R.P. Misra, Born in 1930, Prof. Misra did his BA (1952) and MA (1954) at the University of Allahabad, and Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, College Park, Md., USA in 1964. Author of 15 books and editor of over 30 volumes on Gandhian thought, local and regional planning, environment, and human development, Prof. Misra specializes in economic geography, urban and regional planning, sustainable development, Gandhian studies and peace research. After joining the University of Mysore, Department of Geography in 1965 as its head, he launched an interdisciplinary Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in 1968 and took over as its founder Director (1968-79).
He made a name in the field of Geography and local and regional planning both in India and abroad and was invited as Vice-Director of the United Nations Center for Regional Development (UNCRD), Nagoya, Japan (1979-83). Earlier, he was consultant/advisor at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, (UNRISD), Geneva, and UNDP, Teheran, Iran. Prof. Misra was Vice-Chancellor of Allahabad University (1984-87) and Professor of Regional Planning at Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University (1987-95). He was honoured with prestigious Bhoogol Ratna award by the Bhoovigyan Vikas Foundation, India.