Prof Harkishan Singh is a well-known pharmaceutical academic, prominent medicinal chemist and renowned science historian.

On being asked for his reaction on the announcement of Padma Shri to him, 89-year-old Prof Harkishan Singh said, “I am pleased to receive this honor, but I was not working for awards. It is my passion to research and invent something fruitful for society.”

Prof Harkishan Singh is a renowned personality in the pharmacy industry not because of his books on research but for his rarest accomplishments, including the discovery of a clinically useful drug, Chandonium Iodide (HS-310), which was later named by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as Candocuronium Iodide. Candocuronium is the only drug discovered by any Indian University till date.

Over 350 publications, 18 books and 14 patents are testimony to the outcome of his work. He mentored over 50 doctoral and master theses too.

One of his sons, Harry S Panaser who is settled in New Jersey State of USA said he was pleased that his father was selected by government of India for one of the highest civilian awards of India and added that his father was never after any awards and honors. All he wanted was to work to his ability to contribute his bit to humanity.

Professor Harkishan Singh was born on 25 November, 1928. He is a well-recognized pharmaceutical academic, medicinal chemistry researcher and science historian. He has experience of over half a century to his credit. He has worked at the Banaras Hindu University, University of Saugar, and the Panjab University in India, and abroad at the University of Maryland, University of Mississippi and the University of London.

His scientific research has been in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry and natural products. Nearly 50 master and doctoral theses have been completed under his supervision. There have been published 125 original scientific research papers. 14 patents have been obtained. His research group has been successful in designing a clinically useful drug candocuronium iodide (INN) (chandonium iodide, HS-310), which is a synthetic azasteroid. Dr Singh has lectured on his research at several of the institutions and conferences in India, United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom and China. He delivered invited lectures at the Harvard School of Medicine and at the International Symposium on Molecular Structure sponsored by the International Union of Crystallography at Beijing.

As a science historian Professor Singh has examined the history of pharmaceutical developments in India of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. His history research studies have been on pharmacopoeias and formularies, pharmaceutical education, pharmacy practice, biographies of pharmaceutical luminaries, and pharmaceutical journalism. He has published over fifty articles.

In addition to his scientific and history research papers, Dr Singh has authored and/or coauthored twelve books and nearly two dozen of review articles, including several book chapters. He has written extensively on educational, scientific, historical and professional issues. All told his total publications come well to over 300.

Professor Singh has been on many academic, scientific, professional and governmental bodies. He was a member of the Committee on Education in Medicinal Chemistry of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, which prepared the Report on the International Education of Medicinal Chemists (IUPAC Technical Reports Number 13; 1974).

His affiliations with several scientific and professional organizations include emeritus membership of the American Chemical Society, life memberships of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association and Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India, and memberships of the American Institute of History of Pharmacy and British Society for History of Pharmacy.

Professor Harkishan Singh is recipient of several scientific and professional awards and recognitions. He has been a National Fellow of the University Grants Commission, New Delhi. He has been General President of the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress. He received Eminent Pharmacist Award of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association. Dr Singh’s standing as historian has been recognized through his election to the Academie Internationale d’Histoire de la Pharacie. The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia conferred upon Professor Harkishan Singh the degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) in recognition of his distinguished academic career and outstanding contributions to scientific research in organic and medicinal chemistry and the history of pharmacy.

The Indian Panorama has a special reason to celebrate the honor to Prof. Harkishan Singh. The Chief Editor Prof. Indrajit Singh Saluja shares with Dr. Singh an association with Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where he studied for two years, and with Panjab University, Chandigarh, where he was a Member of Languages Faculty for a couple of years.