World University Mourns the Fatal Loss of Professor Dr JS Bal.

World University Mourns the Fatal Loss of Professor Dr JS Bal.

World University Mourns the Fatal Loss of Professor Dr JS Bal.

The death of Dr JS Bal, Head and Dean Faculty of Agriculture has sent waves of grief among the students, and staff of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University Fatehgarh Sahib. Dr. Bal, who was a role model to many and was the befitting example of hardwork, dedication and active life, succumbed to heart attack yesternight.
Dr. Bal was a well-known academician in the field of fruit science, especially in Guava and Ber (Jujube). Dr. Bal had served the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana for 34 years in the Department of Fruit Science. Dr. Bal had immensely contributed in research field and has developed 3 Ber and 3 Guava varieties/rootstocks for fruit growers. Dr. Bal was awarded with ‘Shri Hans Raj Pahwa Award’ by PAU in 1998, ‘Distinguished Alumni Award’ by Khalsa College Amritsar in 2002, ‘Shri G.L.Chadha Memorial Gold Medal’ by The Horticultural Society of India in 2004, ‘The Best Citizen of India Award’ by I. P. H. New Delhi in 2006, and ‘Fellowship’ by The Horticultural Society of India in 2018. He was also honored with ‘Sanman Pattar’ at his hometown Ajnala by Punjab Govt. Minister in September 2001 in recognition to his contributions in the field of horticulture. Dr. Bal was also given ‘Best Paper Award’ by Punjab Academy of Sciences in February 2007 and by PAU in October 2010 in National Seminar. He had total 379 publications to his credit, which includes 11 books, 24 book chapters, 7 practical manuals, 162 research papers, 39 symposium papers and 119 technical articles, besides editing of a bulletin and a newsletter. He had guided approximately 174 research students.Dr. Bal was nominated as a member of Scientific Committee of 5th International Jujube Symposium, organized by International Society of Horticultural Science to be held at Baoding, China from Sept. 5-8, 2021. Earlier Dr. Bal represented India in 2nd and 3rd International Jujube Symposium held at Xinzheng, China in September 2011 and Brisbane, Australia in August 2014, respectively. He had delivered keynote address on “Use of rootstocks in Indian Jujube” in China and ”Development and Production of India Jujube” in Australia in the inaugural session of the symposium. He also presented his work on “Historic Ber Trees in Golden Temple Amritsar – 20 Years of Consistent Care” in 3rd IJS at Xinzheng, China in Sept. 2011. In recognition to his contributions in ber fruit crop, he was also the inducted member in International Scientific Committee Jujube 2016 Workshop, Bucharest, Romania and 4th International Jujube Symposium held at Istanbul, Turkey in 2018.
The University is deeply pained by the sad and sudden demise of Professor (Dr.) JS Bal. The University conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed God to grant peace to the departed soul and to give enough strength to his family to bear this unbearable loss.