Have we ever thought that why the sea appears blue but the water we drink has no color at all? This phenomenon was first explained by CV Raman, who was the First Indian to win the Nobel Prize for Physics and received the highest civilian honor, ‘Bharat Ratna,’ by the Government of India. Today’s story is about the most illustrious scientist who placed India on the scientific map of the world and is still inspiring young scientists.
CV Raman was born at Ayyanpettai in the Tamil Nadu state and had his schooling in Vizagapainam. Being the first-ranker always, he had a keen interest in scientific studies, especially Physics. During his time, a scientific career did not appear to present the best prospects. Hence, Raman joined the Indian Finance Department and kept on looking for opportunities.
In 1917, he was offered the newly endowed Palit Chair of Physics at Calcutta University, and he decided to accept it. After 15 years of his service in Calcutta, he became a Professor at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, where he continued his research.
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He discovered the spectroscopy phenomenon, which describes how the wavelength of light scatters when deflected on a particular object. It began when he was returning from a trip to Europe where the Mediterranean sea’s blue color and the presence of icebergs intrigued him. Using monochromatic light he discovered that glycerine impacted the change in the color of light to the maximum. This effect was later known as Raman Effect and was an important discovery in the field of Physics. This spectroscopy has continued on a path of research and development since its original discovery. Today, it is used in all application areas from cancer research to pharmaceuticals.
In 1933, he held the post of the first Indian director of the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, and in 1947, he became the first National professor of Independent India. He is also the founder of Raman Institute in Bangalore.
Raman’s inquisitiveness and quest for learning led him to path-breaking discoveries, leaving an indelible legacy behind him. His contribution to the field of Science is unmatched.
National Science Day is celebrated every year in India to mark the discovery of Raman scattering.
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