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{{Short description|Indian chemist (born 1943)}}
{{Cleanup reorganize|date=December 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Goverdhan Mehta
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|6|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Jodhpur]], [[Jodhpur State]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br />(now in [[Rajasthan]], India)
| death_date =
| death_place =
| fields = [[Organic Chemistry]]
| workplaces = {{ublist | [[University of Hyderabad]] (1977–1998) | [[Indian Institute of Science]] (1998–2010) | [[University of Hyderabad]] (2010–present )}}
| alma_mater = {{ublist | [[BITS Pilani]] | [[Pune University]] }}
| doctoral_advisor = Dr. Sukh Dev
| doctoral_students =
| known_for =
| awards = {{ublist | 1978 [[Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize]] (Chemical Sciences) | 1999 Officer of the [[Order of Academic Palms]] (France)| 2001 [[Padma Shri]]| 2004 Knight of the [[Legion of Honour]] (France)| 2005 [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] (FRS)| 2016  Cross of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] }}
}}
'''Goverdhan Mehta''' (born 26 June 1943) is an Indian researcher and scientist.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Keinan |first=Ehud |date=2023-03-31 |title="Scientific temper reflects the high values of science: truth seeking, objectivity and honesty" - An interview with Prof. Goverdhan Mehta |journal=AsiaChem Magazine |volume=3 |pages=182–187 |doi=10.51167/acm00053|doi-access=free }}</ref> From 1998-2005 he was the director of the [[Indian Institute of Science]] (IISc). Previously from 1977-1998, Mehta was a professor of chemistry and vice-chancellor at the [[University of Hyderabad]]. Mehta has authored over 550 research papers.<ref name=":0" />

== Education ==
Mehta received his BSc and MSc from the [[BITS Pilani]]<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) 2018">{{cite web | title=Prof. Goverdhan Mehta | website=Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) | date=28 November 2018 | url=https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/GoverdhanMehtaDAA2011 | access-date=5 April 2021 | archive-date=25 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725111857/https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/GoverdhanMehtaDAA2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and PhD from [[Pune University]] in 1967.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize: an inspiration for international recognitions|journal=Current Science|date=25 July 2014|volume=107|issue=2|page=164|url=https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/107/02/0163.pdf|access-date=2015-07-28}}</ref> His post-doctoral research was at the [[Michigan State University]] under Prof. Don Farnum and at the [[Ohio State University]] under Prof. Paul G. Gassman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chemistry.uohyd.ac.in/gm.htm|access-date=2023-01-10|website=University of Hyderabad School of Chemistry|title=Goverdhan Mehta}}</ref>

== Work ==
He joined IIT Kanpur in 1969 and remained there until 1977. From 1977 to 1998, he was Professor of Chemistry at the [[University of Hyderabad]] and from 1998 to 2010, he was a professor at the [[Indian Institute of Science]] Bangalore.<ref name="IISc 2003">{{cite web | title=INDIAN RESEARCH INFORMATION NETWORK SYSTEM | website=IISc | date=12 August 2003 | url=http://irins.inflibnet.ac.in/ | access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref> Since 2010, he is university distinguished professor and holds the Dr. Kallam Anji Reddy Chair at Department of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, India. From 2010-2018, Mehta was the Lilly-Jubilant Chair Professor at Department of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, India.

Mehta has authored more than 550 research papers. He is a recipient of over 40 honorary doctorates from India/abroad and has delivered over 300 invited/plenary/award lectures at Universities/Institutions across the world. He has been a member of the scientific advisory council to the prime minister and also the scientific advisory committee to the Cabinet.<ref name="SACC">{{cite web |url=http://psa.gov.in/uniquepages/singlepage_new.asp?ID=4| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612040949/http://psa.gov.in/uniquepages/singlepage_new.asp?ID=4 | archive-date=12 June 2007 | title=:: Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India :: }}</ref>

== Academic and Professional positions ==
* Research associate, [[Michigan State]] and the [[Ohio State]] Universities, US,1967–1969
* Lecturer and assistant professor, [[Indian Institute of Technology]], Kanpur, 1969–1977
* Professor, [[University of Hyderabad]], Hyderabad 1977–1998, Founder Dean 1977–1986
* Honorary professor, [[Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research]], 1990–2009
* Visiting professor, [[University of Notre Dame]], Indiana, USA, Jun-1990
* Srinivasa Ramanujan Research Professor, [[Indian National Science Academy]], 1992–1997
* Vice-chancellor, [[University of Hyderabad]], 1994–98
* Professor, Department of Organic Chemistry, [[Indian Institute of Science]], 1998–2005
* Director, [[Indian Institute of Science]], Bangalore, 1998–2005
* Tarrant Distinguished Professor, [[University of Florida, Gainesville]], USA, Jun-2002
* CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow, [[Indian Institute of Science]], Bangalore, 2005–2010
* National Research Professor, 2009–2014
* Lilly-Jubilant Chair Professor, University of Hyderabad, 2010–2018
* Dr. Kallam Anji Reddy Chair, University of Hyderabad, 2018–

== Awards ==
* [[Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology]] in Chemical Sciences awarded by CSIR (1978)<ref name="Home">{{cite web | title=Awardee Details: Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize | website=Home | url=https://ssbprize.gov.in/content/Detail.aspx?AID=186 | access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>
* Basudev Bannerji Medal & Prize awarded by [[Indian Chemical Society]] (1979)<ref name="Indian Chemical society">{{cite web | url=https://indianchemicalsociety.com/uploaded_files/List%20of%20the%20various%20Endowment%20Awards%20and%20the%20previous%20Awardees%20of%20the%20respective%20Awards.pdf|title=List of the various Endowment Awards and the previous Awardees of the respective Awards}}</ref>
* Science & Technology Award of Rajasthan Government (1980)
* Professor R.D. Desai Medal & Prize awarded by [[Indian Chemical Society]] (1982)<ref name="Indian Chemical society"/>
* FICCI Award in Physical Sciences (1983)
* Golden Jubilee Commemoration Medal (Chemical Sciences) awarded by [[Indian National Science Academy]] (1989)<ref name="Indian National Science Academy">{{cite web | title=INSA :: Indian Fellow Detail | website=Indian National Science Academy | url=https://www.insaindia.res.in/detail.php?id=N83-0448 | access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>
* G.D. Birla Award for Excellence in Science (1992)
* Goyal Prize in Chemical Sciences awarded by Sri Kala Ram Trust (1994)
* Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru National Award for Excellence in Science awarded by MP Government (1994)
* [[Humboldt Prize]] (Humboldt-Forschungspreis) awarded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany (1995) (first in India)<ref name="International Science Council 2002">{{cite web | title=Professor Goverdhan Mehta named ICSU President-Elect | website=International Science Council | date=25 September 2002 | url=https://council.science/current/press/professor-goverdhan-mehta-named-icsu-president-elect/ | access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>
* Acharya P.C. Ray Medal awarded by [[Indian Chemical Society]] (1995)
* Dr. Y. Nayudamma Gold Medal awarded by Andhra Pradesh Akademi of Sciences (now Telangana Academy of Sciences) (1998)
* [[Padma Shri]] awarded by Government of India (2001)<ref name="Srivastava 2016">{{cite web | last=Srivastava | first=Shilpika | title=Goverdhan Mehta conferred Cross of the Order of Merit, Germany's prestigious award | website=Jagranjosh.com | date=26 February 2016 | url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/goverdhan-mehta-conferred-cross-of-the-order-of-merit-germanys-prestigious-award-1456470889-1 | access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>
* TWAS Medal awarded by [[World Academy of Sciences]] (2001)<ref name="TWAS Medal">{{cite web |url=https://twas.org/opportunity/twas-medal-lectures |title=TWAS Medal Lectures |website=The World Academy of Sciences|date=30 June 2023 }}</ref>
* Millennium Plaque of Honour awarded by [[Indian Science Congress Association]] (2002)
* C V Raman Medal awarded by [[Indian National Science Academy]] (2003)<ref name="Indian National Science Academy" />
* [[Legion of Honour]] awarded by Republic of France (2004)<ref name="University of Mysore 2020">{{cite web | title=Vijnana Bhavan University of Mysore | website=University of Mysore | date=28 June 2020 | url=https://uni-mysore.ac.in/vijnanabhavan/goverdhan-mehta-bio.html | access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>
* Rajvotsava Award by Karnataka Government (2004)
* Centenary Prize awarded by [[Royal Society of Chemistry]] (2005)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rsc.org/prizes-funding/prizes/find-a-prize/centenary-prizes/previous-winners | title=Centenary Prizes - previous winners }}</ref>
* Trieste Science Prize awarded by [[World Academy of Sciences]] (2007)<ref name="Indian Express 2007">{{cite web | title=Organic molecules win Prof Mehta Trieste prize | website=Indian Express | date=7 May 2007 | url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/organic-molecules-win-prof-mehta-trieste-prize/30301/ | access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>
* G M Modi Award for Innovative Science and Technology (2007)<ref name="Gujarmal Modi Science Award">{{cite web | url=https://www.iifaindia.org/award_gmma.html | title=IIFA - Gujar Mal Modi Award for Science & Technology }}</ref>
* [[H. K. Firodia Award]] for Science & Technology (2010)<ref name="Edubilla.com">{{cite web | title=Goverdhan Mehta | website=Edubilla.com | url=http://www.edubilla.com/award/h-k-firodia-awards/goverdhan-mehta/ | access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>
* Distinguished Alumnus Award from [[BITS Pilani]] (2011)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/GoverdhanMehtaDAA2011 | title=Prof. Goverdhan Mehta | access-date=25 July 2020 | archive-date=25 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725111857/https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/GoverdhanMehtaDAA2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] (2016)<ref name="The Hindu BusinessLine 2016">{{cite web | title=Goverdhan Mehta conferred Germany's prestigious award | website=The Hindu BusinessLine | date=23 February 2016 | url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/goverdhan-mehta-conferred-germanys-prestigious-award/article8272329.ece | access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>
* [[INSA]] Medal for Promotion and Service to Science (2017)<ref name="Indian National Science Academy" />
* Dr Sukh Dev ICS Centennial Jubilee Award awarded by [[Indian Chemical Society]] (2023)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianchemicalsociety.com/uploaded_files/FinalProgram.pdf|title=Final Program}}</ref>

== Fellowships ==
* Fellow of the [[Indian National Science Academy]]<ref name="INSA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.insaindia.res.in/detail.php?id=N83-0448|title=INSA :: Indian Fellow Detail|website=www.insaindia.res.in}}</ref>
* Fellow of the [[Indian Academy of Sciences]]<ref name="IASc">{{Cite web|url=https://fellows.ias.ac.in/profile/v/FL1979007|title=Indian Academy of Sciences|website=fellows.ias.ac.in}}</ref>
* Fellow of the [[National Academy of Sciences]]<ref name="NASI">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasi.nic.in/#|title=The National Academy of Sciences, India - Home|website=www.nasi.nic.in}}</ref>
* Fellow of the [[World Academy of Sciences]]<ref name="TWAS">{{Cite web|url=https://twas.org/directory|title=TWAS Directory|website=TWAS}}</ref>
* Fellow of the [[Royal Society]]<ref name="Royal Society">{{Cite web|url=https://royalsociety.org/people/goverdhan-mehta-11942/|title=Goverdhan Mehta|website=royalsociety.org}}</ref>
* Foreign Member of the [[Russian Academy of Sciences]]<ref name="RAS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ras.ru/members/personalstaff/foreignmembers.aspx?fmem=13|title=Иностранные члены РАН|website=www.ras.ru}}</ref>
* Fellow of the [[World Innovation Foundation]] (WIF)
* Fellow of the [[Royal Society of Chemistry]]
* Fellow of [[Indian Chemical Society]]
* Fellow of the Andhra Pradesh Akademi of Sciences (now Telangana Academy of Sciences)
* Founding Member of Society for Scientific Values

== Important positions ==
* President of [[Indian National Science Academy]] (1999-2001)<ref name="Anon. 2022">{{cite web |title=Goverdhan Mehta | date=22 February 2022 | url=https://newstaging.piramal.com/about-us/board-of-directors/piramal-enterprises/prof-goverdhan-mehta/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222200745/https://newstaging.piramal.com/about-us/board-of-directors/piramal-enterprises/prof-goverdhan-mehta/ | url-status=usurped | archive-date=22 February 2022 | access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>
* Co-chair (with Bruce Alberts of US NAS) of the Inter Academy Council (IAC) (2000-2005)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.interacademies.org/|title=The Interacademy Partnership}}</ref>
* President, [[Chemical Research Society of India]] (2002-2005)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://crsi-india.org/council-members-2002-2005/| title=Council Members 2002-2005 – Chemical Research Society of India}}</ref>
* President, [[Association of Indian Universities]] (2003)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aiu.ac.in/PRESIDENT.php | title=President | AIU }}</ref>
* President of [[International Council of Science|ICSU]] (2005-2008)<ref name="ICSU">{{cite web | url=https://council.science/current/press/professor-goverdhan-mehta-named-icsu-president-elect/ | title=Professor Goverdhan Mehta named ICSU President-Elect | date=25 September 2002 }}</ref>
* Chairperson, [[National Accreditation and Assessment]] (NAAC) (2006-2012)
* Jury Member for Physical Sciences, [[Infosys Prize]] (2012–2015)<ref name="Infosys Prize">{{cite web | title=Jury 2014 | website=Infosys Prize | url=https://www.infosys-science-foundation.com/prize/jury/jury-2014.asp | access-date=22 February 2022 | archive-date=22 February 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222200959/https://www.infosys-science-foundation.com/prize/jury/jury-2014.asp | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Chairman, board of governors, [[Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur]] (2014-2018)
* Chairman, [[Indian Statistical Institute]], Kolkata (2016-2020)<ref name="ISI Kolkata">{{Cite web|url=https://www.isical.ac.in/~repro/history/public/?page=chairman| title=An Annotated Chronological History of ISI }}</ref>
* Chairperson, Council of Management, [[Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research]] (JNCASR) (2018-2022)<ref name="JNCASR">{{Cite web|url=https://www.jncasr.ac.in/index.php/about/management|title=Council of Management|website=Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Science Research}}</ref>
* Member, board of directors, [[Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilsresearch.org/about_us.php?id=111 |title=:: Institute of Life Sciences :: |publisher=Ilsresearch.org |access-date=2014-05-17}}</ref>
* Chairman and member, [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission]] Panel on Chemistry (1983–93)
* Member, Science & Engineering Research Council (SERC) (1984–90), (1994–97)
* Member, Scientific Advisory Committee, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (1984–88)
* Member, Government of India Scientific Commission on Bhopal Gas Leakage (1985–87)
* Chairman, National Committee for IUPAC (1991–93)
* Member, India-European Union (EU) Round Table of Eminent Persons

== Controversy ==
In 2006, the US Government refused Mehta a visa; this decision was strongly criticised by Indian and American scientists. The US ambassador to India David Mulford offered his apology to Mehta.
<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/22/AR2006022202446.html |title=Scientist's Visa Denial Sparks Outrage in India |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2014-05-17}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Mehta|first1=Goverdhan|title=Stereochemical Reassignment of Mehta and Kundu's Spiculoic Acid A Analogue|journal=Organic Letters|date=28 October 2006|volume=8|issue=24|pages=5537–40|doi=10.1021/ol062361a|pmid=17107066}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|last1=Curly|first1=Arrow|title=Spiculoic Acid|url=https://curlyarrow.blogspot.in/2006/11/spiculoic-acid-sort-of.html|website=curlyarrow.blogspot.in|access-date=2006-11-12|date=12 November 2006}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|last1=Totally|first1=Synthetic|title=Spiculoic Acid A Controversy|url=http://totallysynthetic.com/blog/?p=357|publisher=totallysynthetic.com|access-date=2006-11-15}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11522158|title=Scientific body denounces U.S. visa rules|website=NBC News|date=23 February 2006 }}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11546142|website=[[NBC News]] |title=U.S. Issues visa and apology to scientist |date=24 February 2006 }}</ref>

==Publications==
* {{cite journal | last1=Mehta | first1=Goverdhan | last2=Murthy | first2=A. Narayana | last3=Reddy | first3=D. Sivakumar | last4=Reddy | first4=A. Veera | title=A general approach to linearly fused triquinane natural products. Total syntheses of (.+-.)-hirsutene, (.+-.)-coriolin, and (.+-.)-capnellene | journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society | publisher=American Chemical Society (ACS) | volume=108 | issue=12 | year=1986 | issn=0002-7863 | doi=10.1021/ja00272a046 | pages=3443–3452| bibcode=1986JAChS.108.3443M }}
* {{cite journal | last1=Mehta | first1=Goverdhan | last2=Padma | first2=S. | title=D2h-bishomohexaprismane ("garudane"). Design of the face-to-face 2 + 2 dimer of norbornadiene | journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society | publisher=American Chemical Society (ACS) | volume=109 | issue=23 | year=1987 | issn=0002-7863 | doi=10.1021/ja00257a076 | pages=7230–7232| bibcode=1987JAChS.109.7230M }}
* {{cite journal | last1=Mehta | first1=Goverdhan | last2=Khan | first2=Faiz Ahmed | title=Electronic control of .pi.-facial selectivities in nucleophilic additions to 7-norbornanones | journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society | publisher=American Chemical Society (ACS) | volume=112 | issue=16 | year=1990 | issn=0002-7863 | doi=10.1021/ja00172a047 | pages=6140–6142| bibcode=1990JAChS.112.6140M }}
* {{cite journal | last1=Mehta | first1=Goverdhan | last2=Reddy | first2=S. Hari Krishna | title=Golcondane: A Novel, Caged, Nonacyclic C20H24-Hydrocarbon ofD2d Symmetry | journal=Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English | publisher=Wiley | volume=32 | issue=8 | year=1993 | issn=0570-0833 | doi=10.1002/anie.199311601 | pages=1160–1161}}
* {{cite journal | last1=Mehta | first1=Goverdhan | last2=Singh | first2=S. Robindro | title=Total Synthesis of (±)-Merrilactone A | journal=Angewandte Chemie International Edition | publisher=Wiley | volume=45 | issue=6 | date=30 January 2006 | issn=1433-7851 | doi=10.1002/anie.200503618 | pages=953–955| pmid=16381043 }}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official|http://chemistry.uohyd.ac.in/gm.htm}}

{{2000s Padma Shri Award Recipients in Science & Engineering}}
{{FRS 2005}}
{{SSBPST recipients in Chemical Science}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mehta, Goverdhan}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Scientists from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Indian National Science Academy]]
[[Category:Foreign members of the Russian Academy of Sciences]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Savitribai Phule Pune University alumni]]
[[Category:Directors of the Indian Institute of Science]]
[[Category:People from Jodhpur]]
[[Category:Indian chemical engineers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 2004]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani alumni]]
[[Category:Indian fellows of the Royal Society]]

Goverdhan Mehta - Revision history

Legalwikieditor at 14:47, 19 April 2026