Shiv Raj Kumar Chopra obtained his PhD degree (1955) from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. He was a Professor of Anthropology, Punjab University, Chandigarh and later became Pro-Vice Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala.

Academic and Research Achievements: Chopra had contributed to the study of human growth, primate locomotion and palaeoanthropology. His works on the primates seek to explain phylogenetic relationships between higher and lower primates and shed light on the problem of erect posture in important South African fossil primates. To Chopra's credit stands the recovery/discovery of a new fossil gibbonoid tooth for the first time from Shivalik Hills. He documented the important stages in the evolutionary tree of the Early Man in India and designed a 'pelvimeter' for measuring angles on the pelvis and other bones of primates, including man.

Other Contributions: Dr Chopra served as an Editor of Everyday Science and as Member, Advisory Committee, Anthropological Survey of India, and of Museum of Man, Ministry of Education. He was a member of Permanent Council of the International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences.

Awards and Honours: Dr Chopra received Silver Plaque from Ethnographic and Folk Culture Society, Lucknow (1976) and Majumdar Memorial Lecture Award, Lucknow (1976). He was the Chairman, Palaeobiology and Evolution Section, VII Congress of International Primatological Society (1979). Chopra was a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad, Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Zoological Society of London, Palaeontological Society of India, American Anthropological Association and International Primatological Society, Explorer's Club (USA).