Dr. T. S. R. Prasada Rao

January 20, 1939 – April 7, 2022

A life dedicated to humanity, science & technology, and India

Scientist

Dr. Prasada Rao was a renowned scientist recognized in India and worldwide for developing and commercializing catalysts and processes to produce fuels, petrochemicals, and fertilizers.

Leader

Widely admired as an inclusive, inspirational leader, Dr. Prasada Rao transformed the Indian Institute of Petroleum in Dehradun from a struggling national lab to a vibrant, international center for innovation in the 1990s.

Entrepreneur

Following his public career, Dr. Prasada Rao turned entrepreneur in 1999 founding Sarasijam Technologies, a technology and innovation consulting business that advised leading global brands and incubated start-ups in India.

Philanthropist

Dr. Prasada Rao was, at heart, a lifelong philanthropist who happily gave away all his energy, time, goodwill, and money to education and to the development of Avidi, his village in the East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, India.

1939
Born in Ganti Pedapudi, Andhra Pradesh, India
1958
Joins Andhra University in Visakhapatnam
1961
Graduates with a B.Sc. Honours in Chemistry
1963
Graduates with M.Sc. in Inorganic Chemistry
1968
Completes PhD with Professor M. N. Sastri
1967
Joins Projects & Development India Limited, Sindri
1969
Marries Valluri Sujata Venkateshwari
1974
Moves to Indian Petrochemicals Private Limited, Baroda
1985
Leads commercialization of Encilite-1 at IPCL
1985
Honored with ICMA Forward Technology Development Award
1990
Appointed Director, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun
1992
Honored with IIChE Kuloor Memorial Award
1993
Honored with FICCI Award for Physical Sciences
1995
Honored with Kamal Kumari National Award for S&T
1995
Honored with Khursheed Lal S&T Award ("Doon Ratna")
1996
Honored with K. G. Naik Gold Medal from M.S. University
1996
Honored with Catalysis Society of India's Eminent Scientist Award
1996
Honored with O.P. Bhasin Award for Engineering & Technology
1998
Honored with Chemtech Foundation Outstanding Scientist Award
1999
Honored with CSIR Technology Award
1999
Retires as Director, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun
1999
Launches Sarasijam Technologies
2001
Honored with CSIR Technology Award
2014
Honored with Petrotech Lifetime Achievement Award
2016
Honored with A.N. Saksena Lifetime Achievement Award
2020
Honored with INAE Lifetime Contribution Award

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