Maneklal Sankalchand Thacker did his BSc (Engineering) from University of Bristol, UK. He worked as Professor, Department of Power Engineering (1947) and Director (1949), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore; Secretary, Department of Technical Education & Scientific Research, Ministry of Education and Scientific Research; Director-General, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (1955-62).

Academic and Research Achievements:Thacker did considerable research in power engineering: spanning design problems in electrical plant and machinery; thermal and hydropower projects, and their economics and instrumentation for power installations and related fields.

Other Contributions:Thacker was one of the very few who had a great role to play in the technological and economical development of the country at a stage when applied science, technology and engineering had a lot more to contribute than pure science. He was a pioneer Scientist-Engineer of the country at a time when science, technology and engineering have to synergistically synthesized to work for self reliant industrial and economic development of the country. An able science administrator, Thacker consolidated CSIR on the foundation Bhatnagar had laid. He was Member, Planning Commission of India and Chairman, Governing Council, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He also served as Member, INSA Council (1954-56).

Awards and Honours: Thacker was award Padma Bhushan in 1955 by Government of India. He was elected Fellow of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore; President, Indian Science Congress Association (1957-58), Association of the Principals of Technical Institutions (India), Institution of Engineers (India), , Institute of Metals (India), Institute of Fuels (London), Illumination Engineering Society (Founder-President), and Institute of Management (Founder-President); Vice President, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science; and Additional Vice-President (1957), INSA.