C. V. Raman

Why in News?

Recently, National Science Day (February 28) is being observed to honour C. V. Raman’s discovery of the Raman Effect and his Nobel Prize-winning contribution to physics.

• Born in – 7^th November 1888, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu. 
• Parents – R. Chandrasekhar Iyer (Lecturer in Physics and Mathematics).
• Early Brilliance – Won gold medals in Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
• Published first paper at age 18 in Philosophical Magazine.
• Early Career – Assistant Accountant General, Indian Finance Service (1907), Calcutta.
• Research Work – Early Phase – Conducted research at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science during spare time.
• Later Years – Optics, crystal dynamics, diamond structure, colours of flowers, human vision.
• Academic Career – Professor of Physics at Calcutta University (Palit Chair) for 15 years.
• Director, Indian Institute of Science (1933–1937).
• Founded Raman Research Institute in 1948.
• Major Discovery – Raman Effect (1928).
• Nobel Prize – Nobel Prize in Physics (1930), first Indian and person of colour to receive it in Physics.
• Mentorship – Mentored Vikram Sarabhai in cosmic ray research.
• Legacy – Raman Effect used in cancer detection, drug development, and space exploration; inspiration for National Science Day.
• Death – 1970.

Reference

TH | C.V. Raman