The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education Research (NIPER) had oragnised the Prof. M. L. Schroff Birth Centenary Commemorative Lecture on January 6, 2003. Incidentally, the first day of the semester began with this august function dedicated to the father of modern pharmacy in India. The lecture, delivered by Professor S. N. Sharma, Professor Emeritus at Jamia Hamdard University, was attended by over 150 and many of them were distinguished pharmaceutical professionals.

Late Prof. Schroff (1902-1971) is known as the pioneer, architect, creator and mentor of modern pharmacy in India. He has established the first ever Department of Pharmaceutical Education in India 70 years back at the Banaras Hindu University. Subsequently, several other institutions were established in different parts of the country. Not only this, as early as 1950s Dr. Schroff had pronounced the desirability and necessity of establishing a centre of excellence in Pharmaceutical Education and Research.

The establishment of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education Research (NIPER) is also culmination of this idea of Late Prof. Schroff. Dr. C. L. Kaul, Director of NIPER, welcomed the audience on this occasion. "NIPER is privileged' Dr. Kaul said, "to be a part of this birth centenary Commemorative Lecture." He stressed that the dreams of Prof. Schroff remain to be fulfilled and called upon the younger pharmacists to further the cause of the profession.

Some of those present on this occasion were ex-students of Late Dr. Schroff, namely Dr. P R Pabrai, Dr. S N Sharma & Dr. Harkishan Singh. Dr. Singh, an eminent pharmaceutical scientist and an ex-student of Prof. Schroff introduced his personal interactions with Prof. Schroff to the audience. In doing so, Dr. Singh also shared some of his treasured collection of old photographs with the audience. In his talk, he said that the present day Indian Pharmaceutical Association was earlier started as United Provinces Pharmaceutical Association - a forum established by Late Prof. Schroff.

Dr. Singh said that Late Prof. Schroff was in continuous contact with others in the country who were working for the establishment of the pharmaceutical profession in India.

The President of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association, P. D. Sheth, presided over the function. In his remarks, Sheth stressed the fact that as of today less than 3 per cent of the pharmacy graduates join the profession as community pharmacists, hospital pharmacists or clinical pharmacists. Further, he appreciated NIPER for establishing the Department of Pharmacy Practice which he said "a positive move in increasing the availability of competent pharmacists in these areas". Emphasizing that the generating the right quality of human resource is a way to achieve the objective which the profession faces today i.e. crisis of identity. Sheth strongly advocated the need that pharmacists have to be a part of the healthcare team. Prof. S. N. Sharma, who delivered the commemorative lecture was introduced to the house by Sheth.

In his lecture entitled. "The Hallmark in the Genesis and Evolution of Modern Pharmacy in India", Prof. Sharma said "in the birth centenary year of Prof Schroff, we respectfully celebrate the occasion and remember his contributions to Indian Pharmacy in general and education in particular". Dr. Sharma had a unique opportunity to interact with Late Prof. Schroff; initially as a student then as a colleague and later as a professional. Prof. Sharma strongly emphasized that late Prof. Schroff has left behind him challenges and a legacy for pharmaceutical healthcare and this forms the starting point for pharmacists today.

Prof. Sharma touched upon the various facets of ht founder of modern pharmacy in India. "Late Prof. Schroff became a legend during his life time. He had several qualities that are rare to find in one person. He was an example of hardwork, integrity, discipline, objectivity, dedication, transparency, punctuality, sincerity and straight forwardness" said Dr. Sharma. For over an hour, the entire audience kept listening, absorbingly, as Prof. Sharma took them down his memory lane in context with late Prof. Schroff. The function ended with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. K. K. Bhutani, the Dean of NIPER.