CHANDRASHEKHAR VENKATARAMAN, FIRST INDIAN TO WIN NOBEL PRIZE!

November 22, 2020

A man, who left his golden foot-steps behind for future generations.

C.V. Raman, The great Indian Physicist, was born at Trichirapalli, Tamil Nadu on 7th November, 1888. Son of a Physics Teacher father naturally brought up his love for the subject and dedication towards studies and as a result he passed the matriculate at the age of 12 from University of Madras.

Further he persuade post graduation from Hindu college, Vishakhapatnam and Presidency college, Madras and grabbed top position in graduation degree in physics in 1907. A bright student, who had already conducted many researches and published his articles in so many reputed magazines till the date.

1907, Raman attained the first position in Financial Service Examination and appointed as an Assistant Accountant General in Calcutta, A.K.A. Kolkata. This new opportunity builds a new bond between Raman and Dr. Amritlal Sarkar i.e. a reputed scientist who acted as a secretary of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science. Collaboration was proven as a turning point of Raman.
The Leading journals of Kolkata shown the research portion Raman had worked upon. These publications were noticed by Ashutosh Mukherjee, Vice-Challenger of Calcutta University. He appointed Raman as Physics professor in the University. During this duration, his devotion and hard work pays him as a recognized Physicist.
In 1924, Royal Society of London elected him as fellow and “Raman Effect” was discovered in 1928. He was awarded by the Nobel Prize of physics in 1930. The First Indian to win this prestigious honor. The reputation of an extra-ordinary physicist inclined by leaps and bounds and universities and institution across the globe honored him with PH.D and D.Sc Degrees.

December 1927, busy Raman get to know in a laboratory news that well known physicist A.M Comptom was awarded the Nobel Prize for Demonstration of proving that Nature of X-Rays changes when it is passed through a matter.

This “Comptom Effect” was encouraged by the discovery that Raman lately proved that “light rays can be scattered”. His discovery enabled for the first time, the mapping of possible levels of energy gains of molecules and atoms of a substance and thus discovered their molecules and atomic structure. This discovery of the scattering of light led to the development of a simple alternative to infra-red spectroscopy, namely, Raman Spectroscopy.
Raman Effect is recognized when molecules sized as medium scatters light energy particles known as photons. The spectrum varies with the nature of the transparent medium used to scatter the light. Raman Effect has proved to be of great scientific value and with its help the structure of more than 200 compounds has been known. He also gave us the scientific explanation for the blue colour of the sky and the ocean.

Raman further explained that the “blue“color of the ocean was not the real color of ocean it is visible due to sunlight scattering by water molecules. Carrying forward his legacy through lectures and experiments, Raman explored the world.

In 1933, He was appointed as director of the Indian institute of science, Bangalore A.K.A. Bengaluru. In 1943, He founded Raman Research Institute at Bangalore and grabbed the Bharat Ratna in 1954 along with the International Lenin Prize in 1957.

His interest in acoustics had encouraged him to contribute to the mechanical theory of stringed, bowed and musical instruments like Sitar, veena, cello, piano, Tanpura and many more .Detailing that instruments produce harmonious tones and notes that are different at each level.

Raman was a born genius and a self-made man and scientist with deep religious convictions. His interests were wide and deep and so were his contributions to the human knowledge and development.

21st November, on his death Anniversary, University of Technology pays a salute to this brave scientist and wishes to move at his golden footsteps that brings success as a destination ultimately.