Nirmal Kumar took the degree of MBBS from the University of Calcutta and obtained the degrees of DPhil (1949) and DSc (1964) from the Oxford University respectively. His areas of specialization were physiology and pharmacology. He was the Director, Haffkine Institute, Mumbai, and Drug Analyst, Mumbai; Deputy Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi.

Academic and Research Achievements: Dutta made important contributions to pharmacology and biological standardization of drugs. His most notable contribution was the development of experimental cholera or cholera like syndrome in infant rabbits. This method has made possible the elucidation of many immunological and chemotherapeutic problems in cholera. He also made valuable contributions to the pharmacology of indigenous drugs.

Other Contributions: Nirmal Kumar was a Member, Panel of Experts in Bacterial Diseases and Cholera (WHO), Expert Scientific Committee of ICMR, Indian Pharmacopoeal Committee, and Drugs Technical Advisory Board, Government of India. He served as Member of the editorial boards of Indian Journal of Pharmacology and Arch. Int. Pharmacodyn. Therap.

Awards and Honours: Dutt was a recipient of the Basantidevi Amirchand Award of ICMR (1955); the Watumull Award of 1965; SS Bhatnagar Prize (1965) and the Shree Dhanwantar Prize by INSA (1981). He was a Fellow, National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad and National Academy of Medical Sciences (India); Member, British Pharmacological Society and President, Indian Pharmaceutical Association (Mumbai Branch) from 1957 to 1959.