Author: Dr Jayanti Dutta

The 1929, well-known, black and white image of Acharya Ja­gadis Chandra Bose with eight of his students—all of whom went on to become great scientists—is one of my favourite images of Indian Sci­ence. Here is a group of ‘Indian’ scientists, from the pre-independence era, all stars in their own right. Right from my child­hood, while the image inspired me, the absence of any woman in the group also nagged me. ‘Where are the girls?’ I would think, ‘What are they doing?’ From no women in science to 18.6% women Indian scientists today and 25% in leading research and development projects,…

‘India is the forgotten heart of the ancient world’ William Dalrymple is a Scottish historian based in India and an accomplished author, television host, and a well-known literary figure. In India, he is also known as the founder of the Jaipur Literature Festival and for his best-selling books such as The White Mughals, The Last Mughals, Nine Lives, The Anarchy, The Age of Kali, all of which look at Indian history in a refreshing way, a style which is lucid and poetic yet packed with historical facts. Through his latest book, The Golden Road, Dalrymple has turned his gaze towards…

PROFILE OF THE MONTH: DR NANABHOY ARDESHIR FRAMJI MOOS Human civilization can breach novel frontiers because there are hundreds of foot-soldiers who work tirelessly to gear up, oil and run the scientific machinery day after day, year after year. The lives of such workers are often tedious, monotonous and far from the glamour of shiny front offices. Nanabhoy Ardeshir Framji Moos was one such karmayogi whose life is a lived example of karmanya vaadhikarastu ma phaleshu kadachna, which translated,means, ‘my right is only on the performance of duty, not on the fruits’. EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION Born on 29 October…

While pondering on the amazing coincidence of several students of a single batch going on to become world-class scientists of great repute, one is struck by the magic created by the coming together of illustrious teachers, brilliant students and an ambient institution. That, it took place in the stifling environment of imperial governance makes the story much more profound and inspiring. It can be a case study to understand how students like Satyendra Nath Bose, Jnan Chandra Ghosh, Meghnad Saha, Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, Pran Krishna Parija and Jnanendra Nath Mukherjee, studying at the Presidency College in Calcutta taught by the…

By the mid of the 19th century, as colleges and universities were established in the country, the significance of public interest in science was deeply realised by pioneer Indian scientists and leaders. It was felt that popularising science is a prerequisite for creating a society where scientific knowledge is perceived in a constructive, productive and active manner. These science pioneers could visualise that the knowledge of scientific phenomenon and processes could instill in the masses not only a forward-looking, logical and objective approach but will also equip them with critical thinking strategies. These mental orientations would surely bring social reform…

Daulat is an Urdu word, meaning wealth. When Dr Kothari was named, ‘Daulat’ it seems he was named with a foresight as he was to prove a great asset for his nation. Daulat Singh Kothari is one of those illustrious scientists of the pre-independence era, who, by the dint of brilliance, hard work and exceptional capabilities, served the cause of the nation both before and after independence. Born on July 6, 1906, at Udaipur in Rajasthan, he lost his father — a school teacher, to the plague epidemic at the tender age of twelve. He was brought up by his…

This is the third biography of Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose that I have come across. The first one, of course, is the most famous one by Patrick Geddes titled, The Life and Work of Sir Jagadis C Bose, published in 1920 by Longmans in London. This biography was written during Bose’s lifetime by an Englishman, scientist and urban planner. It presents the trials and tribulations of Bose’s life in graphic detail and Indian readers can immediately relate to and are inspired by the goodness of Bose as an individual and his merit as a scientist. That Geddes was himself a great fan…