GREAT INDIAN SCIENTISTS (Modern & Ancient) AND India's Ancient Scientific Glory

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2 m m j j GREAT INDIAN SCIENTISTS (Modern & Ancient) AND India's Ancient Scientific Glory Kolar Krishna Iyer m NAVARATNA BOOK HOUSE , Rahiman St., Arundalpet, VIJAYAWADA m

3 (Modern & Ancient) And India's Ancient Scientific Glory Retold By KOLAR KRISHNA IYER Cover Design : A. GIRIDHAR C: NAVARATNA BOOK HOUSE Cell : Type Setting : SRI SRINIVASA GRAPHICS VIJAYAWADA Price : Rs Printing : SRI CHAITANYA Offset Printers VIJAYAWADA

4 CONTENTS PART - I : Modern Scientists Page No. 1. Sir C.V. Raman J.C. Bose Har Govind Khorana Vikram Sarabhai Dr. Homi Jehingir Bhabha Srinivasa Ramanujan Aiyangar Prasanta Chandra Mahalanomis Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar M.S. Swaminathan Satyendranath Bose S. Chandrasekhar Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray Professor Saha Sisir Kumar Mitra Anil Kakodkar Birbal Saheb A.P.J. Abdul Kalam PART - II : Ancient Scientists 18. Sushruta Charaka Aryabhatta Varahamihira Bhaskara II Mahaveeracharya Brahma Guptha

5 PART - III : Indian Medical Scientists 1. Bharadwaja Sivakar Bapuji Jayasingh Raja Serfoji Brahma Guptha Other Less Known Scientists Andhra Women Scientists PART - IV : Ancient Scientific Glory 1. How long is our Day Speed of light About light - colours Water Suction by plants Solar and Lumar Eclipses Gravitation Astronomical figures About Atoms Batteries About Earth 176 K

6 PART - I : Modern Scientists 1. SIR C.V. RAMAN C c Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was the first Indian to receive the most prestigious International award, the NOBEL Prize. He received it for his pioneer work the discovery of "Raman effect" in Physics in the year Childwood and Education His father Chandrasekhara Iyer who lived in Tiruchurapalli in the then Madras (now Chennai) State, was a teaher. His mother was Parvati Ammal. He was born on November 7, Raman studied for ten years in Vizag's Hidnu College High School. During his matriculation (Present S.S.L.C.) examination he was sick. Yet he stood second in his class with first class marks. Then he was only 12 years old. 5

7 Raman went to Madras (Chennai now) in 1902 for higher studies. He joined B.A. class in the Presidency College with physics as his optional main subject. After passing B.A. degree examination while he was only 16 years of age, he joined M.A. He obtained M.A. degree with physics and mathematics standing first in the State in the year His father wanted to send him to England for higher studies. But doctors after a medical check up advised him not to strain himself too much and give up the idea of going to England for higher studies. His parents were keen that Raman should take up a government job. So he studied Economics and Sanskrit. While studying Raman was conducting some experiments. He experimented using glass prisms once he noticed extraordinary light coming from the prism. He pursued the experiment and wrote an article on his findings. He sent the article to a popular Magazine, Philosophical Magazine, London. It was published as he sent it. It was a 6

8 matter of great pride to Raman. He was only eighteen then. The seed of greatness in science was sown then! all thought. Raman took up a government job as Asst. Accountant-General in Calcutta. Raman was married to Lokasundarambal. They had two children. Soon he was promoted as Deputy Accountant General. Raman's wife helped him to study sound and music. There is an interesting anecdote in Raman's life which indicates his honesty and his helping nature. Once the currency notes saved by a merchant for building a house was spoilt when his house caught fire A Junior Officer told the merchant that the currency notes brought by him were useless. The merchant was full of sorrow and was short of crying. Raman looked at those currency notes and found them to be O.K. He told the merchant. He arranged to replace those notes with fresh ones by the bank. 7

9 The merchant's joy knew no bounds. The following day the merchant sent an envelope with Rs. 3,000 put in it as a mark of gratitude. Roman called the merchant and returning the money said : "I have only discharged my duty!" There was an Indian Association for the cultivation of science. He used to go to this Association during his spare hours and do some scientific research. Raman gave up the post in the central government. He joined and aceepted the Palit chair of physics in Calcutta University on a lesser salary than he was getting in government service. He became professor of physics in 1907 in the University of Calcutta. A scientist remarked. "Raman's sacrifice will inspire many seekers of truth in the temple of knowledge." Dr. C.V. Raman started his own college with some of his friends. Soon he became the secretary of the Indian Association for Cultivation of Science in

10 Dr. C.V. Raman represented the Calcutta a University in the meeting of Universities of British Emrpire in London in the year Here he met famous persons in the scientific field like J.J. Thomson and Rutherford. Raman's Effect While travelling to England by sea his attention one day went to the waters in the Mediterranean sea. He exclaimed : "Oh! How beautiful is the blue of the Meiditenean Sea? why is the sea blue? I must find the reason!" After returning to India Raman intensified his research to find out the reason or the blue colour of the Mediterean sea. Finally Raman found out that it was due to 'scattering effect' of light. It was left to our countryscientist to answer a scientific phenamena which many scientists had worked restlessly without any successes. His finding become worldfamous. For this discovery of "Raman's Effect" Sir Dr. C.V. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize. 9

11 Light scatters when it is passed through an object. The scattered light has some unique qualities and so the said scattered light tells us a lot about the thing. For instance using Raman's effect one can easily know the inside of the materials. The first to benefit most from this discovery is Chemical Industry. This enabled the industry to manufacture colour photographs, plastics and synthetic rubber. One unique aspect of this one of the greatest discoveries is that Raman used very simple and cheap tools. He himself has said : "I have never used any costly equipment to study science. I have spent not more than even rupees two hundreds for discovering Raman Effect." It was a proud occasion for India when one of her sons was awarded the Nobel Prize for physics in 1930 for his work on "scattering of light! It was further unique because Raman was the first Indian scientist to win the Nobel Prize. It is one of 10

12 the highest honours a person can achieve in his life time in the field of science. Raman's effect is very useful in understanding molecular structure of chemical compounds. Raman Effect became a powerful tool for using laser beams to cure ailments and in defence equipments. Raman's Effect has yielded very important results concerning the chemical constitution of substances. It will help enormously to deepening of our knowledge of the structure of matter. The citation from Nobel Committee said: Sir Venkata Raman, the Royal Academy of sciences has awarded for the Nobel Prize in physics for your eminent researches on the diffusion of gases and for your discovery of the effect that bears your name." The Raman effect has opened new routes to our knowledge of the structure of matter and has already given most important results. There is a humorous anecdote relating to Raman's Effect. 11

13 Raman was a humourous person also. On his wasy back from Stockholm after receiving the Nobel Prize, he visited France on his way back. He was invited for a party held to honour him. During the party wire a special favourite drink of France was being served to the guests. Raman was also offered. He courteously denied it saying "I am not addicted to it!" But the host most humourously said : "Sir, you were gracious enough to lecture about the effect of Raman's effect on wine. We would like to know the effect of wine on Raman!" Thunderous laughter echoed in the Reception Hall. National Science Day We observe February 28 of every year the day on which Raman discovered Raman effect, as the National Science Day. Raman was the first Indian to be appointed as the Director of the then Tata Institute of Science in

14 Raman's patriotism is well known. Cambridge University of England offered him whatever salary he desired. But he refused the offer saying : "I am an Indian first and would not leave India whatever may happen" Sir C.V. Raman was also an ideal teacher. Some of the most famous scientists like Dr. Homi Bhabha and Dr. Vikram Sarabhai were his students. Raman's other achievements 1. He studied how music emerges from Veena and Violin. (His father was playing these instruments when he was young. Research in optics and Accoustics. 2. He studied flowers and wrote a book 3. He studied about the physical properties of crystals, colours of flowers and physiology of vision. 4. Contributed to the Electric sciences. 5. Experimental and theoretical studies on the diffraction of light by accoustic 13

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