Author: Dr Mehta Vasishtha Dev Mohan
Alternate names: Vasishtha Dev
Born: 28 Sep 1917
Died: 12 Sep 2003
Bio: Dr Mehta Vasishtha Dev Mohan was an Indian scholar of the Pāli & Sanskrit languages. He was a dedicated scholar and an academician.  He was born  on 28 Sep 1917 in Village Jafarwal District Shekhupura.  & grew up in a middle-class hindu family. His father Mehta Gokul Chand Mohan, was a Senior officer and had served various kingdoms of  British India. He served Mandi Kingdom as Senior officer in Revenue  Department. During 1926 to 1927, there was a rebellion in a neighboring State namely “Sukait”. The British Government appointed him as Chief Administrator to  restore law & order. He served   Bharatpur & Jammu Kashmir kingdoms also as a Senior  Officer. His mother Smt Durga Devi Mohan was a daughter of renowned Arya Samaj Missionary Mahashya Karmachand dutt of  Jaffarwal Duttan, now in Pakistan. 
Dr Mehta Vasishtha Dev Mohan attended Gurukul Kangri with Sanskrit medium from 1925 to 1933 at Haridwar.  He studied in Muslim High School, Badomali and qualified his Matriculation examination from Panjab University Lahore in the year 1936, obtaining high First Class. During 1939, He qualified intermediate examination from S D College, Panjab University Lahore. He was awarded Silver Medal & Merit Scholarship. During  1941, he appeared for Bachelor of Arts examination from the same College and was awarded Gold Medal and Merit scholarship. He was ranked First in the examination in Panjab University. During 1943, he was awarded Gold Medal as he stood first in MA Examination conducted by Panjab University Lahore. Immediately after his post graduation, he joined as a Pilot in Royal Air Force (As a commissioned officer in the flying branch) for a short period and later on he joined Government College Ludhiana as a Professor in Sanskrit and Hindi and taught students of  Degree, Honors & Post Graduation classes. Consequent to his retirement after a brief tenure of two years as Principal at Government College Narnaul, he continued his teaching in Sanskrit & research work at Vishveshranand Research Institute (VVRI) at Hoshiarpur  as a Senior most teacher in the Post Graduate Section of  VVRI, Panjab University( 1972 to 1987).    His contributions in the field of History as a fellow member of ICHR & as an academician, are well known. He was founder President of Bhartiya Vidya Vihar Mandir Trust & Society Ludhiana.  He was a member of following Organizations
1.	 All India Oriental Conference
2.	Authors Guild of India
3.	Indian History Congress
4.	Numismatic Society of India

His Published work in Sanskrit & Indology include:
Books:
A. The North West India covering the period 400 BC to 800 BC
B. Indo Greek Coins
C. Indian Inscriptions - Four Volumes (Second Century BC to Sixth Century AD) --  Being Published
Research papers
A.	Monograms on Indo Greek Coins 1957 – All India Oriental Conference
B.	The Ancient Geography of North West India. National Geographical Journal of India, Banaras Hindu University, Volume VIII pts 3-4 1962.
C.	Upanishadon Ka Rachanakala ( The Date of Upanishada) Vishawa Jyoti, Upanishad Memeber, 1973. VVRI Hoshiarpur
D.	Dharmasaastron ke Vyakhyakara ( Vishwa Jyoti, Dharamsastra- 1974)
E.	Republican Polity of the uttarapatha. Read in the 1974 session of the All India Conference and published in the Vishveshrwanand Indological Journal, Panjab University. 
F.	The mauryas after Ashoka: Read in Dharwar Session of All India Oriental Conference and published in the Vishveshrwanand Indological Journal, Panjab University.
G.	Review of Dr N.N. Kher’s “ Agrarian Fiscal Economy in the Mauryan & Post Mauryan period
H.	The Age of the Upanishads – 1978 Pune Session of All India Oriental Conference- published in the Vishveshrwanand Indological Journal, Panjab University.
In addition to above works he translated works  & papers ( Hindi) of some well-known Indian & foreign authors. 
Translations ( Hindi)
A.	Our Fight for freedom through the Ages – By Prof R K Luthra
B.	Geography of Asia by Dr Trilochan Singh
C.	A Study of History by Mr A J Toynbees
D.	A Study of History by Mr L Mumfords
E.	The Enigma in the Ancient Literature of India by Mr L Renou
His Research work was highly appreciated by following historians of world fame.
1.	Dr A L Bhasham of London University opined as follows:
“ This thesis is in my opinion, one of the finest from an Indian University that I have yet seen in what is now quit a lengthy period of acting as an external examiner. It is detailed, thorough and original and the author’s command of English is well above average standards of Indian University teachers at present time”
1.	Dr F.R. Allchin of Cambridge University opined as follows:
“ This candidate has attained a very high level, both in collection and critically assessing historical materials. The candidates presentation of his work and Command of the English language arte also very satisfactory”

Dr Mehta Vasishtha Dev Mohan was a fellow member of  “Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi from 1981 to 1984. During  early 1984, the Chairman of DAV Managing Committee, Professor Ved Vyas, appointed him as Professor & Joint Director in Dr Sternbuck Foundation in Delhi. On 30 Nov 1984, he met with a major accident  and was bed ridden for a very long time due Cervical fracture. He continued his work till he died of Cancer on 12 Sep 2003. He was so much motivated to his profession that he continued his History research work during last years of his life, when he was bed ridden and a  Cancer patient. Some of his Research Work could not be published due to his untimely death. 

By Commander ( Retired) Alok Mohan
                                         E Mail Id: mohanalok@gmail.com
Son of Dr Mehta Vasishtha Dev Mohan