KS Bhargava obtained his DPhil degree (1943) from the University of Allahabad and PhD (1948) from the University of London, UK. His areas of specialization were mycology, plant pathology and virology. He was Professor of Botany and Vice-President, DS Government College, Nanital; Professor and Head of Botany Department at Gorakhpur and Kurukshetra Universities and Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, Gorakhpur University.

Academic and Research Achievements: Bhargava worked on the cytology and nutrition of Saprolegniaceae in his early research career. Later, he studied the virus diseases of temperate fruits, cucurbits and sugarcane. His work shed light on the ecology and natural spread of the causal viruses and their relationship with the insect vectors. He also studied the antiviral activity of certain ferns.

Awards and Honours: Bhargava was a recipient of Panchanan Maheshwari Medal of Indian Botanical Society (1981) and Mundkur Lecture Award by Indian Phytopathological Society. He was a Fellow of Indian Botanical Society (President, 1970-71); National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad (President, 1971) and Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore. He was Honorary Fellow of Indian Phytopathological Society (President, 1975) and President, Indian Virological Society (1989-91).