Prof. Mahadeva Lal Schroff: The Father of Indian Pharmacy Education

Prof. Mahadeva Lal Schroff (March 6, 1902 – August 25, 1971) is widely recognized as the Father of Indian Pharmacy Education for his pioneering contributions to establishing and advancing pharmaceutical education in India. Despite not being a trained pharmacist, his visionary leadership, resilience, and commitment to nation-building transformed pharmacy into a vital academic and professional discipline in India.

Born on March 6, 1902, in Darbhanga, Bihar, Mahadeva Lal Schroff faced early adversity after losing both parents in childhood. Raised by his elder brother, Murlidhar Schroff, a patriotic lawyer, he completed high school in Bhagalpur, Bihar, in 1918 and his intermediate examination in 1920.^¹ Enrolled at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to study engineering, Schroff left in 1921 after organizing a strike against the principal, Charles A. King, who made derogatory remarks about a freedom movement speaker. ¹

Driven by a passion for education, Schroff embarked on an international journey in October 1921, traveling to Hong Kong with only Rs. 15. In Osaka, Japan, he supported himself by teaching Hindi and working as an assistant editor for Osaka Mainichi, an English daily. His 200-page biography of Mahatma Gandhi earned him 200 yen, funding his move to the United States. ¹ There, he earned a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Iowa, a B.Sc. with honors in Chemistry from Cornell University, and an M.S. in Chemistry and Microbiology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1927, balancing studies with factory work and attending Harvard lectures. ^1,2

Returning to India in 1929, Mahadeva Lal Schroff briefly worked for Birla Brothers Ltd. but found the role misaligned with his ideals. Inspired by freedom fighter Jamnalal Bajaj, he joined the independence movement, participating in the 1930 Salt Satyagraha in Bihar, which led to a six-month imprisonment in Hazaribagh Jail. ^¹ Post-release, Bajaj encouraged him to focus on educational contributions, steering his career toward pharmacy. ^¹

In 1931, introduced by Bajaj to BHU Vice-Chancellor Madan Mohan Malaviya, Mahadeva Lal Schroff joined BHU in an honorary capacity. Inspired by the 1931 Drugs Enquiry Committee report, which highlighted the need for structured pharmaceutical education, he convinced Malaviya to introduce pharmacy studies. In 1932, he established the section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at BHU, which evolved into a B.Sc. (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) program in 1934 and India’s first three-year B. Pharm course in 1937, aligned with American standards. ^1,2,3 This marked the foundation of modern pharmacy education in India.

Prof. Mahadeva Lal Schroff’s contributions reshaped Indian pharmacy through education, organizations, publications, and legislation:

• Organizations: He founded the United Provinces Pharmaceutical Association in 1935, which expanded into the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) in 1939. He also established the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association (1948), the All-India Pharmacist Union (1948), and the Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (1966), serving in leadership roles, including president. ^1,2,4

• Publications: Schroff launched the Indian Journal of Pharmacy in 1939, serving as Editor-in-Chief until 1943. He later started The Indian Pharmacist and Bhesaji Patrika (a Hindi journal) in 1945, Bheshajayan in 1958, and the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education in 1965, editing the latter until his death. ^1,3

• Legislation: He played a pivotal role in the enactment of the Drugs Act (1940) and the Pharmacy Act (1948), serving on the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (1941–1947), the Indian Pharmacopoeial List Committee (1944–1946), and as Vice-President (1949–1954) and President (1954–1960) of the Pharmacy Council of India. ^1,2,5

• Education Expansion: Schroff developed pharmacy departments at Birla Institute of Technology and Science (Pilani, 1949), the University of Saugar, and Jadavpur University (1964–1968). He also influenced the establishment of diploma courses in Bihar and Madras. ^1,3

• Literary Works: He authored 23 textbooks, totaling approximately 6,000 pages, including Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Principles of Pharmacy, and The History of Indian Pharmacy, a seminal work on the evolution of pharmacy in India. ^2,3

Mahadeva Lal Schroff married Prabha Basil in 1931, who passed away in 1953 after a prolonged illness. Despite a severe heart attack in 1969, he continued his work with remarkable dedication. On August 25, 1971, a fatal cardiac arrest ended his life while he was working. ^1,2

The Indian Pharmaceutical Association honors Prof. Schroff with the Prof. M.L. Schroff Medal, awarded to top B. Pharm students across India, accompanied by a certificate and Rs. 1,000. ³ The Pharmacy Council of India officially recognizes him as the “Father of Pharmacy Education in India,” celebrating his birthday, March 6, as National Pharmacy Education Day.⁵ His establishment of academic programs, professional organizations, and legislative frameworks revolutionized Indian pharmacy, creating opportunities for generations of pharmacists and inspiring educators. ^2,3,5

1. Thakur, R. S. (2019). Architect of Indian Pharmacy Education: Prof. Mahadev Lal Schroff. PharmaTutor, Article ID: PHARMATUTOR-ART-3012. Available at: https://www.pharmatutor.org/articles/architect-of-indian-pharmacy-education-prof-mahadev-lal-schroff

2. Kaul, R. (2013). Mahadeva Lal Schroff: Father of Indian Pharmacy Education. Pharmacy in History, 55(1), 37–42. PMID: 25134373.

3. Singh, H., & Jindal, A. (2015). Evolution of Pharmacy Education in India: Contributions of Pioneers like M.L. Schroff. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, 49(4), 255–260.

4. Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI). (n.d.). About APTI. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Pharmaceutical_Teachers_of_India

5. Pharmacy Council of India. (2024). Pharma Anveshan 2024. PCI recognizes Prof. M. L. Schroff as the Father of Pharmacy Education in India. Available at: https://www.pci.nic.in/pdf/PCI_Anveshan2024_22022024.pdf

_MSM