Born in India in the 1880's, Moolgavkar was educated at Grant Medical College, Bombay. He came to England, and obtained the Conjoint Diplomas in 1909 and the Fellowship in 1915, and then returned to Bombay. He became surgeon to the Jamsetji Hospital, Bombay, in 1923, and was Professor of Surgery at Grant Medical College till his retirement in 1941 when he was created OBE. He lived latterly at Belle Ville, Cumtalla Hill, Bombay where he died about 1964 in his late seventies. Moolgavkar's students held him in affection and respect. He was a commanding figure, who usually wore a tall white cap; he was keenly interested in athletics.