In the history of Jammu and Kashmir’s intellectual and scientific progress, few names command the same respect and admiration as Professor Yog Raj Malhotra. A true son of the soil, he was born in Baramulla to Janaki and Rugh Nath Malhotra, the latter serving as a distinguished officer in the Provincial Forest Services during the reign of Maharaja Hari Singh and continuing his service after independence. From these humble yet intellectually rich beginnings, Professor Malhotra’s life became a story of brilliance, leadership, and unwavering dedication to education and research that transformed the academic landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.
His early education was spread across some of the finest institutions of the region. He began his schooling at Presentation Convent and Haddow Memorial School (now Tyndale Biscoe) in Srinagar, later studying at Government High School Muzaffarabad and CMS Anantnag. After matriculation, his academic journey led him to the Prince of Wales College, now known as GGM Science College, Jammu, where he completed his higher secondary studies. He graduated from the historic Sri Pratap College, Srinagar, which had long been a cradle for intellectuals of the valley. Even as a student, he displayed exceptional curiosity and discipline, qualities that would later define his scholarly pursuits. His pursuit of higher learning took him to Allahabad University—one of India’s oldest and most esteemed institutions—where he earned a Master’s degree in Zoology. His academic brilliance was evident throughout his university years. Returning home, he joined the University of Kashmir and completed his Ph.D. in Zoology in 1965, focusing on research that reflected both scientific precision and a deep connection to the natural environment of his homeland. In 1960, he married Ramma Chopra, daughter of Superintendent of Police Surinder Nath Chopra, beginning a partnership marked by mutual respect and encouragement for intellectual growth.
Professor Malhotra’s professional career mirrored his passion for knowledge and his sense of purpose in serving society through education. His first assignment was as a demonstrator at GGM Science College, Jammu, where his ability to communicate complex biological concepts with clarity earned him immediate recognition. Soon after, he was appointed Lecturer in Zoology at Government Degree College, Poonch. In 1961, he joined the University of Kashmir as Lecturer, marking the start of an illustrious career in higher education. By 1970, he had moved to the University of Jammu as Reader, where he was entrusted with the monumental task of setting up the Department of Biological Sciences. Under his leadership, the department flourished, becoming a center of excellence in research and innovation. During his fourteen-year tenure as Head of Department, he nurtured a generation of scientists and educators who carried forward his vision of integrating modern research with local relevance. His administrative acumen saw him appointed as the first Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of Jammu from 1988 to 1990. Two years later, in August 1992, he rose to the highest academic office as Vice Chancellor of the University of Jammu. In this role, Professor Malhotra became a reformer and institution builder who foresaw the changing demands of education in a globalized world.
One of his major achievements was the introduction of vocational and skill-based courses, long before such programs became part of the national educational framework. He recognized that higher education had to align with employment opportunities and social development. His efforts brought practical learning into classrooms, empowering students from rural and underprivileged backgrounds to gain employable skills. This approach bridged the gap between academic theory and the real-world economy, ensuring education served as a means of both personal and societal upliftment. Equally significant was his commitment to inclusive and region-sensitive education. He worked tirelessly to improve access to quality education across remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir. His initiatives in teacher training, curriculum modernization, and promotion of interdisciplinary learning transformed the University of Jammu into a progressive, future-oriented institution. Yet, amid modernization, he preserved the region’s cultural and intellectual identity, encouraging research that addressed local ecological and social concerns.
Professor Malhotra's advancements in scientific research, especially in Zoology, are remarkable. His investigations in fisheries biology put Jammu and Kashmir on India's scientific map. He created sustainable methods of utilization of aquatic resources while merging science with practical solutions for the benefit of rural communities who derived their livelihood from fisheries. Increasingly aware of the significance of global environmental issues, he took the initiative to form a separate Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Jammu—long before environmental education had gained a foothold in India. This department provided a framework for educating students to address environmental problems, and act as an advocate for sustainable development. His progressive spirit also led to the establishment of the Genetic Centre at the University of Jammu with support from the Department of Science and Technology, which eventually became a distinguished centre for cutting edge research and a diagnostic center for patients with rare hereditary disorders, therefore, linking science and health care. Through this arrangement, he demonstrated how applied contributions of scientific enterprise could also contribute to social welfare.
Professor Malhotra's contributions to scientific research, especially in the area of Zoology, are outstanding. His research in the field of fisheries biology placed Jammu and Kashmir on the scientific map of India. He developed sustainable practices for the use of aquatic resources while connecting science and practice for the benefit of rural communities that relied on fisheries for their livelihoods. With greater awareness about global environmental issues, he initiated the establishment of a separate Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Jammu – long before environmental education had entered the mainstream in India. The Department provided a platform for students to learn how to identify environmental challenges whilst promoting sustainable development more broadly. He was a true visionary in that he established the Genetic Centre at the University of Jammu, with the support of the Department of Science and Technology, which emerged as a premier centre of research and a diagnostic facility for patients with rare genetic disorders creating a direct and appreciated link between science and health care. He demonstrated and showed through these engagements the way applied contributions of scientific enterprise can also advance welfare in society.
His involvement with international academic communities went beyond research collaborations. While serving as the representative of the University of Jammu, he started building academic cooperations and returned with progressive ideas at international conferences in Malta, Germany, the UK, and the US that enriched the educational context of the region. These international collaborations established local practices in line with emerging academic norms while honoring the local uniqueness of Jammu academic community. At the same time, Professor Malhotra contributed to environmental conservation and developmental roles. He was integral to ecological surveys and studies that formed the basis for permits associated with hydroelectric projects like Baglihar and Sawalakote The latter were large and critical for Indus River basin development, regulated hydrological flows down-river; thus he supported development but, also advocated for sustainability to avoid environmental degradation. He supported and coordinated eco-development programs focusing on community-based conservation and livelihoods guided by sustainability principles of the Doda district.
His scientific curiosity also spread to bird and wildlife studies in the Himalayas. His research on migratory bird patterns and wetland conservation at Gharana, Mansar and Surinsar was pivotal in obtaining key information on biodiversity conservation. His surveys in Doda and Ladakh were vital in documenting the faunal wealth of these revisited frontiers. His work in promoting pisciculture, apiculture, fungiculture and cuniculture encouraged rural communities to build sustainable livelihoods by integrating scientific knowledge with a vernacular development process.
Professor Yog Raj Malhotra leaves behind a legacy of excellence based in empathy. He imagined universities to be the engine of social change where science and education could champion a new future. His professional life was committed to not just raising Jammu and Kashmir’s academic profile but also in prompting generations of scholars to think beyond traditional academic boundaries. A teacher, reformer, and scientist of exceptional distinction; he is a testament to what service to society can look like with through dedication, brilliance, and vision.
(Writer: Vivek Koul)
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