C.V. Raman (1888-1970)

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman,

popularly known as C.V. Raman, was an Indian physicist who made significant contributions to the field of optics and spectroscopy. Born on November 7, 1888, in the city of Tiruchirappalli in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Raman was the second of eight children. His father, Chandrasekhara Iyer, was a lecturer in mathematics and physics, and his mother, Parvathi Ammal, was a homemaker.

Education and Early Career:

Raman showed an early aptitude for science and mathematics and pursued his undergraduate studies in physics at the Presidency College in Chennai. After completing his bachelor's degree, he went on to pursue a master's degree in physics from the University of Madras. In 1917, Raman was appointed as the Palit Professor of Physics at the University of Calcutta, where he worked for the next fifteen years.

Major Contributions to Science:

In the early 1920s, Raman began to investigate the scattering of light in liquids and solids, a phenomenon that had been observed but not fully understood at the time. His research led him to discover what is now known as the Raman Effect. In simple terms, the Raman Effect is the scattering of light by a material that results in a change in the frequency of the light. This phenomenon provided a new way of studying the structure and composition of molecules and became a valuable tool in the field of spectroscopy.

In 1930, Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the Raman Effect. He was the first Asian and the first Indian to receive this prestigious award in science. The Raman Effect has since become an important technique in chemistry, physics, and material science.

In addition to his work on the Raman Effect, Raman made significant contributions to other areas of physics as well. He worked on the theory of musical instruments, the nature of light, and the behavior of electrons in crystals. He also made important contributions to the field of acoustics, where he studied the vibrations of strings and drums.

Raman's Legacy:

Raman's contributions to science have been widely recognized and celebrated. In addition to the Nobel Prize, he was also awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, in 1954. Several institutions and research centers in India and abroad have been named after him, including the Raman Research Institute in Bangalore, India.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Raman was also a noted philanthropist and supporter of education. He believed that science education was essential for India's progress and worked to establish several institutions of higher learning, including the Indian Academy of Sciences and the Indian Institute of Science.

Raman died on November 21, 1970, at the age of 82. He is remembered not only for his contributions to science but also for his dedication to education and his vision for a better India.

Personal Life:

Raman married Lokasundari Ammal in 1907, and they had two children, a son named Radhakrishnan and a daughter named Lakshmi. His wife passed away in 1931, and Raman later remarried in 1932 to a woman named Nagamma.

Raman was known for his simple lifestyle and his devotion to science. He once said, "Science, like nature, must also be tamed with a view towards its preservation. Given the same attention, it will also repay us in the same measure."

Conclusion:

C.V. Raman was a pioneering physicist who made significant contributions to the field of optics and spectroscopy. His discovery of the Raman Effect revolutionized the study of molecular structure and composition.