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Nil Ratan Dhar

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Nil Ratan Dhar
Born2 January 1892
Jolkhada, British India (now Jessore, Bangladesh)
Died5 December 1986(1986-12-05) (aged 94)
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
RelativesJiban Ratan Dhar
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsPhysical Chemistry, Soil Science
InstitutionsUniversity of Allahabad

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.

Early life and education

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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

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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

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  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

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  1. ^ a b 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.