Ved Pall Sondhi did his MSc (1925) from Panjab University, Lahore. He was Technical Advisor, Sino-Burma Boundary Commission (1936-37); In-charge of Survey Parties in Assam, Punjab, NWFP and Northern, Western and Central Circles (1942-47); Deputy Director, Mineral Development (1947); and Director, Geological Survey of India (1955-58); also Chief Geologist and Director of Drilling, National Coal Development Corporation (1958-65).

Academic and Research Achievements: Sondhi carried out extensive and systematic geological mapping in Burma and Assam; reported on numerous, metallic and nonmetallic minerals and energy resources, e.g. new lead-silver deposits in Burma; gypsum in North West Frontier Province; sillimanite in Assam; magnesite in Uttar Pradesh Himalayas; arsenic and antimony ores in Chitral; limestone, coal and iron ore in a number of areas. He investigated several engineering geology schemes and water supply schemes, and brought to light, for the first time, the existence of earthwaves on the surface of new islands pushed up by the Makran earthquake.

Other Contributions: Sondhi played an important role in the growth of the Geological Survey of India and its scientific activities, as in organizing the prospecting wing of the National Coal Development Corporation. He was Member of the Iron Ore Board (1972-77), Asiatic Society and INSA Council (1971-73).

Award and Honours: Sondhi won the MBE Award (1937). He was elected Fellow of the Geological Society of London. He was President of the Geology and Geography Section, Indian Science Congress (1955), and of the Mining, Geological and Metallurgical Institute of India (1962).