The Calcutta Herbarium : an Introspection

The Calcutta Herbarium (CAL) was initiated by William Roxburgh in 1793 with his own specimens of the Coromandel-Coast. His studies drew attention of the world Scientists to tropical flora. Nathaniel Wallich involved the world authorities in determining the specimens accumulated in CAL and those stored in the India Museum, London. He was uncharitably blamed for destroying the herbarium. He wished the most complete set to be sent to Calcutta. But it was ultimately sent to Kew, know as K-W. Nine botanists who worked in India collaborated in writing out 80 families in Hooker's Flora of British India. Sir George King managed to get the garden transferred from the Imperial to the Provincial Government charge. Soon he was disillusioned. He managed some contingency funds from the Imperial Government in 1890 in the name of Botanical Survey of India. No post or office was created. Botanical Survey of India was reorganized in 1954. The topmost priority of working out the flora of India has never been given due attention. State and District Floras were given untimely priority. 50% of 220 Scientific personnel in B.S. I. if properly deployed could write the Flora of India in twelve years to be followed up with compilation therefrom of all the State and District Floras. The remaining 50% the scientific staff could be fruitfully utilized for other important branches of study like economic botany, ecology, cytotaxonomy etc., all aiming at the welfare of man.