Background
Moti Lal Dhar was born on the 29th of October, 1914 in Srinagar (Kashmir). He was the son of Pandit Dina Nath and Posh-I-Kuj.
Moti Lal Dhar was born on the 29th of October, 1914 in Srinagar (Kashmir). He was the son of Pandit Dina Nath and Posh-I-Kuj.
Moti Lal Dhar received his early education (up to Intermediate Science) in Srinagar and then moved to Lahore (now in Pakistan) and joined the Forrnan Christian College, to do his Master of Science in Chemistry from the University Chemical Laboratories, Punjab University, at that time one of the most reputed Chemistry Departments in India.
Moti Lal had a brilliant academic career, securing a first division and first position in both the Bachelor of Science (Hons) (1936) and Master of Science (Chemistry) (1937) examinations and received the special Alumni Gold Medal and a university scholarship for research in the University Chemical Laboratories (1937-1938).
He then moved on to UK for higher studies. After being awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree of London University in 1940, Dr. Dhar returned to India.
On his return from England in 1940, Dr. Dhar joined the Drug Research Laboratory (DRL) of the Jammu & Kashmir State at Jammu. He served the DRL for about 10 years in the capacity of Chemist and Works Manager during which he helped to organize the production of drugs which were in short supply because of the Second World War.
In May 1950, Dr. Dhar joined the newly established Central Drug Research Institute at Lucknow (a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) as scientific Officer, in the Medicinal Chemistry Division, becoming Assistant Director and first Head of the Division in December in 1950.
In 1956-1957 he was a Rockefeller Fellow & Research Associate in California Institute of Technology (U.S.A.).
Moti Lal Dhar was married to Mohini, had two sons - Jawahar Lal Dhar and Naveen Dhar.