The 136th birth anniversary of the great Indian physicist Sir CV Raman is being celebrated on 7th November 2024. Born as Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman in Tiruchirappalli, Southern India, on November 7, 1888, he made history with the discovery of the “Raman Effect” on February 28, 1928. This groundbreaking work in light scattering earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, making him the first Indian Nobel laureate in science. His contributions in fields like acoustics and crystal dynamics, along with his leadership at IISc and the founding of the Raman Research Institute, cemented his legacy in the annals of Indian science.

Sir CV Raman Biography

• Birth: Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman was born in Tiruchirappalli, Madras Presidency on 7 November, 1888. 
• Education: He topped his undergraduate degree examination and won the gold medal in Physics at the University of Madras.
  • He obtained his Masters degree with the highest distinction from University of Madras.
• Employment: He began his career as an Assistant Accountant General when he joined the Indian Finance Service in Kolkata.
  • However, he continued doing research at IACS (Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science).
• Career Shift: He resigned from his government job in 1917 and accepted the offer of Palit Chair of Physics at Calcutta University.
• Appointment in IISc: He was appointed as the Director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore in 1933. He served at the IISc till his retirement in 1948.

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Sir CV Raman: Pioneering Contributions to Physics and Scientific Inquiry

• Initial Research: He started research early in his student life. His first research paper, called “Unsymmetrical diffraction bands due to a rectangular aperture“, was published in 1906 while he was still a graduate student. 
• Raman Effect: He developed a spectroscope and discovered that when light traverses a transparent material, the deflected light changes its wavelength and frequency.  
  • This unknown type of scattering of light, was named “modified scattering” was subsequently termed the Raman Effect or Raman scattering.

• Acoustics: As a great admirer of musical instruments, He worked out the theory of transverse vibration of bowed string instruments based on superposition of velocities. 
  • He conducted studies of the acoustics of various violin and related instruments, including Indian stringed instruments. He performed experiments with mechanically performed violins.
  • His studies on the harmonic nature of the sounds of tabla and mridangam were the first such experiments on Indian percussions.
  • During his visit to England, he studied how sound travels in the Whispering Gallery of the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
• Colour of Sea Water: He conducted observation of sea water using a spectroscope and Nicol prism. He came to the conclusion that the blue colour of sea water was not because of Rayleigh scattering.
  • Later, he conducted a full-fledged study on the sea water of Bay of Bengal to come to the conclusion that visible color of water is mainly attributed to the selective absorption of longer wavelengths of light in the red and orange regions of the spectrum, owing to overtones of the infrared absorbing O-H (oxygen and hydrogen combined) stretching modes of water molecules. 
• Spectroscopic Behaviour of Crystals: He followed a new approach towards crystal dynamics in 1948 through his investigation of the Spectroscopic behavior of crystals.
  • Apart from studying composition and characteristics of the diamonds, he also studied various colourful materials, such as labradorite, agate, opal, and pearls.  
• Angular Momentum: Along with his student, He discovered that light photons had angular momentum or spin. This angular momentum of EMR is shifted to the atoms that absorb it.
• Scientific Institutions: He established the Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru in 1949 and became its first director.

Sir CV Raman: A Legacy of Scientific Excellence and Global Recognition

• Nobel Prize in Physics: Sir CV Raman won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the Raman Effect in 1930.
  • With this honour, he became the first Indian, Asian and non-white individual to win a Nobel Prize for the sciences.
• Fellow of Royal Society: Sir CV Raman was selected as a member of the “Royal Society of London” in 1924.
• Bharat Ratna: In 1954, he was honoured with India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
• Other Prizes: He also received several other awards including the Lenin Peace Prize and the Franklin Medal. He was presented with the Hughes Medal in 1930.
• National Science Day: The Raman Effect was discovered on 28 February 1928. This day is celebrated annually as the National Science Day by the Government of India.

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Insights and Wisdom: Notable Quotes by Sir CV Raman

• “Success can come to you by courageous devotion to the task lying in front of you.”
• “I strongly believe that fundamental science cannot be driven by instructional, industrial and government or military pressures.”
• “I am the master of my failure. If I never fail, how will I ever learn?”
• “Ask the right questions, and nature will open the door to her secrets.”
• “If someone judges you, they are wasting space in their mind. Best part, it’s their problem.”
• “The true wealth of a nation consists not in the stored-up gold but in the intellectual and physical strength of its people.”

Conclusion

Sir CV Raman was a pioneer of experimental Physics in India. His contributions towards fostering a scientific environment in India are unparalleled.

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