The correct answer is: Dr. M. R. Thakur.
Dr. M. R. Thakur was the first Vice-Chancellor of Horticulture University Nauni, Solan. He was a renowned horticulturist and served as the Vice-Chancellor from 1978 to 1984. He was instrumental in the establishment of the university and its growth into a premier institution of higher learning in horticulture.
Dr. Thakur was born in 1929 in the village of Thakurdwara in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. He received his early education in the village school and then went on to study at the Government College, Solan. He obtained his B.Sc. degree in Agriculture from the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in 1951. After completing his B.Sc. degree, he joined the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) as a Research Assistant. He worked at the ICAR Research Station, Shimla for two years. In 1953, he was awarded a scholarship by the ICAR to study for his M.Sc. degree in Horticulture at the University of California, Davis. He obtained his M.Sc. degree in 1955.
After completing his M.Sc. degree, Dr. Thakur returned to India and joined the ICAR Research Station, Nauni, Solan. He worked at the Research Station for two years. In 1957, he was awarded a Ph.D. degree in Horticulture by the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. His Ph.D. thesis was on the “Studies on the growth and development of apple trees”.
After completing his Ph.D. degree, Dr. Thakur joined the Department of Horticulture, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana as a Lecturer. He was promoted to the post of Reader in 1962 and to the post of Professor in 1967. He served as the Head of the Department of Horticulture from 1972 to 1978.
In 1978, Dr. Thakur was appointed as the first Vice-Chancellor of Horticulture University Nauni, Solan. He served as the Vice-Chancellor till 1984. During his tenure as the Vice-Chancellor, he played a key role in the establishment of the university and its growth into a premier institution of higher learning in horticulture.
Dr. Thakur was a prolific writer and published over 100 research papers in national and international journals. He also authored several books on horticulture. He was a member of several national and international scientific bodies. He was also a recipient of several awards, including the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India.
Dr. Thakur passed away in 2008. He was a great scientist and educationist who made significant contributions to the field of horticulture. He will be remembered for his pioneering work in the field of horticulture and for his contributions to the development of the Horticulture University Nauni, Solan.