Biography of Dr. D. P. Sharma

Dr. D. P. Sharma is an internationally acclaimed academician, digital policy expert, and social reformer whose multidimensional contributions span education, technology, research, and inclusive innovation. Listed by Google (2019–2024) among the 21 Famous Personalities of Rajasthan and recognized by the Government of Rajasthan as a Legendary Personality of Rajasthan (2022), Dr. Sharma has established himself as a thought leader in technology-driven social transformation.

In recognition of his social commitment, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, invited Dr. Sharma to serve as National Brand Ambassador for Youth and Academic Fraternity under the Swachhta Hi Seva (Cleanliness Mission) initiative. Recipient of 61 prestigious national and international awards, he was conferred with the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Lifetime Achievement International Award (Sardar Ratna, 2014–15) and the Godfrey Phillips (Red and White Bravery) National Award (2001), among many others.

Dr. Sharma’s academic and research engagements have connected him with universities and organizations across France, Germany, Belgium, Ethiopia, South Korea, the USA, the UK, Malaysia, China, Singapore, Egypt, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkey, Dubai, Canada, and the Netherlands. He has served as a research and project advisor to VLIR-UOS, UNDP, and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). He actively participated in the UN Internet Governance Forum (2020), presided over a session on Inclusion and the Digital Divide at IIGF-India (2021), and delivered keynote addresses at ISOC (2024) and IGF-Africa (2024).

Appointed as International Professional Ambassador for IFERP (2023) and Governing Body Member of Aryavart International University, Tripura, Dr. Sharma has also been instrumental in several academic and policy-level initiatives. On his recommendation, the Government of Rajasthan constituted a committee under the Additional Chief Secretary for establishing a global-level university for persons with disabilities. The roadmap he designed led to the creation of the Baba Amte Divyang University, a pioneering institution of its kind.

A prolific scholar, Dr. Sharma has authored and edited 27 books, including Engineering the Metaverse: Enabling Technologies, Platforms and Use Cases (The IET, UK) and contributed three chapters to a Springer volume on Autonomic Computing in Cloud Resource Management in Industry 4.0. He has published 115 research papers in indexed journals and proceedings, written over 100 editorials for national newspapers, and holds six international patents (including Indian, Australian, and South African grants).

Dr. Sharma’s academic associations include roles such as Expat Research Advisor at Université Paris-Sud, France, Joint Ph.D. Advisor under DAAD Collaboration between Arba Minch University (Ethiopia) and University of Hildesheim (Germany), and Research Advisor at the Applied Research Lab for Artificial Intelligence (VUB-Belgium) under the VLIR-UOS IUC Program. He has guided doctoral scholars at universities across Ethiopia, France, Germany, Belgium, and India.

He has also served as Visiting Professor at the University of the People (USA), an institution accredited by DEAC and affiliated with the United Nations, and as Academic Faculty Ambassador (India) for IBM-USA under its Cloud Computing Academic Initiative (2009–2010).

Currently, Dr. Sharma serves as an Independent Director for Indian NBFCs (RBI approval no. DoS.CO.CSITEG/SEC.7/31.01.015/2023-24, tenure 2024–2029). He is also recognized as one of the conceptual initiators and roadmap designers for Partition Remembrance Day (14 August), later declared by Prime Minister Modi in 2021, for which he collaborated with former UN diplomat Mr. Vijay Samnotra during a 29-day mission.

A widely respected columnist for Rajasthan Patrika, Dainik Bhaskar, and INVC News, Dr. D. P. Sharma continues to inspire through his commitment to innovation, inclusion, and nation-building in the digital age.