. On his posting at State Unit: Odisha, he successfully implemented several investigation projects with focus on iron, manganese and gold exploration. On his elevation to the post of Deputy Director General, he served at GSI Training Institute, Hyderabad, Central Region, Nagpur and lastly Coal Wing, Kolkata till his superannuation in 2000. He left his indelible footprints in all spheres of GSI and had relentlessly pursued to popularize Hindi as a medium of scientific writing. He was UNIDO Fellow on Iron Ore Development in Philippines and Australia for 4 months in 1971. He acted as the Chairman of Expert Panel in Bureau of Indian Standards which brought out Publication 25195 : 1989 on norms of Mineral Exploration and nomenclature definitive and National Chairman of MPI 13 of BIS on Raw Material Standardization of Minerals and Ores (19962000). He received Society for Geoscientists and Allied Technologists (SGAT) Award of Excellence for conceptual modelling and success in Mineral Exploration, particularly of the Kayar basemetal deposit of Rajasthan in 1997 and Indian Science Congress Earth Science Group recognition for his contribution in metallogeny during 2000. He was member/fellow of many earth science organizations/societies viz. Geological, Mining, Metallurgical Society of India, Kolkata, Geological Society of India, Bangalore, Association of Exploration Geophysicists, Hyderabad, Society of Geoscientists and Allied Technologists, Bhubaneswar, Sedimentological Society of India, Varanasi, South East Asian Association of Economic Geologists, Raipur, Indian Geological Congress, Chandigarh, Odisha Science Academy, Bhubaneswar, Odisha Geological Congress, Sambalpur. He was the advisor and mentor to recently established Institution of Geoscientists, Odisha. He has been a prolific writer with up to 275 papers which includes scientific papers, review articles and popular science articles in English, Hindi and Odia. He used to write popular science papers in Sansara, Bigyan Diganta and Odia Jojana to popularize geology among the scientific community and enthuse the younger generation regarding the role of earth science in sustainable development. He is regarded as a erudite scholar, orator, researcher, an efficient geoscientist, able administrator and a source of inspiration to younger geoscientific community. He breathed his last on the 25th August 2018 at Hyderabad leaving behind his bereaved family – his wife Smt Kanaklata Mishra, daughters Dr. Minakshi and Mrs. Minerva. His irreparable loss will be felt by scores of his admirers, students and well wishers for many years to come.