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The Remote Sensing community in general and Geologic Remote Sensing community in particular lost a passionate researcher, educator and leader owing to the untimely demise of Dr. Prashant Kumar Champati Ray, Scientist ‘G’ and Group Head, Geoscience and Disaster Management Studies Group, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun. Words are ineffable to express the sense of loss that the ISRS fraternity is feeling today. Dr. Champati Ray was a precious gem of multi-faceted enterprising qualities in the areas of education, research, management and administration. He established himself as an eminent remote sensing expert, well-regarded geologist, distinguished researcher, efficient administrator, dynamic leader, well-admired teacher and motivational colleague. He was one of the brightest scientists of his time in the area of geological remote sensing in general and Earth observation-based geological hazards and disaster management studies in particular.

Dr. Champati Ray was a passionate teacher who wholeheartedly believed that the first and foremost mandate of the profession is in imparting knowledge and supervision of the students not only from IIRS or other ISRO centres but also from other university/institution in the country and abroad. Due to his high reputation in the field of academics and keen interest to disseminate his vast knowledge and experience to the next generation, he has delivered more than 100 invited guest lectures at various national and international academic institutions/universities/R&D centres. He has supervised 12 research scholars and 120 + dissertation projects of the PG and UG students. Like a natural guru, he used to encourage intellectual exploration in the young researchers.

Dr. Champati Ray was a brilliant, innovative and creative researcher of the country. He has introduced and popularised GIS- and RS-based methodology for landslide hazard zonation, even now a poorly understood phenomenon in Himalaya, through various site-specific case studies. He was a pioneering researcher in Spatial Modelling for Landslide Incidence and Hazard Assessment, Earthquake Precursor Analysis and Seismic Hazard Studies. He was an ardent researcher to meaningfully harness and exploit the advantages of remote sensing, information technology and geospatial tools for societal benefits at the grassroot level particularly in the areas of geological hazards prevention. The studies in the areas of geological hazard assessment, mitigation, modelling and forecasting aimed at saving life and property in general and to implement such measures for the state of Uttarakhand in particular were very close to his heart. During the professional career of more than 30 years, he has successfully executed 18 research projects including two international projects. He worked with a large number of premier R&D organizations of the country and abroad. He has published more than 70 highly acclaimed scientific research papers in peer-reviewed international and national journals, more than 55 scientific research papers in the international and national seminar/symposia and more than 20 book chapters. In recognition of his scientific contribution in the area of remote sensing and geological applications, he was awarded with the prestigious PR Pisharoty Award (National Remote Sensing Award) in the year 2007 and many other honours, awards and appreciations.

Dr. Champati Ray was a born administrator in the areas of education and research. He served as the founder course director of the IIRS-ITC Joint Educational Programme (JEP) beginning with the PG course on Environmental Assessment and Disaster Management course. At a very young age, he served as the organising secretary of the ISRS National Symposium “Geomatics-97 on Disaster Management” in 1997 and ISRS International Symposium “Geoinformatics Beyond 2000” in 2000. He also served the position of Secretary, ISRS during 2002–2006. As the former Head, Geological Disaster Division, SAARC Disaster Management Centre, New Delhi, he has immensely contributed to policy, planning, research and capacity building for geological disasters mitigation in South Asia. Besides, he held the positions of member/advisor/chair of many prestigious committees of national and international significance.

Dr. Champati Ray was a great motivator to the youngsters and an empathetic leader. He always fought from the front to safeguard his subordinates and directed them for a brighter future along the path of uncompromising hard work and scientific innovations for achieving focussed goals in the niche areas. He had always been a caring person with a strong sense of commitment and a tremendous inspiration to his colleagues.

He was a vibrant and wonderful individual, always logical and systematic in his thinking and worked with integrity. He possessed an exceptionally upright personality who never compromised with the ethics and quality of science, administration and policy decisions for his personal benefit. Moreover, he was a highly sensible, supportive and kind-hearted human being who will be always missed in the hearts of his colleagues, friends, neighbours and the people at large who had ever come across him in the walks of life.

The Indian Society of Remote Sensing pays its sincere homage to Dr. Prashant Kumar Champati Ray and deeply mourns the shocking untimely demise of one of the brightest remote sensing professionals of the country. With heavy heart, we convey our sincere regards to the departed noble soul:

ek nishabdh, vinamra, ashrupoorn shradhanjali…

(In Hindi).