Graphic Era Hill University focuses not only on world-class education, but provides an experience to groom students as value-driven human beings, competent professionals and future leaders.
As the Pro-Chancellor, I consider it a tremendous honor and privilege to lead this esteemed institution and carry forward our ambitious strategy of addressing future challenges and opportunities for the greater benefit of our communities.
Since its establishment in 2011, Graphic Era Hill University (GEHU) has been quietly and persistently contributing fresh knowledge, human capital, and innovation to the engines of our society. Our commitment to excellence is unwavering, and in a relatively short span of time, GEHU has evolved into a multi-layered educational system offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. programs. Our dedicated faculty members create a nurturing environment where the brightest young minds from across the country are cultivated and nurtured.
The university has a diverse student population from various parts of the country and abroad, which adds to the rich cultural experience. At GEHU, we continuously strive to lead in innovation without yielding to transient intellectual trends. Our graduates are renowned for their intelligence, collaborative spirit, and entrepreneurial mindset. They leverage the creative space provided by GEHU to unlock their full potential. We actively foster entrepreneurship and innovation on our campus, facilitate campus recruitments, and connect our students to the global arena. I am filled with immense pride as I highlight that our university has surpassed the modest targets set during its inception. We have produced a highly skilled human resource that serves the nation across all walks of life and has made substantial contributions to the knowledge base.
I am genuinely delighted to have the opportunity to serve as the Pro-Chancellor of this glorious institution. Graphic Era Hill University pledges to the state, the nation, and the world that our endeavors will benefit all citizens. We invite you to join us in this thriving venture and contribute to our shared success.
Together, we will continue to pave the way for innovation, excellence, and transformative education. Let us collectively work towards creating a brighter future for Graphic Era Hill University, our communities, and the world at large.
Dr. J.Kumar was educated at G.B.Pant University of Agriculture & Technology (GBPUA&T), Pantnagar, 1975-1983; M.Sc.1977, Ph.D. 1983; and was Post-doctoral Fellow, International Rice Research Institute, Philippines, 1993-1996.
He served as Junior Research Officer/Asstt. Professor (1984-1986), Senior Research Officer/Associate Professor (1986-1996), Professor (1996-2007), College of Forestry & Hill Agriculture, Hill Campus, G.B.P.U.A&T., Ranichauri, (Uttarakhand); Professor & Head, Deptt. of Plant Pathology, Pantnagar, 2007-12; Director, Centre of Advanced Faculty Training in Plant Pathology, 2007-12; Director Research on deputation (Jan-June, 2007) University of Horticulture & Forestry, Ranichauri; Dean (2011 to 2016 and 2017-2020), College of Agriculture (also selected as Director Experiment Station, GBPUAT, 2012); Registrar (2010-2012, 2014-2016 and 2020-21), and Vice-Chancellor (2016-2017), GBPUAT, Pantnagar. Besides, he held several other additional responsibilities such as, Nodal Officer, Pantnagar Centre for Plant Genetic Resources; Coordinator, Biotechnology Programme; Coordinator, International School of Agriculture; Nodal Officer, GBPUAT-French (DEFIAA) Programme, etc.
He was Visiting Scientist at IRRI, Philippines, in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, Cornell University, USA, in 1999 and 2000 and INRA, France, 2004.
Dr. Kumar was honored with Prof. M.J. Narasinhan Academic Merit Award of Indian Phytopathological Society, 1985; Jawahar Lal Nehru Award of the ICAR, 1986; Pesticide India Award of Society of Mycology & Plant Pathology, 1987 & 2006; UTTRAKHAND RATTAN Award, 2007; Plant Pathology Leadership Award of Indian Phytopathological Society, 2012; ‘K.C.Mehta and Manoranjan Mitra Award’ of Indian Phytopathological Society, 2015; Dr. T.S.Thind Life-Time Achievement Award of Indian Society of Plant Pathologists, 2019; Life-Time Recognition Award of Confederation of Horticulture Associations of India, 2020.
He is a Rockefeller Foundation’s (USA) Biotechnology Career Fellow, 1998; Fellow, National Academy of Agriculture Academy (NAAS), 2015; Fellow, Confederation of Horticulture Associations of India (CHAI)-2019 and Trustee, Asian Agri-History Foundation.
Dr. Kumar served on various international and national committeees. Notably, he served as member, International Committee on “Biotic constraints to achieve attainable harvest” of the International Society of Plant Pathology as Indian Representative. He was member, Research Advisory Committees of many ICAR institites; Chairman, Advisory Committee of the National Fund for Basic, Strategic and Frontier Application Research in Agriculture; Member and Convener, V Deans’ Committee on ‘Higher Agricultural Education in India’, 2014; Member, ICAR’s expert committee to work out the Minimum Standards of Higher Agricultural Education, 2014, and Member, UGC Expert Committee, 2017. He also served on Board of Studies of several universities. He was Vice President, Indian Society of Plant Pathologists (2009-11).
Dr. Kumar served as Principal Investigator/Coordinator/ Co-Principal Investigator of 21 national and international competitive research projects (including multi-institutional and multi-faculty projects) funded by national and international agencies such as ICAR, NATP, DBT, RKVY, HTMM, DASP, Rockefeller Foundation, etc., besides five AICRPs of ICAR .
He published over 120 refereed research papers/reviews in international/national journals, including a review article for Annual Review of Phytopathology, and prepared several books, compendia, monographs, lab manuals published by international and national publishers. He presented his research in various conferences/meetings/workshops in India and elsewhere in the world and chaired sessions. Dr. Kumar is associated with the development and release of FOUR varieties of small millets for Uttarakhand hills. He has filed Nine Patents and One Patent has been granted.
He guided 25 M.Sc. and Ph.D. students in Plant Pathology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, of which several students received awards. He taught various undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Dr. Kumar is credited with establishing discipline of Plant Pathology at the Hill Campus of the University at Ranichauri and creating one of the most equipped Molecular-cum-Biocontrol and Plant Pathology laboratories besides establishing ‘state-of-art’ Biocontrol laboratory and an International School of Agriculture at GBPUAT, Pantnagar.