1. A Tribute to Sh. Gian Chand Rampal
Shri Gian Chand Rampal was born on 23rd May 1923 in District Hoshiarpur, Punjab. He was the
youngest in the family. He nearly lost his eyesight as a young child but a regular medical treatment
due to the persistent efforts of his father, accompanied by divine intervention from Ma Chintapoorni
Devi, he regained his eyesight. From that age of roughly eight years, he never looked back. He
always stood first and won scholarships from class VIII. He went on to study in the prestigious
Foreman Christian College, Lahore. The day he completed his post-graduation (in Hons), the
Principal, an American pastor appointed him as a Lecturer in the same college. Professor F. W. Rice,
an American strongly recommended his case for studying abroad. However, those were turbulent
times and the country was divided into two.
He boarded a train to Delhi and travelled on the roof top paying a premium to enter Delhi. He had
started with four shirts, two trousers, one blanket and a shaving set. He had no house and even
volunteered to sleep outside the house of a family from his hometown during the winter of 1947 as
the house was full of refugees. From 19th November to 8th December 1947, he moved from one
office to another in search of a job. Finally he got a job at Hindu College, DU, Kashmere Gate, where
he was appointed for an initial period of eighty days. He continued to teach in Hindu College till
1988. He taught Botany and Zoology. Later he only taught Botany to Premedical, Botany (H) and
Zoology (H).
He got married on Basant Panchmi day to Bimla Rampal, whose elder sister was already
married to his first cousin, a Doctor of Medicine.
Apart from teaching, he was a keen sportsman and was President
of the Boat Club. The Boat club was set up under the auspices of
Vice Admiral Kataria of the Indian Navy. When the Hindu College
moved from Kashmere Gate to DU campus, he left the Boat Club.
The Boat Club was dissolved soon after his departure.
After the 1962 debacle, he also signed up for military training and
earned his commission from the prestigious Rajputana Rifles
Regiment Centre in Delhi. He later rose to the rank of Major in
NCC and attended several NCC camps and even did short stints at
the border. He passed a rock climbing course from the Indian

2. Army Rock Climbing Training Centre in
Porander, 40 Kms from Pune.
He was instrumental in setting up a Rifle
Range in Hindu College. His score in Rifle
shooting was amongst the best. He was very
popular even with the students he did not
teach due to his various extra-curricular
activities.
He was an ardent lover of plants and set
up the Botanic Gardens in Hindu College.
The college used to win nearly all the
trophies in the DU flower show when he was the garden in-charge. Several pine trees are
testimonials of his presence forever in the DU. He imported several acorns from the USA and
planted the White Oak Tree, a tree native to the Americas in Vaishali. As per a Red Indian
custom this tree spreads happiness and joy around it. White oak is the official state Tree of
Illinois after selection by a vote of school children. The white oak is also the state tree of
Connecticut and Maryland.
His student Prof B.P. Saxena, an ardent cactophile with
the largest cacti collection in the world is a living
example of his love for plants that he imparted to all his
students. He never allowed even his children to pluck
flowers as he said flowers are meant only for prayers to
God. Araucarias and Junipers thrived under his hand as
he cared for them.
He also did research on the plant Amanita muscaria with
Professor G. S. Paliwal as his guide. It was used as an
intoxicant and entheogen by the peoples of Siberia and has a religious significance in these
cultures. The Soma of the ancient Rig Veda texts of India is considered to be the same plant.
His students are prominent doctors, engineers, army officers, teachers and lecturers. Some of his
students attained the highest echelons in the medical profession and they had no hesitation in
making him sit in their chair whenever he visited them. His son saw it with his own eyes. Some of the
prominent doctors are
Dr. J.S. Bajaj, Former member, Planning Commission, President Emeritus, Diabetic Council of the
World.
Dr. N. N. Sood, prominent eye surgeon of AIIMS
Late Dr. L. K. Bhutani, a dermatologist.
Both Dr. Bajaj and Dr. Bhutani were made members of the Royal Society of Medicine in return for
their exceptional contribution to the Medical Science.
He was a great fan of Mirza Ghalib and used to enjoy reading and reciting the poet’s verses.

3. He had visited the Meenakshi temple in Madurai and was so impressed by its magnificence that he
named his eldest daughter, Meenakshi.
He was an admirer of Abraham Lincoln and when he had the opportunity to visit his younger
daughter in the US, he visited Gettysburg. He got himself photographed under Lincoln’s statue and
bought Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg speech printed on parchment paper.
His knowledge on the miracles of Indian herbs was immense and he would always advise people on
their medicinal values.
He served the Vaishali Resident Welfare Association as Secretary for some years. He used to be
extremely busy at that time working for the society.
He was always a loving father, an extremely loving grandfather and hardly ever scolded any of us.
Yet in his own way, he remained a strict disciplinarian and all of us grew up with a sense of
responsibility.
He has left a vacuum in our lives now and we will miss him a lot. Home will never be the same again.
Missing in the picture below are Maneesh and Nidhi and Keya and Kimaya. The two K’s were not
even born at that time.