The late D.P. Burma was trained as a physical chemist but later moved to biological sciences. He received his training in biochemistry from stalwarts like R.H. Burris, B.L. Horecker and the Nobel Laureate Severo Ochoa. Initially he was associated with the Bose Institute and then the Department of Biochemistry, University College of Science, both at Kolkata. Finally he moved to the Institute of Medical Sciences, Benaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi. His major scientific contribution was in the area of protein synthesis. He and his wife, Prof. Maharani Chakravorty, developed the molecular biology unit of BHU to an international level. He is also the author of Music of Life: Development of Molecular Biology: A Personal Account.