GANGTOK, 03 July: Respected forester and plantsman, KC Pradhan, who has also served Sikkim as its Chief Secretary, will, one Monday, become the first Indian and only the third Asian to receive the prestigious Veitch Memorial Medal of the Royal Horticulture Society, United Kingdom.
The RHS announced Mr. Pradhan’s name for this year’s VMM along with three others at its annual general meeting convened on 01 July, last Friday. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 04 July, Monday, at the Hampton Court Palace Premiere Flower Show- the largest flower show in the world. Mr. Pradhan will however not be able to travel to England and the award, which will be presented by Princess Alexandra, will be received on his behalf by a nominee of the president of the RHS. BBC 2 (in UK) will telecast the awards ceremony on 04 July at 7.30pm.
The VMM was instituted in the year 1870 in the memory of James Veitch of Chelsea in UK. The Royal Horticultural Society, the UK’s foremost gardening charity, is more than two centuries old [formed in 1804]. The VMM is a prestigious prize issued annually by the Royal Horticulture Society to persons of any nationality who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement and improvement of science and practice of horticulture. The Society’s other award, the Victoria Medal Honour is open only to subjects of Great Britain.
Mr. Pradhan, an RHS communiqué informs, is being awarded “for his important role in developing the flower growing industry in India”.
In a more detailed introduction to Mr. Pradhan, the Royal Horticulture Society adds: “Keshab Pradhan saw eco-tourism as an engine of economic growth in Sikkim, India, and made the country special as a tourist destination. Amongst his many roles he also played an important part in developing the flower growing industry of the region and was Chief of Forest Services in Sikkim, retiring as Chief Secretary to the Government. Keshab had devoted the last 18 years of his life to gardening, disseminating his knowledge of nature conservation and floriculture, and has written three books.”
As mentioned, Mr. Pradhan is the first Indian to receive this honour. The two Asians who have received this award before him are Chen Hang of China in 1990 and Haruhiko Nagata of Japan in 2010. Among the many other eminent persons who have been awarded in previous years were Sir David Prain (1925), George Forest (1927), Sir William W.Smith (1930), Francis Kingdom Ward (1934), Roy Lancaster (1972), Daniel John Hinkley (2007) and sixty others in its 140 years of history.
The other recipients of the VMM this year are: Graham Ross, Christopher Bailes and Rosemary Alexander. Graham Ross has made a significant contribution to the promotion of gardening throughout Australia. Christopher Bailes served as curator at RHS Garden Rosemoor for 22 years, and is still an active member of the RHS Orchid Committee. Rosemary Alexander has been committed to the teaching of the art and profession of garden design and botanical art both in Britain and abroad.
The VMM is a respected award and recipients are entitled to use this status title after their names.
Congratulations are definitely in order for Mr. Pradhan on this unique and prestigious honour and thanks are due as well for having reflected glory on Sikkim with his passionate work which continues to receive due recognition.
The RHS announced Mr. Pradhan’s name for this year’s VMM along with three others at its annual general meeting convened on 01 July, last Friday. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 04 July, Monday, at the Hampton Court Palace Premiere Flower Show- the largest flower show in the world. Mr. Pradhan will however not be able to travel to England and the award, which will be presented by Princess Alexandra, will be received on his behalf by a nominee of the president of the RHS. BBC 2 (in UK) will telecast the awards ceremony on 04 July at 7.30pm.
The VMM was instituted in the year 1870 in the memory of James Veitch of Chelsea in UK. The Royal Horticultural Society, the UK’s foremost gardening charity, is more than two centuries old [formed in 1804]. The VMM is a prestigious prize issued annually by the Royal Horticulture Society to persons of any nationality who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement and improvement of science and practice of horticulture. The Society’s other award, the Victoria Medal Honour is open only to subjects of Great Britain.
Mr. Pradhan, an RHS communiqué informs, is being awarded “for his important role in developing the flower growing industry in India”.
In a more detailed introduction to Mr. Pradhan, the Royal Horticulture Society adds: “Keshab Pradhan saw eco-tourism as an engine of economic growth in Sikkim, India, and made the country special as a tourist destination. Amongst his many roles he also played an important part in developing the flower growing industry of the region and was Chief of Forest Services in Sikkim, retiring as Chief Secretary to the Government. Keshab had devoted the last 18 years of his life to gardening, disseminating his knowledge of nature conservation and floriculture, and has written three books.”
As mentioned, Mr. Pradhan is the first Indian to receive this honour. The two Asians who have received this award before him are Chen Hang of China in 1990 and Haruhiko Nagata of Japan in 2010. Among the many other eminent persons who have been awarded in previous years were Sir David Prain (1925), George Forest (1927), Sir William W.Smith (1930), Francis Kingdom Ward (1934), Roy Lancaster (1972), Daniel John Hinkley (2007) and sixty others in its 140 years of history.
The other recipients of the VMM this year are: Graham Ross, Christopher Bailes and Rosemary Alexander. Graham Ross has made a significant contribution to the promotion of gardening throughout Australia. Christopher Bailes served as curator at RHS Garden Rosemoor for 22 years, and is still an active member of the RHS Orchid Committee. Rosemary Alexander has been committed to the teaching of the art and profession of garden design and botanical art both in Britain and abroad.
The VMM is a respected award and recipients are entitled to use this status title after their names.
Congratulations are definitely in order for Mr. Pradhan on this unique and prestigious honour and thanks are due as well for having reflected glory on Sikkim with his passionate work which continues to receive due recognition.
WOW!!!! it's a great honour to the country, the state, to the people of Sikkim and to your efforts Sir. Congratulations and Thank you for making us proud. This I guess means a lot more work for you Sir.
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