At the tender age of 17, young Mohan spontaneously jumped in the Freedom Movement of India. Led youth march to capture Mahad Tehsil, remained underground but ultimately was arrested and convicted in 1942. Along with other colleagues, Mohan organized people's army and liberated Janjira State in 1948, where he was the Foreign Minister of the Provisional Government. Being a Youth Leader, he mobilized hundreds of students and youth in Maharashtra State. He effectively led Trade Unions of Postmen, State Transport, Bank, Defense, Hindustan Antibiotics and other employees in the country and was the Founder President of the National Labour Centre of India.

Dr. Dharia was the General Secretary of the Maharashtra State Congress Committee and also Election In-Charge for the 1962 General Elections. His organizational capacities were, recognized by all including the former Prime Minister Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru. Dr. Dharia was a member of A.I.C.C. from 1962 to 1975. Dr. Dharia and his group of Young Turks compelled the leaders of the Congress party to accept the policy of commitment as against convenience and initiated action oriented politics. Name of Dr. Dharia reached all corners of the country for his progressive principles and politics of conviction.

Dr. Dharia was a member of Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament of India) during 1964 -71, and of Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament of India) during 1971-79. He was known as one of the most effective vocal parliamentarian and young leader. His balanced approach, deep knowledge and forthright views made him popular all over country.

Dr. Dharia was the Minister of State for Planning, Works, Housing, and Urban Development. He was responsible for several important decisions and made his mark as an able administrator. When he was in-charge of the scheme for Employment to Educated he introduced Seed Capital Scheme and generated self-employment to nearly 4,00,000 youth with no investment from engineers and technocrats and only 10% investment from other educated youth. In 1974 Dr. Dharia mooted a proposal to restrict population growth of cities beyond one million. He was appointed as Chairman of the High Level Policy Committee for preparing a report in respect of making available essential commodities and articles at reasonable prices. After tour of the entire country, the committee prepared an extensive report which suggested permanent solution to stabilize prices by giving remunerative price to the producer and making available essential commodities at reasonable price to the people. This report is known as "Dharia Committee Report". There was resistance, from even the then Government and including the Prime Minister, to accept Dharia Committee Report. Ultimately, however, after great insistence, it was accepted by the Cabinet and Janata Government, when Dr. Dharia was the Cabinet Minister of Commerce; Civil Supplies and Cooperation.

Dr. Dharia insisted for dialogue between the Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi and late Mr. Jaiprakash Narayan, who led the movement against corruption, for employment - oriented education and to render social justice to youth and poorer sections of the society. Dr. Dharia urged for politics of conciliation as against confrontation. He strongly opposed Emergency, imposed in 1975. Dr. Dharia was the only Minister to oppose and resign from Mrs. Gandhi's Ministry on this issue and had to go behind bars for 16-17 months for the survival of Democracy in India. After the freedom struggle, Dr. Dharia was convicted on more than 10 occasions for his struggles to secure social justice. Despite holding a high position in the Government of India, Dr. Dharia never compromised with principles. Dr. Dharia thus enjoys a rare distinction of having fought both for freedom of the country and also for the survival of democracy in the country.

During Emergency, in 1977 General Election was held. Dr. Dharia was elected to Parliament (Lok Sabha) and became the Cabinet Minister for Commerce, Jute and Textiles, Civil Supplies and Cooperation in the Central Government. He was instrumental in introducing several dynamic changes to boost exports and maintain the price level to provide relief to millions of masses. Because of the perfect planning and coordination, all essential articles were available in abundance at reasonable prices throughout the country. Simultaneously he ensured remunerative price to the producers by strengthening cooperative network in the country. Though not by earlier Government, "Dharia Committee Report" on essential commodities and articles was accepted by the Janata Government. However it could not be implemented, as the Government could not survive for long. Dr. Dharia created new infrastructures, removed unwarranted restrictions and hurdles to boost Foreign Trade. Dynamic decisions taken by Dr. Dharia are always remembered. He provided adequate strength to the limping Cooperative Movement in India.

Dr. Dharia has successfully led several delegations to foreign countries both as a Member of Parliament and also as the Commerce Minister of the country. He was the leader of the team of M. Ps and represented India at "UNO" in 1970. He also led the country at "ESCAP" and "UNCTAD", while he was the Minister of Commerce. Dr. Dharia convinced the ministers of developing countries to set up their Consortiums for Tea, Coffee, and Spices etc to secure remunerative prices from the rich buyers and considerably succeeded in his efforts.
Dr. Dharia's participation in the National and International Conferences has always been appreciated for his forthright views, clear understanding and vision.
Dr. Dharia was the member of Indian delegation to the World Summit for Sustainable Development held at Johannesburg, South Africa from 26th August 2002 to 4th Sept. 2002. He had chaired a session organized by United Nation's Institute for Research and Training, United State Environmental Protection Agency, Institute for Sustainable Development, South Africa Department of Education, Smithsonian Institution, and other institutions.

During 1990-91, Dr. Dharia was the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India. Though his tenure was small, he gave a new direction to the planning process and suggested several programmes to alleviate poverty, provide employment opportunities to millions of people, with special emphasis on rural development and small scale sector. His efforts to attain the objective of self-reliance and sustainable development to ensure food and water security for millions of Indians provided a permanent guidance to his successors. It was during his tenure, that the serious problems of wastelands, degradation of environment, illiteracy, cooperation and explosion of population, were given top priority, while planning for prosperous India. His emphasis on decentralization and grass root level planning by involving local people is always appreciated.

A High Level Policy Committee was constituted by the Government of India under the Chairmanship of Dr. Mohan Dharia, to consider the serious problem of nearly 175 M. Ha of degraded waste lands (including forest lands) in the country. This committee, known as "Dharia Committee" submitted report in the year 1995. After great persuasion by Dr. Dharia, this report was finally approved by the Planning Commission and accepted by Central Government of India during 2000. Government has constituted a new Land Resource Department to implement the programme of 15 years as recommended by the Dharia Committee and proposal to constitute a National Mission is now under consideration of the Central Govt.

During 1991 when the co-operative movement in India was in danger, the national panel of three members known as Cooperative Initiative Panel (CIP) was, constituted by eminent personalities of Cooperative Sector. The mission of the panel was "to develop a strong constituency of informed, principled and committed leadership which could and would play a major role in reforming the co-operative environment and, thereby the cooperative movement in our country." Dr. Mohan Dharia, Dr. V. Kurien and Prof. L.C. Jain, were the members of the C.I.P.

Dr. Dharia was instrumental for the Nationalization of major private banks and for the abolition of privileges and privy purses of former rulers.