Port Blair, Nov 26: Dr.Tikam Chand Khatri, retired Associate Professor and HoD Zoology in JNRM passed away suddenly at his native place Suratgarh on 24 Nov 2017 after a massive heart attack.
Dr.Khatri joined JNRM in 1987 and retired on 2015. He became well-known in the Islands as the “Butterfly Man of Andaman.” For his work on the endemic species of butterflies he was conferred with the Lieutenant Governor’s Commendation Certificate in the year 2009. A new sub-species of butterfly found in Hut Bay has been named after him as Khatri’s Great Orange Tip (Hebomoia glancippe khatri) by Suzuki, a scientist from Japan.
Dr. Khatri was also invited to Japan to take part in advanced breeding techniques of butterflies in 2000. Based on is work on endemic butterflies of the Islands India Post has printed a set of four postage stamps on two butterflies.
He published many research publications in national and international journals.
In the passing of Dr Khatri the College and the Islands have lost a great scientist and nature lover. A condolence meeting was held in JNRM yesterday in his memory.
