Youths paying floral tribute to the portrait of M S Krishnan.

TRICHY: Recalling the contributions of a noted geologist Maharajapuram Seetharaman Krishnan also called M S Krishnan , an instrumental person in discovering fossil tree at Sathanur that brought global attention to the tiny village in Perambalur district , villagers mostly youths and school children on Saturday paid rich tributes to the first Indian to have served as Director of Geological Survey of India (GSI).

Geological study states that about 120 million years ago, Bay of Bengal that lies about 100 km east of Sathanur in Perambalur district now was said to have penetrated at least 10 km to the west of Sathanur, burying and petrifying animals and natural resources. Among the objects buried in course of time, a petrified tree trunk measuring for about 18 metre was first reported by geologist M S Krishnan in 1940. Since then, the fossil tree discovered and national fossil wood park was established in Sathanur fetched significant status in geological history of Tamil Nadu.

To commemorate the findings of noted geologist who brought honours to Sathanur, locals mostly youths and students have been observing the birth anniversary of M S Krishnan since 2017, at the fossil park campus.

“Fossil tree discovered in Sathanur is a treasure trove for geologists. After the discovery of fossil tree, our district and village became familiar to a large number of researchers across the globe,” Ragavan Sivaraman, organiser of the event said. As many as 100 packets of native vegetable seeds were distributed to visitors besides a pamphlet conveying history of fossil tree kept for display. Born in 1898, M S Krishnan was appointed as first Indian Director of Geological Survey of India in 1951. Awarded with third highest civilian award Padma Bhushan in 1970, his book ‘Geology of India and Burma’ is considered a bible of geology students. M S Krishnan died on April 24, 1970.

