Kameshwar Sahai Bhargava was born on October 19, 1918 in Rewari, Haryana, India in the family of Shri Janki Prasad Bhargava and Smt. Gayatri Devi. Both father and mother were highly religious, strict disciplinarians and much respected selfless social workers of the area. This influenced the childhood and formative years Bhargava.
His early education was at Rewari and St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi. There after he joined University of Allahabad and graduated in 1937, earned Master of Science (Botany) in 1939 and Doctor of Philosophy (Botany) in 1943. Prof. Bhargava was all through a meritorious student. After serving for brief period at the University of Allahabad and Birla College, Pilani, Bhargava proceeded to England in 1945 on Central Government Overseas Scholarship, where he worked on properties of four strains of Cucumber mosaic virus and earned Doctor of Philosophy degree of the University of London in 1948.
Kameshwar Sahai Bhargava returned to India and served at the University of Allahabad, Banaras Hindu University and as Professor of Botany and Vice Principal at DSB Government College, Naini Tal. In 1958, University of Gorakhpur invited him as founder Professor and Head, Department of Botany. There he laid strong foundation of the Dept. of Botany and developed premier center of research in Plant Virology. Prof. Bhargava served this University till 1983 at positions of Dean, Faculty of Science; Dean, Faculty of Agriculture; Director, College Development Council; Pro Vice Chancellor and Vice Chancellor.
His pioneer works on temperate fruits, ornamentals, vegetables and sugarcane were widely acknowledged. Professor Bhargava strived hard to strengthen teaching program in Virology in India.
In recognition of his meritorious services, he was elected Fellow of Indian National Science Academy, National Academy of Science, India, and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India. He was also Fellow of Indian Botanical Society, Indian Phytopathological Society and Indian Virological Society. Professor Bhargava was elected President of Indian Botanical Society, Indian Phytopathological Society and Indian Virological Society. He served on various national and international committees.
Kameshwar Sahai Bhargava was a widely traveled person.
