Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, more commonly known as C.V. Raman, was born on November 7, 1888, in Tiruchirapalli, India. He was the second of eight children born to R. Chandrasekhara Iyer and Parvati Ammal. His father was a professor of mathematics and physics, which likely sparked Raman's interest in the sciences from a young age.
Raman completed his early education in Thiruvanaikkaval and then went on to study at the prestigious Presidency College in Madras. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in physics in 1904, followed by a Master of Arts degree in physics in 1907. Raman continued his education at the University of Madras, where he earned a Master of Science degree in physics in 1909.
Raman began his career as a lecturer at Presidency College in Madras in 1907. He later joined the Indian Finance Department as an Assistant Accountant General in Calcutta. In 1917, he returned to academic life as the Palit Professor of Physics at the University of Calcutta. Raman's research on the scattering of light in liquids and the discovery of the Raman Effect in 1928 brought him international recognition.
His work on light reflection earned him the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1930, making him the first Indian to receive this prestigious award. Raman was also honored with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1954. In 1957, he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize for his contributions to science and international cooperation.
C.V. Raman's contributions to the field of physics were groundbreaking and continue to have a lasting impact on scientific research. His discovery of the Raman Effect revolutionized the study of light and laid the foundation for new developments in spectroscopy and molecular physics. Raman's work remains a cornerstone of modern physics, and his legacy lives on in the countless scientists and researchers who have been inspired by his achievements.
Despite his demanding career in academia, Raman was a devoted husband and father. He was married to Lokasundari Ammal, with whom he had two sons. Raman's family provided him with love and support throughout his career, allowing him to focus on his research and continue making important contributions to the field of physics.
In his later years, Raman remained active in the scientific community, serving as the Director of the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore from 1933 to 1937. He continued to conduct research and publish papers on a wide range of topics in physics until his passing on November 21, 1970. C.V. Raman's legacy as a pioneering physicist and Nobel laureate continues to inspire future generations of scientists and scholars around the world.
Related links