National Science Day 2024: In the world of scientific achievement, women in India have left an indelible mark, shaping history and instilling pride in the nation. These remarkable trailblazers have transcended gender barriers, contributing significantly to diverse scientific fields. Their revolutionary discoveries and unwavering quest for knowledge have advanced their respective fields and paved the way for later generations in fields ranging from astrophysics to molecular biology.
National Science Day 2024: Date, Theme, History, Significance, and Celebration & More
This article sheds light on the extraordinary journeys of these women, showcasing their resilience, brilliance, and the invaluable impact they have had on the scientific landscape, making India proud on the global stage.
11 Indian Women In Science
Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi
Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi, the first Indian woman physician and the first woman, was born on March 31, 1865. She is believed to have graduated with a two-year degree in Western Medicine in the United States. Her personal life led her to take up medicine. She was twenty years older than the widower to whom she was married at the age of nine. Her son, who was born when she was fourteen, passed away quickly from a lack of access to healthcare. Her decision to become a doctor was the outcome of her grief. She studied at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1886; this was the first women’s medical programme worldwide.
Janaki Ammal
The 1977 Padma Shri Award went to Ammal, the first scientist from India to receive it. Ammal chose to pursue botany in the 1900s, which was not a typical choice for a woman. She obtained an honours degree in botany from the Presidency College in 1921. Her scientific focus was on the relationship between chromosomes and cell behaviour in cytogenetics, a subfield of genetics that studies the geographic distribution of plant species. Also, she went on to occupy the reputed post of director-general of the Botanical Survey of India.
Kamala Sohonie
Sohonie became the first woman from India to receive a PhD in a scientific field. She was the first female student of Prof. CV Raman, who was the then IISc director. Due to her excellent performance, Raman gave her permission to pursue further research. She discovered that every cell of plant tissue contained the enzyme ‘cytochrome C', which was involved in the oxidation of all plant cells.
However, did you know that at first she was rejected for a research fellowship at IISc merely because she was a woman?
Asima Chatterjee
Asima Chatterjee was born on September 23, 1917. Following her 1936 graduation from the University of Calcutta's Scottish Church College with a degree in chemistry, she went on to conduct research. Her work on the development of anti-epileptic and anti-malarial medications, as well as her research on vinca alkaloids, a substance derived from periwinkle that is known to have anti-cancer properties, is most notable. Other than this, she is highly regarded for her work in the fields of organic chemistry and phytochemistry (chemicals derived from plants).
Rajeshwari Chatterjee
Rajeshwari Chatterjee was born on January 24, 1966. She was the first female engineer in the state of Karnataka, awarded a government scholarship to pursue her studies overseas in 1946. She attended the University of Michigan, where she graduated with a master's in electrical engineering.
Rajeshwari became a faculty member in the Department of Electrical Communication Engineering at IISc. There, she and her husband established a microwave research laboratory and carried out groundbreaking work in the field of microwave engineering.
Kalpana Chawla
Chawla is the first astronaut of Indian origin to have forayed into space. As the primary robotic arm operator and mission specialist, she made her Space Shuttle Columbia debut in 1997. After that, in 1982, she immigrated to the United States. In 1984, she graduated with a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. Two years later, in 1986, she received a second Master's degree and a PhD in the same field from the University of Colorado Boulder.
In the Columbia space shuttle accident on February 1, 2003, Chawla was one of the crew members who died. The space shuttle broke apart while descending back into Earth's atmosphere, resulting in a tragic event.
C.V. Raman Biography: Early Life,Family, Education, Career, Awards and Achievements
Dr. Indira Hinduja
Dr. Indira Hinduja is an Indian gynaecologist, obstetrician, and infertility specialist. She mastered the Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) technique and delivered India’s first GIFT baby on January 4, 1988. Before this, she delivered India’s first test-tube baby at KEM Hospital on August 6, 1986.
She is also popular for developing an oocyte donation technique for menopausal and premature ovarian failure patients, giving the country’s first baby out of this technique on January 24, 1991.
Bibha Chowdhuri
Bibha Chowdhuri was an Indian physicist. She was born in Kolkata. Her mother, Urmila Devi, was the daughter of a Brahmo Samaj missionary, and her father, Banku Behari Chowdhuri, was a physician. She studied cosmic rays and particle physics. She was the first to detect and identify cosmic ray muons using the photographic nuclear emulsion method, in collaboration with D. M. Bose. The IAU has renamed the star HD 86081 as Bibha after her demise.
Iravati Karve
Irawati Karve was born on December 15, 1905. She was a Maharashtra-born, internationally renowned sociologist, anthropologist, educator, and writer. She was a pupil of G.S. Ghurye, the man who established Indian sociology and sociology in the country.
Iravati Karve is believed to be the first female Indian sociologist.
Anna Mani
Anna Mani was an Indian physicist and meteorologist. She retired as the Deputy Director General of the Indian Meteorological Department and also served as a visiting professor at the Raman Research Institute. Anna Mani's work in meteorology remains impactful and valuable to today's society. Her discoveries in meteorology advanced both India's scientific community and its post-independence growth.
Owing to Mani's vision and perseverance, India is currently a world leader in the use of wind power.
Edavaleth Kakkat Janaki Ammal
Edavalath Kakkat Janaki Ammal was an Indian botanist who worked on plant breeding, cytogenetics, and phytogeography. Her most notable work involved studies on sugarcane and eggplant. She also worked on the cytogenetics of a range of plants and co-authored the Chromosome Atlas of Cultivated Plants with C.D
The extraordinary contributions of these women in science illuminate the path of progress and resilience. Their historic achievements stand as a testament to the transformative power of intellect and determination, inspiring generations to come. As we celebrate their legacy, let us continue fostering an environment where aspiring scientists, regardless of gender, can thrive and make significant marks on the canvas of scientific discovery.
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