Ilabanto Banerji obtained his DSc degree (1945) from the University of Calcutta. His specialization was in Botany (classical). He was Head, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta.

Academic and Research Achievements: Banerji's contributions relate to the cytology and embryology of species belonging to about 20 plant families, including morphology of inflorescence, flower and fruit and the mode of development of endosperm and embryos in them. His publications on the life history of Barbula indica covering the morphology, anatomy and cytogenetics of Polypodiaceae and Parkeriaceae, flora of Manipur and of grasses of 24-Parganas need particular mention. His was the first to report on the chromosome number of the Indian cotton.

Awards and Honours: Banerji was a Fellow of Indian Botanical Society (President 1960); Linnaean Society (London); and Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore. He was the President of Botanical Society of Bengal (1955-57).