Close on the heels of the highly acclaimed biography of Padma Vibhushan Professor M.M. Sharma, Divine Scientist—published in both Marathi and English and already running into reprint editions comes another remarkable publication from Sundaram Digital Publication House: a beautifully crafted Coffee Table Book, titled Prof. M.M. Sharma – Guru of Gurus and The Alchemist of India.
This volume is a compelling visual narrative that captures the extraordinary life, achievements, values, and enduring legacy of one of India’s most celebrated chemical engineers, scientists, educators, researchers and industry mentors. Through a rich collection of photographs, anecdotes, reflections and personal tributes, the book presents a vivid portrait of a man whose influence has shaped and is shaping generations of scientists, engineers, industrialists and academic leaders.
Professor M.M. Sharma is nothing short of a phenomenon in the Indian and global scientific community. His life story exemplifies intellectual brilliance, unwavering dedication and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
A Pictorial Journey
The Coffee Table Book begins by bringing together reflections and recollections from eminent scientists, industrialists, academicians and former students who have interacted closely with Professor Sharma over several decades. Their tributes provide valuable insights into the qualities that have made him an institution in himself.
The pictorial journey traces his life from his school days in Jodhpur, through his student years and distinguished academic career at the then University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT), Mumbai. It follows his progression from student to professor and eventually Director of the institution, which later evolved into the globally respected Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT). The narrative also recounts his doctoral studies at Cambridge University under the renowned Professor Peter Danckwerts and his subsequent return to India, where he devoted himself passionately to teaching, research and institution- building. Even his personal life from marriage to children to grandchildren are well captured, through well selected pictures with narration.
What They Said
One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in the distinguished voices it brings together.
Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, a doyen of Indian science and also a student of Prof Sharma, recalls Sharma’s mastery of frugal innovation, noting how, in an era of limited resources, he demonstrated that groundbreaking research is driven more by ideas than by money. His famous dictum, “Money does not matter. Ideas do matter,” remains a powerful inspiration. Mashelkar also emphasises Sharma’s uncompromising commitment to excellence, ethics, honesty and principles; his rare ability to combine academic excellence with industrial relevance; his global recognition exemplified by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK) establishing the prestigious Sharma Medal; and his complete indifference to high positions and titles, choosing instead to remain, throughout his life, a quintessential professor.
Professor J.B. Joshi, himself a towering figure in chemical engineering, describes Professor Sharma as a living legend whose research accomplishments are unparalleled in independent India. He points out that Sharma conducted his entire research career within a state university—an extraordinary feat considering the global impact of his work. Joining UDCT as a full professor at the astonishingly young age of 27, he built a world-class research ecosystem with limited resources but limitless imagination. His insistence on maintaining academic standards and his lifelong dedication to teaching are themes that recur throughout the book.
Professor Aniruddha Pandit, Vice Chancellor of ICT, captures another dimension of Sharma’s personality, describing him as a beacon of academic rigour, integrity and encyclopaedic knowledge. To generations of students, “MMS” has represented intellectual excellence coupled with remarkable accessibility and mentorship.
Dr. Sunil Bhagwat fondly recalls Sharma’s classroom lectures as transformative experiences. Rather than merely explaining concepts, Professor
Sharma inspired students to envision possibilities, applications, and future innovations. His teaching transcended textbooks and connected science with real-world impact.
Among the most memorable tributes is that of Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, who describes Professor Sharma as “an alchemist, not of metals, but of minds.” Ambani eloquently observes that Sharma possesses the rare ability to transform curiosity into knowledge, knowledge into commercial value and ultimately into wisdom. Particularly striking is Sharma’s philosophy that industries should not think in terms of by-products but co-products—an approach that aligns economic value creation with environmental stewardship scientific.
Professor Vilas Gaikar praises Sharma’s unique ability to bridge depth and industrial vision. Whether in laboratories, boardrooms or policy forums, Sharma consistently championed higher standards of research and greater global competitiveness for Indian institutions.
Industrialist Deepak Mehta perhaps best captures the essence of Sharma’s intellectual curiosity, describing him as a lifelong seeker who pursues ideas patiently and passionately until their full significance emerges.
There are many other people of eminence who have commented on his life and times, like Prof G D Yadav, former Vice Chancellor of ICT; Madhukar Parikh, Chairman of Pidilite; Ravi Raghavan, Editor Chemical Weekly; Nilesh Gupta, Director of Lupin Ltd; Rajeev Pandia, former Vice Chairman, Managing Director of Hardilia Chemicals; Dr Mrs Bhavani Raghuraman, Vice President Technologies and R&D Management, (Rtd) SLB and more.
The narrative photographically captures his interactions with renowned professors and scientists, with Presidents, Prime Ministers, the luminaries of his peer circle and with leading industrialists. The guidance, mentoring and consultancy he has provided to leading companies are also well described. Even his love for nature, for environment, gardening to create a green vegetation at ICT is included.
Throughout the book, recognitions, awards, honours and milestones are meticulously documented along with interesting personal interludes. Yet what emerges most strongly is not the magnitude of these achievements but the humility with which they were attained. From modest beginnings to international eminence, Professor Sharma’s life demonstrates that true greatness lies in combining exceptional achievement with simplicity, integrity and service.
Some of Prof Sharma’s memorable comments are:
“I made a living doing exactly what I wanted to do and I’m more than willing to do it all over again.”
“My main pursuit is teaching and I would not like to leave that at all, anything else will come second. My first preference is teaching.”
“Apart from intelligence, you need patience and hardwork. Patience is mandatory if you want to innovate.”
“Moral commitments are more than legal commitments.”
The Essence of a Coffee Table Book
The visual presentation deserves special mention. In any Coffee Table Book, the choice of photographs is critical, for images often communicate more powerfully than words. The editors have done an outstanding job in selecting photographs that capture defining moments across Professor Sharma’s personal, academic and professional life. Each image adds depth to the narrative and helps readers connect emotionally with the remarkable journey being recounted.
The book has, towards the end, very well indexed timelines of his life, index of his students many of whom also became giants in their field and the awards and citations, he was bestowed with.
More than a compilation of milestones and accolades, Prof. M.M. Sharma – Guru of Gurus and The Alchemist of India is a celebration of curiosity, discipline, innovation, mentorship and nation-building. It offers readers a rare glimpse into the life of a scientist whose influence extends far beyond laboratories and classrooms into industries, institutions, and public policy.
For students, researchers, educators, industrialists and anyone interested in Prof Sharma’s life, this Coffee Table Book is both inspiring and illuminating. It serves not only as a tribute to a legendary scientist but also as a reminder of the transformative power of ideas, perseverance and lifelong learning. The book is available in Hindi and Gujarati versions too.
This book provides a racy, but comprehensive snapshot of Prof Sharma’s life and times, for quick and effortless reading.
– Vinoo Mathews
Editor, Chemical Industry Digest
For enquires or purchase of this book, please contact: www.sundarampublication.com
The Publishers have stated that the complete royalty for this book will go to ICT.
