Amal Kumar Raychaudhuri
Amal Kumar Raychaudhuri, AKR was born in Barisal, now in Bangladesh, on September 14, 1923 to Surabala and Sureshchandra Raychaudhuri. He was just a child when the family migrated to Kolkata. He had his early education in Tirthapati Institution and later completed matriculation from Hindu School.
Debendra Mohan Bose
Debendra Mohan Bose made contributions in the field of cosmic rays, artificial radioactivity and neutron physics. He was the longest serving Director (1938–1967) of Bose Institute. Bose was the nephew of the famous physicist Jagadish Chandra Bose.
In 1907, he joined the Christ’s College, Cambridge, and worked with prominent physicists including J. J. Thomson and Charles Thomson Rees Wilson at the Cavendish Laboratory. In 1910, he joined the Royal College of Science in London, from where he obtained a diploma and a BSc (first class) in Physics in 1912. Later, he returned to Calcutta and taught physics in the City College, Kolkata in 1913.
Ananda Mohan Chakraborty
Anand Mohan Chakrabarty was a distinguished Indian-born American microbiologist and scientist who became famous for his notable contribution in the field of genetic engineering. With his extraordinary work he has inspired millions of researchers to experiment with microbial genes to utilize them in various fields, bringing in new dimensions to biotechnological aspects of microorganisms. The life of Prof. Ananda Mohan Chakrabarty will always remain an inspiring tale of challenges, and scientific breakthroughs for the coming generations of environmental microbiologists. Prof. Chakraborty is no more amongst us, as he left for heavenly abode on 10th July 2020.
Mani Lal Bhoumik
Bhaumik was born on March 30, 1931 in a small village in Tamluk, Medinipore, West Bengal, India and attended the Kola Union High School. As a teenager, Bhaumik spent some time with Mahatma Gandhi in his Mahisadal camp. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Scottish Church College and an M. Sc. from the Rajabazar Science College campus of University of Calcutta. He won the attention of Satyendra Nath Bose (creator of the Bose–Einstein statistics) who encouraged his prodigious curiosity. Bhaumik became the first student to receive a Ph.D. degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur when he received his Ph.D. in quantum physics in 1958. His thesis was on Resonant Electronic Energy Transfers, a subject he would have cause to use in his work with lasers.
Priyada Ranjan Ray
Priyada Ranjan Ray obtained MA (1911) from University of Calcutta and also DSc (hc) from the universities of Calcutta, Jadavpur and Burdwan. He worked as Professor of Chemistry, City College, Kolkata (1919); Assistant Palit Professor of Chemistry, University College of Science; Khaira Professor (1937), Palit Professor and Head (1952), Department of Chemistry; also Honorary Professor, and Director (1956-58), Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Jadavpur.
Radhanath Sikdar
RadhanathSikdar was an Indian mathematician and surveyor best known for measuring the height of Mount Everest. George Everest, after whom the peak is named, described RadhanathSikdar (Sickdhar) in these words, “…hardy, energetic young man, ready to undergo any fatigue, and acquire a practical knowledge of all parts of his profession. There are a few of my instruments that he cannot manage; and none of my computations of which he is not thoroughly master. He can not only apply formulate but investigate them.”
Meghnad Saha
MeghnadSaha was an astrophysicist whose theory of thermal ionisation, explaining the origin of stellar-spectra regarding the physical conditions prevailing in the stellar atmosphere, was one of India’s most important contributions to the world of science during the 20th century. Saha’s theory relates the ionisation state of an element to the temperature and pressure. It was an epoch-making discovery. Besides its application in astrophysics, the theory later found other important applications, for example, in the study of the ionosphere, conductivity of flames, electric arcs, and explosion phenomenon.
Prafulla Chandra Ray
Prafulla Chandra Ray is regarded as the founder of the Indian School of modern chemistry. He was a pioneer of chemical industries in India. Ray’s activities were not confined to his laboratory and teaching. His activities concerned other spheres of human interest— educational reform, industrial development, employment generation and poverty alleviation, economic freedom and political advancement of the country. He occupied a unique position in India in his days.
Asutosh Mookerjee
Asutosh Mookerjee (28 June 1864 – 25 May 1924) was a distinguished mathematician of his time and one of the architects of Modern India. He was elected a member of the London Mathematical Society just after he passed his BA examination. He published the book titled Geometry of Conics. He founded the Calcutta Mathematical Society in 1908 and directed its activities as its President till his demise.
Sisir Kumar Mitra
Sisir Kumar Mitra (24 October 1890 −13 August 1963) is regarded as the doyen of radio science in India. He made significant contributions to enhance our understanding of upper atmospheric phenomena. Mitra’s treatise The Upper Atmosphere published by the Asiatic Society of Bengal (now The Asiatic Society) in 1947 received world-wide acclaim. British physicist Sir Edward Victor Appleton termed this heroic.