Bal Dattatraya Tilak obtained DSc (1960) from University of Oxford, UK. He served as Director (then Consultant), National Chemical Laboratory, Pune (1966-78); and Consultant, Centre for Application of S & T for Rural Development, Indian Institute of Education, Pune.

Academic and Research Achievements:Tilak’s significant research achievements related to organic chemistry and organic chemical technology with special reference to chemistry of heterocyclic compounds, heterocyclic steroids, chemotherapeuticals and synthetic dyes. He also contributed to the country’s march towards self-reliance in technology. The industrial research carried out under his leadership led to the establishment of several small-, medium- and large- scale industries to produce organic intermediates, dyes, pesticides and textile auxilaries.

Other Contributions: Tilak served as Chairman, Board of Directors, Hindustan Organic Chemicals Ltd (1967-76); also on the Boards of Directors, Indian Investment Centre, Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd, Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd, National Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd and other bodies; and Member, INSA Council (1972-74).

Awards and Honours: Dr Tilak was conferred the KG Naik Gold Medal by MS University of Baroda (1959); Basudeo Banerjee Gold Medal by Indian Chemical Society (1960); SS Bhatnagar Prize (1963); and Padma Bhushan (1972). Lectureship awards won by him include: Professor K Venkataraman Lecture (1968) and KH Kabbur Memorial Lecture (1973), both by University of Bombay; Amin Memorial Lecture by Indian Chemical Manufacturers Association (1976); and PC Ray Memorial Medal and Lecture by Indian Chemical Society (1979). He was elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore and Maharashtra Academy of Sciences.

The Indian National Science Academy has instituted `Professor Bal Dattatraya Tilak Lecture Award’ in his honour.