He also wrote a biography of Pranjivan Mehta, an important but little-known influence in the Indian independence movement who supported Gandhi.

He went to a local government school (which had been founded by A. O. Hume, an abiding professional interest in later life) and later to the University of Allahabad, receiving an M.A.

He was Jawaharlal Nehru Professor at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak and a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla.

from Himachal Pradesh University in 2014, receiving the award from the Dalai Lama, honoured guest at the convocation ceremony.

Mehrotra's published works include: He also published numerous journal papers on the pre-Independence period that included such topics as the history of the British India Society,[4] the Landholders' Society,[5] the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, as well as reviews of historical works.