Gallery

Prestigious National and State Awards

Receiving Padma Vibhushan (2014) at the hands of President Pranab Mukherjee.
2014
Receiving Padma Bhushan (2000) at the hands of President K.R. Narayanan.
2000
Receiving Padma Shri (1991) at the hands of President R. Venkataraman.
1991
Receiving S.S. Bhatnagar Prize (1982) for Engineering Sciences at the hands of Rajeev Gandhi, Prime Minister of India, the most prestigious award given to scientists below the age of 45.
1982
Receiving the Dadabhai Naoroji Memorial Award (2002) at the hands of Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam, President of India.
2002
Receiving G.D. Birla Award (1993) for Scientific Research at the hands of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. PM applauded remarks by Dr. R. A. Mashelkar on the need to move from technonationalism to technoglobalism in line with the globalization of Indian Economy in 1991, which PM had himself heralded.
1993
Receiving the Punyabhushan Award (2008) for Science at the hands of APJ Abdul Kalam, Ex-President of India.
2008
Receiving Maharashtra Bhushan Award on the occassion of Maharashtra Day (2005) at the hands of then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. Seen in the picture, from left, Dr. R. A. Mashelkar's mother Mrs. Anjani Mashelkar and wife Mrs. Vaishali Mashelkar.
2005
Receiving the Gomant Vibhushan Award (2013) at the hands of the Governor and Chief Minister of Goa. This award means Pride of Goa. Goa was Dr. R. A. Mashelkar’s Janmabhumi (place of Birth). Maharashtra was his Karmabhumi (place of work). Dr. R. A. Mashelkar has the unique distinction of also winning the Maharashtra Bhushan (Pride of Maharashtra) Award.
2013
Receiving an Award (2012) for being selected as one of the top ten achievers in Maharashtra in the Golden Jubilee Year of the State of Maharashtra at the hands of President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Patil.
2012
Received Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award (2002) at the hands of President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, L.K. Advani and Sunil Shastri were present.
2002
All India Management Association confered the J.R.D.Tata Leadership Award(1998) to recognise outstanding contributions in management, entrepreneurship and leadership. Received at the hands of the Vice-President of India, Krishan Kant. Dr. R. A. Mashelkar is the only scientist so far to have received this award.
1998
The first ever National Leadership Awards were given (2004) to Ratan Tata (Industry), Elaben Bhat (Social) and Dr. R. A. Mashelkar (Science and Technology) at the hands of President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
2004

International Honours

Receiving Fellowship of Royal Society (1998) at the hands of President of Royal Society, Nobel Laureate, Sir Aaron Klugg. Only three Indian engineering scientists have been honoured with FRS in over 350 years.
1998
On getting inducted as Fellow of Royal Society (FRS), signing in the Register of Royal Society, where Newton has signed. An over overwhelming experience to sign in the Register maintained for over 300 years!
2005
Being admitted (2005) to US National Academy of Science (NAS) by the President of NAS, Prof. Ralph Cicerone.
2005
After getting inducted as Foreign Fellow of US National Academy of Science (2005) Dr. R. A. Mashelkar sign in the Register.
2005
Receiving Star of Asia Award (2005) at the hands of George Bush (Sr). Dr. R. A. Mashelkar is the only Asian Scientist to have received this honour.
2005
Receiving his 33rd Honorary Doctorate from Swinburne University in Australia(2014).
2014
Dr. R. A. Mashelkar delivered the prestigious Asian Development Bank Eminent Speaker Forum Lecture (2014) in Manila. Vice President Bindu Lohani presenting him the Memento.
2014
Receiving (2005) the Science Medal of The World Academy of Science (TWAS) at the hands of President Mubarak of Egypt in Cairo.
2005
Being inducted (2007) as President of Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK) in the Golden Jubilee year. He was the first ever Indian President of IChemE elected in IChemE’s Golden Jubilee year.
2007
Receiving (2000) D.Sc. (Hon Causa) from University of Pretoria (South Africa).
2000

With Indian Leadership

The Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi (1989). Sitting next to Dr. R. A. Mashelkar are Sam Pitroda and Cabinet Secretary, T.N. Seshan.
1989
The Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister meeting (1989) under the Chairmanship of Bharat Ratna Prof. C.N.R. Rao.
1989
With the present Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi (2014). The Prime Minister remarked Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, need your help in getting young science leaders for India’.
2014
Singing National anthem with two iconic national leaders, Dr Abdul Kalam and Shri Narendra Modi.
2015
With Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister of India in the 86th Indian Science Congress (2000) Dr. R. A. Mashelkar’s Presidential address on ‘New Panchasheel for New Millennium’ became quite popular.
2000
Receiving Life Time Achievement Award from Indian Science Congress (2007) at the hands of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan.
2007
With Dr. Manmohan, Prime Minister of India, making a point about raising the bar in Indian science.
2011
The trio, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Dr. Vijay Bhatkar and Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, in a joyous moment.
2014
Receiving 34th D.Sc. ( Hon Causa) at the hands of President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee (2015).
2015
At the first Festival of Innovation (2015), with President Pranab Mukherjee and Nobel Laureate Mohammed Yunus.
2015
With two great pioneers. Nobel Laureate Mohammed Yunus, the father of Grameen Bank. Prof Anil Gupta, the father of the Grassroots Innovation Movement.
2014
With Padma Vibhushan Mohan Dharia, with whom Dr. R. A. Mashelkar enjoyed a very warm and personal relationship, full of mutual respect, admiration and affection.
2014
With Padma Vibhushan Verghese Kurien, the father of white revolution (or operation milk flood) in India, Kurien had invited Dr. R. A. Mashelkar for the Convocation address of Rural Management Anand.
2014
Presenting a medal, in his capacity as President of Indian National Science Academy, to Padma Vibhushan Prof. Yash Pal, one of the greatest educationalists and thought leaders that India has ever seen.
2000
With Friend Dr. Anil Kakodkar, former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission.
2002
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was always very affectionate to Dr. R. A. Mashelkar.
2014

With Presidents of USA

Meeting President Bill Clinton (2003). Told the President `You have charmed India, Mr. President’. Coincidentally, this was the title of the cover story of India Today a week later!
2003
Meeting President George Bush (2005). Just a month before that, Dr. R. A. Mashelkar had received the ‘Star of Asia’ award at the hands of George Bush Sr. Sharing a remark with the President that it must be a rare coincidence to shake hands with the illustrious father and son within a month!
2005
Meeting President Obama, (2015). President Obama asked `What science do you do? Dr. R. A. Mashelkar responded by saying ‘I do science that works for all not just for some’. President Obama nodded in approval.
2015

With Global Leaders in Science and Innovation

Dr. R. A. Mashelkar was a co-founder of Global Indigenous Knowledge & Innovation Partnership(GIKIP). Seen here in New York (2008) with the other founders Jim Wolfenson (former World Bank President), President Mugabe of Zimbabwe and the Nobel Laureate, former Prime Minister of Finland, Martti Ahtisari.
2008
In his capacity as President of Institution of Chemical Engineers of UK, seen (2007) with Sir David King, Science Adviser to Prime Minister, UK and Lord Nicholas Stern, Economic Adviser to Prime Minister, UK.
2007
With HM Queen Elizabeth and the President of Royal Society, Lord Martin Rees, when Royal Society celebrated 350 years in London. HM Queen listening intensely to a young scientist explaining how she is converting algae to oil.
2007
Dr. R. A. Mashelkar had the honour of delivering the most prestigious Wolff Ramanujan Lecture in French Academy of Science in Paris in 2007. Seen here with Nobel Laureate Claude Cohen Tannoudji.
2007
Dr. R. A. Mashelkar was elected (2008) as Fellow of Australian Technological Sciences & Engineering (ATSE), the first ever Indian to have been elected to an Australian Academy in 40 years. Seen here with Robin Batterham, President of ATSE. Dr. R. A. Mashelkar’s talk on Gandhian Engineering (More from Less for More) later became a game changer.
2008
With Bill Gates.
2014
Dr. R. A. Mashelkar was the Vice-Chair of WHO Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health. The Chair Madame Ruth Dreyfuss, the former President of Switzerland looks on.
2014
With Nobel Laureate Venky Ramakrishnan, when he attended Dr. R. A. Mashelkar’s Judge Business School inaugural BP Innovation Lecture in Cambridge University (2010). Prof. Ramakrishnan became the first ever President of Indian origin of the Prestigious Royal Society, London.
2010
Dr. R. A. Mashelkar enjoying a chemistry quiz with two great Nobel Laureates in Chemistry, Jean Marie Lehn and Robert Grubbs.
2002
With ex-Prime Minister of UK, John Major on the occasion of Dr. R. A. Mashelkar receiving the Star of Asia Award (2005).
2005

With Industry Leaders

Ratan Tata (2010) and Dr. R. A. Mashelkar (2011) became Foreign Fellows of American Academy of Arts & Science (AAAS) and signed in the same book on the same page in October 2011. Only 7 Fellows of Indian origin have been elected to AAAS since the year 1780, when AAAS was founded by George Washington & Benjamin Franklin.
2011
Sharing a lighter moment with legendary Dhirubhai Ambani.
2011
Sharing a serious thought with one of the most extraordinary corporate leaders globally today, Mukesh Ambani.
2011
With Mukesh Ambani, while inaugurating the Reliance Innovation Leadership Centre (RIL-C) in Pune on 5 October 2010. RIL-C has set the agenda for making innovation as a way of life at Reliance.
2010
With Nita Ambani, Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, who sets very high standards of perfection and performance.
2010
With Rahul Bajaj, one of the greatest corporate leaders India has seen. Dr. R. A. Mashelkar has enjoyed an incredible chemistry with him.
2010
With Legendary S.L. Kirloskar, pioneering industrialist in Maharashtra.
2023
With Ashok Ganguly, yet another of Dr. R. A. Mashelkar’s mentor. Dr. R. A. Mashelkar says that it was Ashok, who inspired him to be the ‘CEO of CSIR’. This vision was fulfilled, when Dr. R. A. Mashelkar made it to the cover page of Business India ‘CEO of CSIR Inc.’ in 1998.
1998
Presenting the Indian Merchant Chamber Awards (2005) to Kumar Mangalam Birla, who is providing a great leadership to fulfill Birla enterprise’s global dreams.
2005
Presenting, as the Chairman of Marico Innovation Foundation, the Game Changer Award (2012) to Nandan Nilekani, one of India’s greatest technopreneurs and thought leaders.
2012
N.R.Narayanamurthy and Dr. R. A. Mashelkar form a mutual admiration society!
2005
Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, in his capacity as the Chancellor of Institute of Chemical Technology, presenting D.Sc (Hon Causa ) to Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industry Ltd, and one of the foremost global corporate leaders.
2007

Special Moments with Family, Mother and Gurus

This is a very gracious Indian way of showing reverence! Loksabha Speaker Manohar Joshi touching the feet of Dr. R. A. Mashelkar’s mother Anjani Mashelkar, who received the best mother award as Uddhav Thakeray looks on.
A touching moment! Embracing his Guru, Guide, Friend and Philosopher, Prof. M.M. Sharma.
Felicitating his Guru, Prof. M.M. Sharma, whom, Dr. R. A. Mashelkar has considered as a role model of values, ethics and excellence through out his life.
Felicitating Bharat Ratna Prof. C.N.R. Rao, who has been Dr. R. A. Mashelkar’s Guru, Guide, Friend & Philosopher for over 30 years. Both Prof. Sharma and Dr. R. A. Mashelkar call Prof. Rao – a Super Guru – a Guru of all Gurus!
In his capacity as the Chancellor of Institute of Chemical Technology, Dr. R. A. Mashelkar felicitating his mentor Prof C.N.R. Rao on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The surprise party on the 50th birthday celebration (1992) of Dr. R. A. Mashelkar. Sharing a light hearted conversation with his dear friend Jayant Narlikar and his guru and mentor, Dr. B.D. Tilak.
1992
Dr. R. A. Mashelkar introducing his dear friend Narayanamurthy to his mother Anjani Mashelkar and wife Vaishali Mashelkar during his 60 years celebrations event.
At the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Dr. R. A. Mashelkar delivered a special lecture (2008) as President of Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK).
2008

With Celebrities

With the legendary Amitabh Bachchan and Sunil Gavaskar at the time of felicitation of Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar, when Dr. R. A. Mashelkar was the Chief Guest.
Presenting a life time achievement award to Sunil Gavaskar (2012). Dr. R. A. Mashelkar is not only a cricket fan – but a cricket fanatic. Sunil Gavaskar is his hero.
2012
With his hero, one and only Sachin Tendulkar, the God of Cricket!
Honoring (2006) the Legendary Lata Mangeshkar for her colossal Life Time achievement.
2006
With Madhuri Dixit and Uddhav Thackeray, when Uddhav launched an extraordinary initiative to connect 18 municipal schools for web-learning.
With Vidya Balan, the Chief Guest for Marico Innovation Foundation Awards (2013) and Dr. Radhakrishnan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organization.
2013
Honoring Padmavibhushan Kishori Amonkar, one of the greatest classical singers of our era.

Journey from Union High School (1960) to NCL (1995)

In 1960, Dr. R. A. Mashelkar stood 11th among 1,35,000 students in the State of Maharashtra’s Secondary School Certificate Examination. Being felicitated by Balasaheb Desai, Education Minister, Maharashtra.
1960
Ranked as amongst India’s top best five students. Dr. Manmohan, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, R. Sridharan, Komila Thapar and Dr. R. A. Mashelkar.
It was Dr. B.D. Tilak, Director of National Chemical Laboratory, who got Dr. R. A. Mashelkar back to India in 1976, when he was just 33. Dr. R. A. Mashelkar left an attractive academic career in the west and returned on a princely salary of Rs. 2100($40) per month!
1976
In NCL, Dr. R. A. Mashelkar set up (1977) the first ever program in Polymer Science & Engineering in India. A brainstorming session to discuss the ambitious plan – with Dr. L.K. Doraiswamy, Head, Chemical Engineering Division & Dr. B.D. Tilak, Director, NCL.
1977
Demonstrating an invention in Polymer Science to Vice President of CSIR, K.R. Narayanan (1982).
1982
Explaining the Polymer Science & Engineering Plan to Dr. A. Ramachandran, DG of CSIR (1978).
1978
In his capacity as Director General of CSIR, explaining the indigenous developments in Aerospace done by National Aerospace laboratories (1998).
1998
Young Dr. R. A. Mashelkar with Dr. Doraiswamy the Director of National Chemical Laboratory and Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Director General of CSIR (1986).
1986
When Dr. R. A. Mashelkar was a young scientist in NCL, he received an award from Dr. S. Varadarajan, one of the most enlightened Director Generals of CSIR.
The historic address on 1 June 1995 to NCL staff just two hrs after Dr. R. A. Mashelkar had taken over as Director, NCL. An auditorium of a capacity of around 500 was filled with 800 NCL staff! Dr. R.A. Mashelkar articulated his vision of converting National Chemical Laboratory to International Chemical Laboratory on that day!
1995
As Director of NCL, Explaining NCL’s agenda to Sam Pitroda, his close friend, and India’s Techno-Guru, who brought in a transformation in India.
Dr. R. A. Mashelkar’s vision of converting National Chemical Laboratory into International Chemical Laboratory by exporting knowledge to the developed world (for the first time ever in India) started taking shape in 1991/92. Here he is signing an agreement with DuPont Chief-Technology Officer in 1992.
1992
At the Rajeev Gandhi Memorial Lecture in National Chemical Laboratory (1995), delivered by Lord George Porter, President of royal Society. Mrs. Sonia Gandhi is in the middle.
1995

Journey in CSIR (1995-2006)

Taking over as Director General of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research from Dr. S.K. Joshi, the then DG, CSIR on 1 July 1995.
1995
Four Director Generals of CSIR. From left to Right, they are Dr. A.P. Mitra (1986), Dr. M.G.K. Menon (1978), Dr. S.K. Joshi (1991) and Dr. R.A. Mashelkar (1995).
1995
In his capacity as Director General of CSIR, explaining the indigenous developments in Aerospace done by National Aerospace laboratories (1998).
1998
CSIR Directors meeting on 11 May 1998 in Bangalore. 11 May was declared as the Technology Day for India, emanating from the suggestion that emerged due to three major technology events that occurred on that day, the launch of a small aircraft by Naval Aerospace Laboratory.
1998