Jayant Biswas
A headshot portrait of Jayant Biswas
Biswas in 2019
Born1964
Raipur, Chhattisgarh
NationalityIndian
Alma materPandit Ravishankar Shukla University
OccupationSpeleologist
EmployerSelf Employed
Websitecaves.res.in/JB2022.pdf

Jayant Biswas (born 1964) is a leading Speleologist.[1] and Cave Activist[2][3][4][5] from the Indian subcontinent. Biswas obtained his PhD degree in Bioscience with a specialization in Biospeleology from Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India. Biswas organised the India-based very first research organization "National Cave Research and Protection Organization[6]", a National level Nonprofit organization.

Dr Biswas is a prominent cave researcher from the Indian subcontinent. His contributions in the field of Cave research in India appeared in priority whenever someone hunted for the topic on the internet[7]. Government or non-government agencies always consider Biswas as the authentic input source about Caves in India whenever required[8]. To honour his works, in the field of Biospeleology, in the year 2021 a cave cricket (species), Arachnomimus (Indimimus) jayanti Jaiswara,[9][10][11] was named on him.

Career edit

After PhD, in the early life of his career, Biswas served in a few institutions in either research and/or teaching-based positions. Later in the year 2009, he formed a Nonprofit organization "National Cave Research and Protection Organization" with some other researchers in India having a common interest in cave research. At the Indian National level, it is the very first institution in India dedicated to cave Studies[12]. He guided many students toward their Master's and PhD degrees. To create awareness of cave conservation issues, Biswas frequently organizes National and International level Workshop to train budding researchers for Cave studies [13][14][15].

Notable contribution edit

As an activist, Biswas opposes/warns various such programmes/activities which somehow harm the existing notable caves in India[16][17] In several occasions Biswas has urged the Indian government to frame a proper Cave Protection Act. A policy-based article on the same issue was published in Down to Earth[18] which has already been listed as Parliamentary Documentation (Vol. XLII; No.2. 16-31 January 2016)[19]. Dr. Biswas served as a part of the Biodiversity-related Strategy and Action Plan of such states of India which harbours remarkable subterranean caves. "[20] is published in the year 2019.

Editorial work edit

 
The first Text cum Research Reference book on "Cave Science" from India

On behalf National Cave Research and Protection Organization, the very first Text cum Research Reference Book from India, titled "Cave Science, Insight from the Indian Subcontinent"[21] is published in the year 2022. The book is Published by the National cave Research and Protection Organization, edited by Biswas[22]. This book contains a total of Eight Chapters, covering -Indian Caves, -Paleoclimatology, -Biospeleology, -Chiropterology, -Geomicrobiology, -Hydrogeology, -Palaeoanthropology and -Cave Conservancy.

Extra curricular edit

To create awareness about the caves in India Dr Biswas also started one YouTube channel, where he posts about the facts and figures linked with various caves of India[23]

Notable publications edit

  • Biswas, J. (2009): Kotumsar Cave biodiversity: a review of cavernicoles and their troglobiotic traits. Biodiversity and Conservation
  • Ruedi, M., Biswas, J. & Csorba, G. (2011): Bats from the wet: two new species of Tube-nosed bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Meghalaya, IndiaRevue suisse de Zoologie
  • Sinha, A., Berkelhammer, M., Stott, L., Mudelsee, M., Cheng, H. & Biswas, J. (2011): The leading mode of Indian Summer Monsoon precipitation variability during the last millennium Geophysical Research Letters
  • Sinha, A., Kathayat, G., Cheng, H., Breitenbach, S.F.M., Berkelhammer, M., Mudelsee, M., Biswas, J. & Edwards, R.L. (2015): Trends and oscillations in the Indian summer monsoon rainfall over the last two millennia Nature Communications
  • Li, H., Sinha, A., André, A.A., Spötl, C., Vonhof, H.B., Meunier, A., Kathayat, G., Duan, P., Voarintsoa, N.R.G., Ning, Y., Biswas, J., Hu, P., Li, X., Sha, L., Zhao, J., Edwards, R.L. & Cheng, H. (2020): A multimillennial climatic context for the megafaunal extinctions in Madagascar and Mascarene IslandsScience Advances
  • Harries, D.B.., Ware, F.J., Fischer, C.W., Biswas, J. & Kharpran-Daly, B.D. (2008): A review of the biospeleology of Meghalaya, India Journal of Cave and Karst Studies
  • Wynne, J.J., Howarth, F.G., Mammola, S., Ferreira, R.L., Cardoso, P., Di Lorenzo, T., Galassi, D.M.P., Medellin, R.A., Miller, B.W., Sánchez‐Fernández, D., Bichuette, M.E., Biswas, J. et al., (2021): A conservation roadmap for the subterranean biome Conservation Letters
  • Biswas, J., Sharma, K., Harris, K.K. & Rajput, Y." (2013): Biodeterioration agents: Bacterial and fungal diversity dwelling in or on the pre-historic rock-paints of Kabra-pahad, IndiaIranian Journal of Microbiology
  • Biswas, J., Shrotriya, S., Rajput, Y. & Sasmal, S. (2011): Impacts of Ecotourism on Bat Habitats in Caves of Kanger Valley National Park, IndiaResearch Journal of Environmental Sciences

References edit

  1. ^ "Arachnomimus Saussure, 1897".
  2. ^ "Ramesh petitioned against Lafarge plant in Meghalaya". The Economic Times. 16 November 2010.
  3. ^ "Ramesh petitioned against Lafarge plant in Meghalaya". The Times of India. 16 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Indian cave research body opposes Lafarge's mega cement plant". 21 November 2010.
  5. ^ "Meet the people uncovering the secrets of the caves". 4 June 2022.
  6. ^ "National Cave Research and Protection Organisation". caves.res.in.
  7. ^ "Of Caves and Cavernicoles: A Memoir of the World in Darkness". March 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "Chhattisgarh's Past Revealed". Geography and You. May 31, 2012.
  9. ^ "Ranjana Jaiswara, Monaal Monaal, Laure Desutter-Grandcolas (2021) The genus Arachnomimus Saussure, 1897 (Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae) in India, with a description of a new subgenus and species from a cave in Chhattisgarh, India".
  10. ^ "Explained: Why a new spider cricket from Chhattisgarh could be a significant discovery". 28 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Arachnomimus Saussure, 1897".
  12. ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Jobs & Careers". tribuneindia.com.
  13. ^ "Chhattisgarh forest officials plan to conduct mapping of Kanger Ghati National Park caves". theprint.in. 25 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Participants learn nuances of cave exploration in workshop". The Hitavda. 2024-02-26. p. 3.
  15. ^ "युवाओं ने जाना गुफा की खोज का रहस्य". epaper.haribhoomi.com.
  16. ^ "Govt urged to conserve caves in C'garh". 31 July 2017.
  17. ^ "Cavers join Meghalaya villagers against Lafarge cement plant". 16 November 2010.
  18. ^ Caving in. Down to Earth
  19. ^ "Parliamentary Documentation" (PDF). 16–31 January 2016.
  20. ^ "Meghalaya Biodiversity Strategy And Action Plan 2017-2030" (PDF).
  21. ^ "Current Science:Book Review" (PDF).
  22. ^ Biswas, Jayant (January 2022). Cave Science, Insight from the Indian Subcontinent. National Cave Research and Protection Organization. ISBN 9788193942307.
  23. ^ "Caves of India with Dr. Jayant Biswas". YouTube.