Born in Bhatpar Rani, Deoria, India on 10 October 1942. Educated at Saugar University, Rewa, B.Sc. 1961; Banaras Hindu University, M.Sc. 1963 & Ph.D. 1967; Technical University, Hannover, Germany, 1967-68; National Women's University, Nara, Japan, as JSPS Fellow, 1972-73.
Prof. 1993-2005 and Head, 1991-93 and 1999-2002, Department of Mycology & Plant Pathology, IAS, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi; JSPS-Visiting Professor at University of Hokkaido, Sapporo, Japan, 1996-97.
Awards/Honours: Indian Phytopathological Society M.S. Pavgi Lecture Award, 1998; ICN Dr. H. Mori Award, 2000; Vigyan Bharti National Award, 2001; Neem Ratna Award, 2002; ICN Dr. J. Nag Memorial Award, 2002, and Zhu Shoumin Award, 2004.
Fellow: International College of Clinical Nutrition; National Academy of Sciences, India.