Dr M N Desai was a professor of Chemistry. He graduated with chemistry from the S G Garda College, Navsari and joined the M G Science Institute in Ahmedabad where he did his post-graduation with inorganic chemistry. In 1959 he completed his doctoral degree in Chemistry from the same institute of science. In 1963 Dr Desai joined the Gujarat University as Reader in Chemistry where he went on later to be Head of the department of Chemistry, 1971, and then became in 1975, a Professor of Chemistry. For six years he held the office of Dean, faculty of science, Gujarat University and later also served as vice chancellor of the same for over a year. Dr Desai was associated as visiting professor with the Yamenashi University, Japan and the Pennsylvania State University, USA. In 1971 he was awarded the K G Naik Gold Medal for the best research work in the faculty of Science. Many more awards and cash prizes for best book, best research, were further earned by Dr M N Desai in the field of Chemistry. His book on 'Corrosion Science' brought him much recognition. His areas of research include, metallic corrosion and its inhibition, and analytical chemistry.