Aditya Kumar Mishra to take over as Mafsu VC

NAGPUR: The city-based Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (Mafsu) has got a vice chancellor after a gap of almost six months. Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan appointed Prof Aditya Kumar Misra as new Mafsu VC for a five-year term on Tuesday.
A hard-core researcher, academician and administrator, Prof Misra is currently working as professor of animal reproduction at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttar Pradesh.His rich academic, scientific and administrative experience earned him the VC's post.
With many firsts to his credit in animal research in country, including development of buffalo calf through freezing embryos, and first bull calf via embryo transfer, Misra was also involved in export of frozen semen to Brazil, China, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Thailand.
Born on January 6, 1957, in Moradabad, he did his graduation and post-graduation from Mathura. Prof Misra is recipient of the highest award of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), the Rafi Ahmad Kidwai award 2007.
Misra also has to his credit 30 international and 40 national journal publications and has authored seven books. As administrator, he has worked as director of 'Project on Cattle' of ICAR and as general manager of Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala run by National Dairy Development Board.
Speaking to TOI, Prof Misra said it was too early to speak about his plans for the university. He also clarified that he was not sure when he would actually take charge, since it would be some time before he can leave his posting. "I am certainly delighted to be selected for the post. But I will not speak anything about the university unless I take charge," he said.
Mafsu VC's post had fallen vacant after CS Prasad resigned on March 9 this year after about 10 months on the post. The governor had appointed a committee headed by former Supreme Court judge VS Sirpurkar, which had shortlisted five of the 32 candidates who applied for the post. Finally, the governor interviewed them and appointed Mishra to the post.
16 were called for an interaction with the selection committee headed by director general of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) S Ayyappan and secretary of Maharashtra animal husbandry department Anil Diggikar as other member. Director of Mumbai-based Central Institute for Research in Cotton Technology (CIRCOT) AJ Sheikh was the nodal officer for the selection process.
The committee besides Misra had shortlisted the director of research at Mafsu, L B Sarkate, associate dean of Mumbai Veterinary College, A M Paturkar, retired head of microbiology department of BVC, Abhaya Sherikar and the CEO of National Fishery Development Board, C Vasudevappa for the final interview.