School of Earth Science

The department saw eminent geologists like Prof. Singh, Prof. Lahiri, Prof. Verma, and many more shaping it through the decades. Key developments include UGC support, expansion into applied geology, and robust infrastructure for M.Sc. and Ph.D. studies.

Prof. S. C. Chatterjee took the charge of the Department on the 15th July, 1960, and immediately the developmental work had begun in a portion of the Vigyan Bhavan building allocated for this Department. It remained there till November, 1964, when it was shifted to Ujjain. As the Departmental building has been under construction, it was housed in the Library Building for about two years and could move finally to its own on the 5th of December, 1966. The department was fortunate to have Late Prof. Satya Charan Chatterjee, D. Sc., P. R. S., F. G. S., F. N. A. as its founder Professor & Head in 1961 (formerly J. N. Tata Professor of Geology, Patna University). With his extraordinary brilliance and visionary power, Prof. Chatterjee lifted this department to international level, particularly in the aspects of Petrologic studies. Prof. Chatterjee developed a dedicated team of sincere teachers and researchers which included Late Prof. D. K. Chakravarty (a geology teacher of national repute from Banaras Hindu University), Prof. Surendra K. Saxena, Late Prof. Gyananand Saxena (famous palaeontologist who later shifted to Sagar), Late Dr. S. Subba Rao (famous volcanic petrologist) and Prof. Ashok Lahiri (Professor at B. M. Birla Science & Technology Centre, Jaipur). Several eminent scholars served this department as faculty member for a short span of time during 1960-1963 includingDr. M. S. Rao, Dr. S. C. Mohan, Dr. Mahendra Singh, Dr. Harfan Ali, Dr. Ramesh. K. Shrivastava and Dr. Noman Ghani. The department shifted to Ujjain in 1964, temporarily in the Maharaja Jiwaji Rao Library Building, and finally to the present house in December, 1966. After his superannuation from regular assignments of Vikram University in 1970, Prof. Chatterjee was elevated as Emeritus Professor of Geology. Late Prof. S. C. Chatterjee had a list of achievements and contributions - just to name a few of them - member, International Petrologic Commission; Section President, Geology and Geography Section, Indian Science Congress; Chairman, UGC Standing Committee on Geology etc. Prof. Krishna Kant Singh took over as Head of this department in December 1971. Prof. Singh earned his basic degree in Geology from BHU, Varanasi and served in different capacity at IIT, Kharagpur, University of Sagar and University of Roorkee. He left this department in 1990 to take over as Vice-Chancellor of Jiwaji University, Gwalior. Prof. Singh gave a new dimension to the department by introducing the concept of Applied Geology. Prof. Singh, with his sincere efforts and approval of UGC, started one year course of Master of Science in Technology (Applied Geology) in Mineral Exploration. The course earned high reputation and, different national and international companies recruited these students through campus interview or by direct call letter. Prof. Singh was a UGC National Professor, a specialist in Ore Geology, a beloved teacher, a successful administrator and a perfect gentleman who took this department to the world of modern technology. Late Dr. Rao is well known for his contributions in the field of volcanic petrology and above all for his generous attitude towards life and environment. Another shock to the department was the sudden demise of Dr. N. K. Garg whose outstanding contribution to the Mount Abu Granite is a milestone in Granite Petrology and tectonic evolution. Prof. Adya Charan Chatterjee took over as Head of this department in January, 1990. He was educated in Geology at this department and joined as Lecturer in Geology in 1963. Like father-like son, Prof. Chatterjee, basically a Basalt Petrologist, served as Section President, Earth System Sciences, Indian Science Congress held at Patiala in 1996. Prof. Chatterjee nourished the trend of Applied Geology in the department and furthered the research activities in Igneous Petrology. Based on his outstanding contributions coupled with overall departmental research achievements, the UGC undertook this department in 1994 under its Special Assistance Programme with thrust area as Igneous Petrology and Palaeomagnetism (Rock Magnetism). After his superannuation from Vikram University service in 1998, Prof. Chatterjee is presently continuing as Visiting Professor at different Universities and is busy writing a monograph on Deccan Basalt. Prof. Rajkumar R. Nandgaokar, a student of this department, served as Lecturer, Reader and Professor in this department and was elevated as the Vice-Chancellor, Vikram University. He has innumerable contributions in the field of Fuel Geology and Environmental Geology. Dr. Umesh Chandra Singh (Ret. Professor of Geology at Jiwaji University, Gwalior) started his career from this department and moved to Raipur University as Reader in 1985. Shri Mukhendu Singh Pawar joined this department as Lecturer in 1986 and moved to Indian Revenue Services in 1987. Dr. Sayed Fazal Rahiman Khadri, a Basalt Petrologist, joined this department as Lecturer in 1989 and moved to Amravati University as Reader in 1996. Dr. Ramkrishan Murti a expert in crystallography & Mineralogy joined this department as Lecturer and moved to IIT Roorkee, Uttarakhand. The two supporting faculty members, Shri P. C. Joseph (specialist in Surveying) and Shri Jagdish Shrivastava (specialist in Geochemistry and a great musician) were associated with the department since beginning and superannuated in 1998. ​Prof. Pramendra Dev took over as Head of this department in August 1998 and was elevated as Rector, Vikram University. He has innumerable contributions in the field of Palaeobiology, Stratigraphy, Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology. After Dr. Dev was selected for the post of Professor in Aligarh Muslim University, U.P. while on lien from Vikram University, he served in the Geology Department of Aligarh Muslim University for many years and then again served as Professor in the Geology Department of Vikram University till his retirement. Prof. L. K. Richaria took over as Head of this departmentin 2000-2002. Prof. Richaria earned his basic degree in Geology from Dr. H.S. Gour V.V. Sagar M.P. He was basically a Hydrogeologist. Prof. K. N. Singh took over as Head of this department in January, 2013. Prof. Singh earned his basic to higher degree in Geology from BHU, Varanasi, U.P. He has innumerable contributions in the field of Fuel Geology, Ore Geology and Mineral Exploration. Professor Singh retired from the Geology Department in the year 2023 and even after retirement, he is continuouslybenefiting the teachers and students of the department with his academic experience and his rich knowledge of the subject by providing his services to the department from time to time as per requirement.He is continuously giving his invaluable contribution to the department from time to time. Prof. Pramod Kumar Verma took charge as Head of the Department of Geology in the year 2022. Prof. Verma obtained his M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees from this department and after getting appointed as a lecturer, he served the department as a reader and then as a professor. Prof. Verma enriched the subject by giving his invaluable services to the department in the subjects of structural geology, remote sensing and GIS. Along with the Geology Department, Prof. Verma held the post of Director in Map Cost, Scientific Advisor to the Government of Madhya Pradesh, as well as the post of Vice Chancellor of Barkatulla University Bhopal and currently, while adorning the post of Vice Chancellor of Maharishi Vedvyas University, he is continuously giving his invaluable contribution to the department from time to time. After Prof. Pramod Kumar Verma, Dr. Pavnendr Nnath Tiwari assumed the full-time charge of Head of the Department of Geology in 2023. Dr. Tiwari has acquired his complete qualifications B.Sc., M.Sc., M.Phil. Ph.D. and L.L.B. from Vikram University itself. Dr. Tiwari has also been the topper of M.Sc. year 2001 and M.Phil. year 2022 batch of Geology Department. Dr. Tiwari has been a member of the Board of Studies of the University due to his excellent qualifications during his student life itself. Dr. Tiwari was a member of the hockey team while being active in the sports activities of the University. Along with this, Dr. Tiwari has also obtained a primary degree in Tabla genre in the field of art from Indira Kala Sangeet University, Kheragarh M.P. Dr. Tiwari acquired complete qualification in Geology from this department and in the year 2007 he was selected as a lecturer in Geology Department. Dr. Tiwari has also been appointed as Joint Secretary, Secretary of Vikram University Teachers Association and Vice President of M.P. University Professors Association. Keeping in mind the obstacles faced by the backward class of the society in getting legal aid, he himself obtained legal qualification in law while working as a lecturer in Geology Department. Being knowledgeable in many branches of law, he has provided his services in various fields of law for many years from subordinate courts to the High Court. Being knowledgeable in law, Dr. Tiwari has made the legal profession proud by providing his free services to such people of the society who do not have knowledge of law and are also not financially capable and by providing justice to such people and women. Dr. Tiwari is a life member of District Bar Association, High Court and State Bar Council and has also been appointed as the Vice President of Ujjain District Bar Association. After serving in the field of law, Dr. Tiwari again joined the Geology Department and now Dr. Tiwari is continuously serving as the full-time Head of the Geology Department.