Dr Keki Hormusji Gharda, a legend in chemical engineering who revolutionized the industry with his groundbreaking innovations, forever changing the landscape of Indian chemical manufacturing, left for heavenly abode yesterday. His demise is a great loss for the Indian chemical industry.

Dr Gharda is credited with giving a new direction to R&D in the chemical sector.

Born on 25th September 1929, Dr. Gharda acquired a Bachelor of Science degree from Mumbai University's Department of Chemical Technology. He then obtained a Master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Following the defence of a doctoral thesis, he received a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Oklahoma.

Dr Gharda was a prominent Indian chemical engineer, chemist and entrepreneur. He was the Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Gharda Chemicals Limited, an R&D-based company with business interests in agrochemicals, polymers and is actively pursuing an entry in the market for high performance pigments.

For his contribution to chemistry and chemical engineering, Dr. Gharda was a recipient of the American Institute of Chemists's 'Chemical Pioneer' award. He also got the FICCI Award for Research and Technology for the development and commercialization of Poly Ether Ether Ketone (PEEK) from the then President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam. He was elected to be a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences in 1976 in the field of Process Design.