Nil Ratan Dhar

Nil Ratan Dhar FNA, FRSC (2 January 1892 – 5 December 1986) was an Indian professor of soil science and chemistry at the University of Allahabad, known for discovering thermal and photo-chemical fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in the soil.[1] He was the brother of a freedom fighter Jiban Ratan Dhar. He was known as the "father of Indian physical chemistry."[2][3][4] Dhar was a founding member of many scientific organizations like The World Academy of Sciences,[5] the National Academy of Sciences, India and the Sheila Dhar Institute of Soil Science, Allahabad.

Nil Ratan Dhar
Born2 January 1892
Jolkhada, British India (now Jessore, Bangladesh)
Died5 December 1986(1986-12-05) (aged 94)
Calcutta, West Bengal, India
NationalityBritish India, India
Alma mater
Known for
  • Discovery of the process of thermal and photochemical fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in the soil
  • Dhar's theory of Photo-chemical Nitrogen Fixation
  • Father of Indian Physical Chemistry
Relatives
Awards
  • Griffith Prize
  • Asiatic Society Award
Scientific career
FieldsPhysical Chemistry, Soil Science
InstitutionsUniversity of Allahabad

Early life and education

He was born on 2 January 1892 in Jolkhada, British India (now Jessore, Bangladesh) to Prassana Kumar Dhar, a lawyer, his grandfather, Prem Chand Dhar, was a Zamindar of the place. and his mother Nirode Mohini Dhar, the daughter of a local zamindar.

He obtained his DSc from University of London in 1917. In 1919, he earned a doctorate of science in France. He was awarded honorary DCs from Banaras Hindu University, University of Allahabad, Jadavpur University, Gorakhpur University and Visva-Bharati University.

Awards and memberships

Dhar was elected a fellow of the Chemical Society of London (FCS) and the Institute of Chemistry (later the Royal Institute of Chemistry) in 1919.[1][n 1] In 1935, he was appointed a Foundation Fellow of the National Institute of Sciences of India (FNI, now the Indian National Science Academy.[6][n 2] Dhar was a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences, France and a foreign member of the French Academy of Agriculture. He was nominated for the Nobel prize four times. He was also a founding member of the Indian Chemical Society and the National Academy of Sciences, India, and the president of both organizations from 1933 to 1934 and 1935–1937 respectively. Though not a founding member, he also served as the president of the Indian Society of Soil Sciences. Dhar was also a member of the Society of Biological Chemists, India. In 1961, he became the General President of the Indian Science Congress Association.

Notes
  1. Both institutions merged in 1980 as part of the formation of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC); the post-nominal became "FRSC" from that time.
  2. Prior to 1970, the Indian National Science Academy was named the "National Institute of Sciences of India", and its fellows bore the post-nominal "FNI". The post-nominal became "FNA" in 1970 when the association adopted its present name.

References
  1. Misra, S. G. (1986). "Nil Ratan Dhar (1892–1986)" (PDF). Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Indian National Science Academy. 14: 1–53.
  2. "INSA :: Deceased Fellow Detail". www.insaindia.res.in. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  3. "Chemistry Tree - Nil Ratan Dhar". academictree.org. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  4. S; B, eep; hu (29 October 2018). "GOPAL KRISHNA PURANIKThe Life and Works of Gopal Krishna Puranik". GOPAL KRISHNA PURANIK. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  5. "Dhar, Nil Ratan". TWAS. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  6. "National Institute of Sciences of India: List of Foundation Fellows" (PDF). Indian National Science Academy. 1935. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
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