Anant Hargovind Pandeya received D Sc from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. He served as Adviser, Hindustan Construction Engineering Co. Ltd (1936); Chief Engineer, Diagrid Structures Ltd, London; Principal, Bengal Engineering College, Sibpur (1939); Faculty Member, Rajasthan University; Deputy Director-General of Munitions Production; Member, Planning Commission; Director and Chief Consulting Engineer, Hind Construction Ltd, Kolkata (1945); and General Manager, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Academic and Research Achievements: Dr Pandya successfully executed several complicated constructions like the tunnel at the Bhore Ghat for the Central Railways, tunnel for laying the pipelines for the Vaitarna-cum-Tansa Scheme for the Mumbai Municipality and the construction of Konar Dam and other projects of DVC and the development of the parts of Saurashtra, and Kandla project in Kutch. His supervision and guidance helped complete the constructions within schedule. One of his great contributions was to design and develop India’s first trainer aircraft.

Other Contributions: Dr Pandya was Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers; Institution of Production Engineers, London; Senate and Syndicate, University of Calcutta; and Central Advisory Board of Education, Banaras Hindu University (Adviser).

Awards and Honours: Dr Pandya was conferred James F Lincoln Arc Welding International Foundation Prize (1938); and the Merit Prize by British Government.