PROF. MEWA SINGH TO CONTINUE RESEARCH WORK EVEN AFTER RETIREMENT
By S.N. Venkatnag Sobers
He needs no introduction among faculty, students and administrative staff of the University of Mysore. But, for the benefit of our readers, we would like to introduce one of the best wildlife biologists in the country, Prof. Mewa Singh, who has reached great heights in the field of psychology, especially in the study of animal behaviour.
Though he has been teaching psychology at the University of Mysore for over three decades, Prof. Mewa Singh wants to be identified as a wildlife biologist.
Prof. Mewa Singh completed his Master in Psychology from Punjab University, Chandigarh and joined as a Research Fellow at Meerut University. At the time when he was doing research on wildlife at Himalayas, he met Prof. Krishnan, who asked to him join the University of Mysore. In 1974, Prof. Mewa Singh joined the University as a Research Fellow and later in 1977 as a lecturer in the Department of Studies in Psychology and never looked back.
After completing his long and fruitful service at the University of Mysore, Prof. Mewa Singh retired recently. Though he has retired, he is seen in the department working on the projects he has been assigned by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Prof. Mewa Singh has been teaching for the past 35 years and continues to do so even after his retirement. He can be seen busy with his books and other research materials sitting along with his students.
Prof. Mewa Singh is not only recognised among the wildlife biologists of India but has gained international recognition. He has attended several conferences organised in countries such as USA, Germany, South Africa, Cambodia, Australia, Russia, Kenya and Madagascar.
Students from many foreign universities have been trained under Prof. Mewa Singh during their doctoral or post-doctoral programmes.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, Prof. Mewa Singh attributed his success to the University of Mysore, which according to him, has supported him in all his endeavours. He added that he joined the University of Mysore as a Research Fellow and retired as Professor and all through this, he has been treated fairly and never felt let down.
Currently, Prof. Mewa Singh has been working on a three-year research project on monkeys. He is studying four different monkey species which include Lion Tailed Monkey, Bonnet Monkey, Common Langur and Nilgiri Langur.
I am now free from teaching and administrative works. Now, I can spend a lot of time on my research activities, said Prof. Mewa Singh speaking after his retirement.
For him, it is not classroom or the laboratory which makes a person a scholar, but research works in the field. Prof. Mewa Singh, apart from teaching his students, has spent a lot of time in the forest studying different species of animals and plants.
Nothing is there inside the laboratories. Though it is needed for academic purposes, it is important that every student visit forests and conduct research works to grow as a wildlife biologists, said Prof. Mewa Singh.
He also said that there were not many good research works that were taken up by scholars and students though sufficient funds were available. Earlier, there was a dearth of funds for research works in India, but good research subjects are lacking now, said Prof. Mewa Singh.
There are about 1,000 species of birds and plants in the country which need to be studied. Our biological questions which are located outside the laboratories needs to be answered.
With people like Prof. Mewa Singh taking the initiative to work for the cause of environment even after retiring from service, it is also the responsibility of youngsters to carry forward the works done by such experts to ano- ther level and help in conservation of wild animals and natural resources.