Mohanlal Vanichand Modi was born in Porbunder in India, the son of a district judge. He went to Elphinston College in Bombay and for his medical education to Grant Medical College in the same city. He was an outstanding scholar winning scholarships and three gold medals during his student career. He travelled abroad in 1930 and visited hospitals in Germany and Austria attending the clinics of Sauerbruch and Finsterer. He was house surgeon at the J J Hospital in Bombay and in due course joined the consultant staff at the G T Hospital, Sir H N Hospital and became a lecturer and later senior surgeon at his own school, the Grant Medical College. He was active in the University both as lecturer and examiner. In 1929 he married Sulochana Mohanlal who was also a member of the University, she later was made Professor and was the first and only lady Mayor of the city of Bombay. They had two daughters and a son all of whom became doctors; an orthopaedic surgeon, an ophthalmic surgeon and a physician. He died on 21 August 1976.