Man Mohan Sharma (born 1 May 1937) is an Indian chemical engineer.[1] He was educated at Jodhpur, Mumbai, and Cambridge. At age 27, he was appointed Professor of Chemical Engineering in the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai.[2] He later went on to become the Director of UDCT, the first chemical engineering professor to do so from UDCT.
Sharma obtained Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (1958) from UDCT and subsequently MSc (Tech) in 1960. He obtained PhD (Chemical Engineering) (1964) at Cambridge University with Peter Danckwerts. In 1964, he returned to India as Professor at the University of Bombay, and later became Director of the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT) (now the Institute of Chemical Technology).[4] He served as Professor for 33 years at UDCT, along with 8 years as Director of this institute.[1]
Academic career
Sharma made contributions to chemical engineering science and technology. His studies on Bronsted based catalysis in CO2 hydration (published in the Transactions of Faraday Society) and subsequently kinetics of COS absorption in aqueous amines and alkanolamines brought out linear free energy relationship between CO2 and COS absorption in solutions of amines and alkanolamines. He has contributed extensively on the role of microphases in multiple reactions which he pioneered. He also became an independent Editor of Chemical Engineering Science at a young age. He taught different subjects in chemical engineering and encouraged his doctoral students, from the very beginning, to publish independently their work in renowned journals.
Under his stewardship, UDCT was granted autonomy by the UGC and the Institute increased the number of PhD graduates.[1]
Biography
In June 2025, a biographical book titled Divine Scientist[5] was published, chronicling the life and contributions of Professor Man Mohan Sharma.[6] The book, authored by Anita Patil and published by Sundaram Digital Publication House, highlights Prof. Sharma's academic journey, pioneering research in chemical engineering, and his role in shaping scientific education in India.[7][8][9] The biography was launched at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai, where he served as Director for many years.[10][11][5]
The book has also been translated into Marathi by Soniya Khare, expanding its accessibility to regional readers.[12]
Awards
Sharma is a recipient of a number of prestigious academic honours and awards including the 1977 Moulton Medal of the Institution of Chemical Engineers,[13] and is himself commemorated in the M M Sharma Medal awarded by the same institution for outstanding research contributions.[14]
He has been honoured by several universities including IITs by honorary doctorates.[citation needed]
In 2025, Sharma's biography written by Anita Patil, titled The Divine Scientist, was released in English and Marathi (Gurunam Guruhu).[7] During this book launch ceremony, his former student Mukesh Ambani announced an unrestricted gift of ₹151 crore (equivalent to US$16.7 million) to the Institute of Chemical Technology to honor Sharma.[17][8][18]
^ ab"Prof. Man Mohan Sharma". Chemical & Materials Eng., The University of Auckland. Archived from the original on 12 January 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
^"Padma Awards"(PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original(PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
