B. Pushpavathi, who represents Dharmapura constituency in Hunsur taluk in Mysore Zilla Panchayat, a multi-faceted woman member of the ZP. The reason: she has a Ph.D. in Botany. She takes both her duties seriously: not only is she continuing research and academic work, but she also keeps busy by addressing the grievances of her electorate.
Ms. Pushpavathi, who dreams to popularise an indigenous breed of mulberry plant (Mysore local or ‘Natikaddi’), is now on her way to make a presentation at the 4th international conference on ‘Medicinal plants and herbal products’ at the Medical Center Drive, Johns Hopkins University, Montgomery County campus, Rockville, USA.
She will present one of the chapters of her thesis at the conference scheduled from September 6 to 8. It is the second overseas presentation of her research topic. Ms. Pushpavathi, who earned her doctorate from Bangalore University last year, said: “I am delighted to share my work among the scholars in the U.S. I had attended a similar conference in Malaysia. I am looking forward to this.”
Her topic for her doctoral studies was on micropropagated mulberry plants, for getting better establishment and yield. “The once-popular indigenous variety of mulberry is on the verge of extinction as people have moved to hybrid breeds. I find time to conduct field trials to improve the breed. I came to know that mulberry leaves are used as anti-diabetic. The indigenous mulberry breed is best suited in rain-fed areas,” she explained. Politics happened to Ms. Pushpavathi all of a sudden. “When I got an opportunity to work for the people, I joined politics without a second thought. I contested the ZP elections on Congress ticket from Dharmapura and I won,” she said. “My education and knowledge helps me in serving the people.”
