[The Indian Society of Soil Science considers it a privilege to offer its felicitations to Professor J. N. Mukherjee, a scientist of international reputation, on the occasion of his being honoured as PADMA BHUSHAN by the President of India on the Republic Day of 1964. The Society is particularly happy to note a Soil Scientist being honoured although this honour was overdue. The Society owes its inception and foundation to the zealous effort, organizational ability, and towering personality of Dr. Mukherjee. With the joint support of the Indian Science Congress Association and late Sir Bryce C Burt, the then Vice-Chairman of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, a committee was appointed in 1934 with Sir Bryce C. Burt as Chairman and Professor Mukherjee as the Convener to take necessary steps in the matter. The dynamic personality of Dr. Mukherjee gave a concrete shape to this idea and the desire of the then Soil Scientists of India was crystallized; the same year the Indian Society of Soil Science was founded and the Executive Committee (now called the Council) was provisionally constituted as follows —Sir B.C. Burt (Chairman), Prof. J. N. Mukherjee (Secretary), Sir J. C. Ghosh (since deceased), Dr. S. K. Mukherji (since deceased), Rao Bahadur V. A. Tamhane, Dr. D. N. Wadia. Dr. Mukherjee, with the co-operation of his colleagues, had to undertake all onerous work in getting this Society recognized as a scientific body whose main objects were defined to be the cultivation and promotion of Soil Science as also the dissemination of the knowledge of Soil Science and its applications. He was President of the Society in 193S and 1939 and was elected in 1958 as an Honorary Member in recognition of his service to the Society and contributions in the domain of Soil Science. He had been, even to day, taking lively interest in the fulfilment of the aims and objects of the Society. The present stature of the Society owes largely to his guidance and advice. He represents the Society on the Council of International Society of Soil Science. The Editor joins the members of the Society in wishing Professor Mukherjee a happy, peaceful, and useful long life. A short biography embodying his career and contributions in the different fields of Science is presented here.— S. P. Raychaudhuri, Editor]
