Kamala Sohonie: Pioneering Indian Scientist Who Defied Gender Bias
An outstanding Indian scientist named Kamala Sohonie celebrated her 112nd birthday on June 18 with a special Google Doodle. The scientific landscape of India has been forever changed by Sohonie's ground-breaking accomplishments in the face of gender bias within the scientific community and her substantial efforts to eradicating malnutrition in tribal communities. In this blog article, we explore into Kamala Sohonie's life, learning about her early hardships, her resolve to confront gender inequalities, and her groundbreaking achievements in the world of science.
Early Life and Education
Kamala Sohonie was born on June 18, 1911, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, into a family of scientists. Her father and uncle were both chemists who had attended Bengaluru's Indian Institute of Science (IISc), formerly the Tata Institute of Sciences. Kamala pursued her study with considerable zeal, motivated by her family's love of science.
After graduating with honours from Bombay University with a BSc in Chemistry (principal) and Physics (subsidiary), Kamala applied to the esteemed IISc, under the direction of eminent scientist CV Raman, for an MSc degree.
Run-in with CV Raman
Raman responded dismissively to Kamala's aspirations by declaring, "I am not going to take any girls in my institute." Despite this obvious gender bias, Kamala went to Bengaluru to confront Raman in person.
In 1997, at a celebration in her honour at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Kamala recalled her experience with Raman and claimed that, although being a brilliant scientist, he treated her differently just because she was a woman, demonstrating his narrow-mindedness. Raman was challenged, and she vowed to excel in the class. Eventually, Raman agreed to let her join the programme but placed various unjust limits on her participation, including probation, lack of formal recognition, and limitations on her ability to socialise with male peers.
Despite the challenges, Kamala Sohonie persisted, persevered, and successfully finished her course, demonstrating her grit. Raman was forced to reevaluate his prejudicial attitudes towards women in science as a result of her steadfast drive, and he started allowing female students at the institute the following year.
Work at Cambridge and Beyond
In a remarkable 14 months, Kamala Sohonie completed her PhD at Cambridge University, where she began her academic path. She conducted research on potatoes while she was a student at Cambridge and identified the enzyme "Cytochrome C," which is essential for cellular respiration.
Kamala left for India in 1939 with a burning desire to give back to her nation. She took over as the director of the biochemistry department of Lady Hardinge College in New Delhi. She later worked as the Nutrition Research Lab's Assistant Director in Coonoor before joining the Royal Institute of Science in Mumbai. She concentrated on researching diverse foods to determine their nutritional composition at the Royal Institute.
One significant contribution made by Kamala Sohonie was her work on "neera," a beverage created from palm extract, which she pursued at the advice of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, India's first President. Her research showed that 'neera' was a great source of vitamin C and other necessary vitamins. In addition, 'neera''s' sulfhydryl components shielded the vitamins from deterioration while in storage. Kamala Sohonie strongly pushed the addition of "neera" to their diets since she recognised its potential as a low-cost supplement for pregnant women and malnourished tribal youngsters. This had a substantial positive impact on their health.
In order to improve the quality of milk production, Kamala Sohonie also worked with the Aarey Milk project's administration, demonstrating both her breadth of scientific knowledge and dedication to enhancing public welfare.
Legacy and Conclusion
Despite the obstacles and gender biases she encountered, Kamala Sohonie's tenacity, intelligence, and ground-breaking research opened doors for later generations of Indian women scientists. Her contributions to science and her never-ending fight against starvation in underprivileged areas continue to inspire people today.
It is critical to acknowledge the accomplishments of female scientists who have contested cultural norms and biases as we pay tribute to Kamala Sohonie on the occasion of her 112th birthday. Their achievements are priceless, and by honouring their accomplishments, we encourage and enable the following generation to shatter stereotypes and pursue their aspirations, regardless of gender.
The life of Kamala Sohonie serves as a reminder that even the greatest challenges may be surmounted with tenacity, enthusiasm, and determination, leaving a lasting impression on both society and the scientific community.
