Yeleswarpu Siva Rama Krishna Sarma did his PhD (1958) from University of London, UK. He worked as Head (also Dean of Students), Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.

Academic and Research Achievements: Dr Sarma was deeply interested in algal cytotaxonomy and cytogenetics. He investigated algal karyology of 438 algal taxa comprising Chlogophyceae, Dinophyceae and Englenineae. He determined chromosome numbers and found that nearly 90% of taxa bore new records. His karyological investigations showed the existence of a variety of life cycle patterns, polyploid races and cytological races. A number of cytotaxonomic investigations were done critically. He carried out morphological and physiological observations on algal taxa, and taxonomical studies on charophytes and freshwater Dinophyceae. He co-authored the book Algal Taxonomy in India (with M Khan).

Other Contributions: Sarma served as Member of many UGC committees; Editorial boards of Cell Chromos Res and J Cytol Genet. He was Fellow/Member of the Indian Botanical Society (sometime President), Indian Phycological Society, and Linnaean Society, London.

Awards and Honours: Dr Sarma won Gold Medal of the Indian Botanical Society (1983).