Famous Women Scientists of India, Pioneer and Milestones

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In the annals of scientific history, the names of luminaries like Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and Charles Darwin loom large. Yet, for far too long, the invaluable contributions of women scientists have been overshadowed or overlooked. India, a nation known for its rich scientific heritage, is no exception. As we delve into the past and scrutinize the evolution of science in India, we discover an array of Famous Women Scientists of India who have defied societal norms, shattered glass ceilings, and left an indelible mark on the world of science.

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Famous Women Scientists of India

In recent years, gender equality has been a contentious issue, with women’s significant achievements in science, the arts, sports, and finance often overlooked. While we celebrate renowned male scientists like C.V. Raman, Meghnad Saha, and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, it’s essential to recognize the invaluable contributions of Indian women in science. Here are remarkable Indian women who have made us proud with their notable contributions to the field of science, helping drive technological progress.

Iravati Karve – Anthropologist

Iravati Karve made history as the first Indian female anthropologist. She founded the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pune in 1963 and later served as the Vice-Chancellor of SNDT University. Her research in anthropology significantly contributed to our understanding of human societies and cultures.

Debala Mitra – Archaeologist

Debala Mitra became the first female Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India in 1981. Her explorations and excavations at Buddhist sites have enriched our knowledge of India’s rich history and heritage.

Purnima Sinha – Physicist

Purnima Sinha, a physicist, achieved excellence in the field of x-ray crystallography of clay minerals. Her contributions have had a profound impact on our understanding of mineral structures and properties.

Sulabha Kashinath Kulkarni – Nanotechnologist

Sulabha Kulkarni is a pioneering nanotechnologist who has made significant strides in the development of nanomaterials and their applications. Her work showcases the potential of nanotechnology in various scientific disciplines.

Seema Sharma – Particle Physicist

Seema Sharma’s contributions to particle physics have been invaluable. Her research has advanced our knowledge of fundamental particles and their interactions.

Ratnashree – Astrophysicist

As an astrophysicist, N. Ratnashree has explored the mysteries of the cosmos. Her work has expanded our understanding of celestial bodies and the universe.

Tessy Thomas – Space Engineer

Tessy Thomas’s role as a space engineer is nothing short of extraordinary. She became the first woman scientist to lead a missile project in India, showcasing her exceptional skills and leadership in space technology.

Annapurni Subramaniam – Astrophysicist

Annapurni Subramaniam’s contributions to astrophysics have been instrumental in unraveling the secrets of the universe. Her work has shed light on celestial phenomena and cosmic objects.

Anna Mani – Meteorologist

Anna Mani, the first woman to join the Meteorological department in Pune, made significant contributions to the fields of solar radiation, ozone, and wind energy instrumentation. Her work has enhanced weather forecasting and climate research.

Sudeshna Sinha – Non-linear Physicist

Sudeshna Sinha, a non-linear physicist, has delved into the complex world of nonlinear dynamics. Her research has advanced our understanding of chaos and complexity in various systems.

Pioneer Women Scientists of India

Scientist	Birth-Death	Notable Achievements
Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi	1865-1887	First Indian woman to graduate with a degree in Western medicine from the United States.
Kadambini Ganguly	1861-1923	First Indian woman to be admitted to Calcutta Medical College, becoming India’s first female doctor and practitioner of Western medicine in South Asia.
Edavaleth Kakkat Janaki Ammal	1897-1984	Renowned botanist and plant cytologist who made significant contributions to genetics, evolution, phytogeography, and ethnobotany. The first Director of the Central Botanical Laboratory at Allahabad.
Iravati Karve	1905-1970	The first Indian female anthropologist, founder of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pune, and Vice-Chancellor of SNDT University.
Rajeshwari Chatterjee	1922-2010	Pioneering woman engineer in microwave engineering, the first woman engineer at IISc to join the Department of Electrical Communication Engineering (ECE).
Kamal Ranadive	1917-2001	Established India’s first tissue culture research laboratory at the Indian Cancer Research Centre in Mumbai. Recognized the link between cancer susceptibility, hormones, and tumour virus interaction.
Kamala Sohonie	1911-1998	The first Indian woman to receive a PhD in a scientific discipline. Discovered the enzyme ‘Cytochrome C,’ essential for the electron transport chain in plants, human, and animal cells for energy synthesis.
Debala Mitra	1925-2003	First Indian archaeologist who served as Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India in 1981. Explored and excavated several Buddhist sites.
Mary Poonen Lukose	1886-1976	The first female Surgeon General in India (1938) and the first woman obstetrician in India.
Bibha Chowdhary	1913-1991	The first woman high-energy physicist in India and the first woman scientist at TIFR (1948). An astronomical star was named in her honor.
Asima Chatterjee	1917-2006	The first woman to be awarded a Doctor of Science by an Indian University (Calcutta) in 1944. The first woman to become the General President of the Indian Science Congress.
Purnima Sinha	1927-2015	An Indian physicist who made significant contributions in x-ray crystallography of clay minerals.
Anna Mani	1918-2001	The first woman to join the Meteorological department in Pune (1948). Her major contributions are in solar radiation, ozone, and wind energy instrumentation.

Milestones of Women in Indian Science

Year	Scientist	Achievement
1848	Savitribai Jyotiba Phule	First female teacher in India, founded the first girls’ school.
1880	Ramabai Ranade	Set up the first girls’ high school in Pune.
1882	Lady Abala Bose	First Indian woman to study medicine at Madras University.
1883	Chandramukhi Basu & Kadambini Ganguly	Calcutta University produces the first two women graduates in India.
1886	Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi	First Indian female doctor of Western medicine.
1887	Rukhmabai Raut	Second woman to receive a medical degree and practice medicine.
	Begum Rokeya Sultana	Pioneer in women’s educational rights in India.
1910	Sarala Devi Chaudhurani	Established the first women’s organization, Bharat Stree Mahamandal.
1917	Anna Mani	First woman in the Meteorological Department in Pune.
	Asima Chatterjee	First woman to be awarded a Doctor of Science by an Indian University.
1920	Ayyalasomayajula Lalitha	India’s first woman engineer.
1928	Iravati Karve	First Indian female anthropologist.
1931	Kamala Sohonie	First Indian woman to receive a Ph.D. in a scientific discipline.
1937	Mary Poonen Lukose	First female Surgeon General in India.
1939	Jagadish Chandra Bose & Lady Abala Bose	Established Basu Bigyan Mandir (Bose Institute).
1952	Rajeshwari Chatterjee	Built India’s first microwave research laboratory at IISc Bangalore.
1953	Kamal Ranadive	Established India’s first tissue culture research laboratory at the Indian Cancer Research Centre in Mumbai.
1954	Asima Chatterjee	First female recipient of a Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in the Chemical Science category.
1965	Satyavati M Sirsat	Founder and President of the Electron Microscope Society of India.
	Hiriyakkanavar Ila	First woman to receive a Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur.
1990	Archana Sharma	First woman received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in the Biological Sciences category.
1999	Edavaleth Kakkat Janaki Ammal	First Indian scientist to have received the Padma Shri Award.
2006	GV Satyavati	First woman Director-General of ICMR.
1978	Kiran Mazumdar Shaw	First Woman Science Entrepreneur.
2013	Sudipta Sengupta	First woman geologist to receive the Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Award in the Earth Sciences category.
	Sudipta Sengupta & Aditi Pant	First Indian women to visit Antarctica.
2017	Indira Nath	First woman immunologist to receive the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in the Medical Sciences category.
2018	Sujatha Ramadorai	First Indian Mathematician to win the prestigious ICTP Ramanujan Prize.
2019	Tessy Thomas	First woman scientist to head a missile project in India.
2021	Sanghamitra Bandopadhyay	First woman Computer Scientist & Director of the Indian Statistical Institute.
	Soumya Swaminathan	First Indian to become WHO’s Deputy Director-General, and also its first Chief Scientist.
	Aditi Sen De	First female physicist awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize.
	Jyotirmayee Dash	Youngest woman scientist to receive Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Chemical Sciences.
2022	Chandrima Saha	First woman president of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA).
	GC Anupama	First woman President of the Astronomical Society of India (ASI).
	Neena Gupta	Youngest person to ever receive the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize at the age of 35.
2023	Gagandeep Kang	First Indian woman to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society.
	Renu Swaroop	Establishment of India’s largest microbial resource center, Microbial Culture Collection.
	Archana Bhattacharyya	First woman Director of the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, DST.
	Manju Sharma	First Woman Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology.

Famous Women Scientists Of India UPSC

India’s history of science is enriched by pioneering women who have shattered barriers and made significant contributions. Iravati Karve, the first Indian female anthropologist, advanced our understanding of human societies. Debala Mitra, the first female Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India, unearthed our rich heritage. Purnima Sinha’s work in x-ray crystallography reshaped mineral studies. Sulabha Kulkarni, a nanotechnologist, explored cutting-edge applications. Seema Sharma, N. Ratnashree, and Annapurni Subramaniam have explored astrophysics and celestial phenomena. Anna Mani, the first woman in meteorology, contributed to weather and climate research. These remarkable women continue to inspire future generations.

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