Born in Bikrampur (now in Bangladesh) on November 30, 1858, Jagadish Chandra Bose was a remarkable scientist, physicist, biologist, botanist, and writer who made ground-breaking contributions to a number of scientific disciplines. Bose was a real polymath whose inquisitiveness and creative brilliance transcended boundaries in established scientific fields. His contributions to physics, biology, botany, and even science fiction had an impact on later generations of scientists and intellectuals. We'll go into great detail about his life, schooling, noteworthy accomplishments, and enduring legacy in this blog.
Early
Life and Education
Jagadish Chandra Bose’s early life
was deeply rooted in Indian culture and education. His father, Bhagawan Chandra
Bose, was a deputy magistrate in the British Indian government and a firm
believer in education that transcended social and cultural boundaries. Bose
grew up in a household where both traditional Indian learning and Western
education were equally respected.
As a child, Bose attended a local
vernacular school where he studied alongside children from diverse backgrounds,
including those of fishermen, peasants, and even servants. This exposure to
various strata of society deeply shaped his outlook on equality, something that
remained with him throughout his life.
Bose moved to Kolkata (then Calcutta) for his higher education and attended
St. Xavier’s College, where he studied under Jesuit priests. Father Eugene
Lafont, in particular, played an important role in nurturing Bose’s scientific
curiosity. Lafont introduced Bose to the works of renowned European scientists,
instilling in him the principles of experimental science. In 1880, Bose
traveled to England to pursue further studies. After initially enrolling at the
University of London to study medicine, Bose changed courses due to health reasons
and entered Christ's College, Cambridge, to study natural sciences. Under the
mentorship of Lord Rayleigh and Michael Foster, Bose completed his education,
earning a degree in physics.
Professorship at Presidency College
Upon returning to India in 1885, Jagadish Chandra Bose took up the post of a
professor of physics at Presidency College in Calcutta. His initial years as a
professor were marred by racial discrimination. The British administration
attempted to pay him a reduced salary, lower than what his European
counterparts received. Bose’s strong principles prompted him to refuse the
salary altogether, and for the next three years, he worked without pay. His
resolve was finally acknowledged, and he was given the full salary and
recognition he deserved.
Bose was a beloved teacher, known for his dramatic demonstrations of
scientific principles. His lectures were vibrant, full of experimental displays
and deep theoretical insights, often captivating students with innovative
demonstrations. This tenure at Presidency College laid the groundwork for his
later revolutionary research.
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Research on
Microwave Radio
Bose's groundbreaking contributions to the fields of radio science and
microwaves are arguably what made him most well-known. Wireless communication
was still in its infancy at the turn of the 20th century, and Guglielmo Marconi
was one of the scientists working on it. Even before Marconi, Bose was the
first to demonstrate wireless communication using microwaves, thanks to his
study on extremely short radio waves, or microwaves.
Bose performed a public demonstration in 1895 in which he ignited explosives
from a distance, rang a bell, and conveyed an electromagnetic signal through
walls. This experiment demonstrated radio waves' potential for long-distance
communication in a very apparent way. He was the first to create a radio
wave-detecting semiconductor device, which served as a model for contemporary
semiconductors utilized in communication technology.
Bose was not interested in making money off of his
innovations, though. Instead, he published his research and declined to receive
a patent for his creations, a move that has generated discussion among
scientists. Although Marconi is frequently given credit for creating the radio,
many of Marconi's subsequent accomplishments were made possible by Bose's
contributions to technology.
Position in the Development of Radio
Bose made a significant contribution to the advancement of radio technology. He
created the mercury coherer, a radio wave detector that Marconi eventually used
and brought to market. Despite this, Marconi's more well-known accomplishments
frequently eclipse Bose's contribution to the advancement of radio
communication in popular history.
Nonetheless, Bose's contributions to radio wave technology were a substantial
improvement. Through his studies, radio waves were shown to be useful for
long-distance communication as they could be transferred over great distances
and through obstructions. According to some historians, Bose might have had greater
fame in the West if he had been more business focused.
Plant Science
The exploration of plant physiology by Jagadish Chandra Bose was one of the
most intriguing facets of his scientific career. Following his seminal work in
wireless communication, Bose turned his attention to studying plant life. He
created complex devices like the crescograph, which allowed for remarkably
accurate plant growth measurement.
Bose's research showed that, unlike mammals, plants are not inert entities but
rather react to external stimuli like light, temperature, and chemicals. His
research proved that, like living things with neural systems, plants could
experience pain and showed symptoms of exhaustion and recuperation.
Bose's discoveries, despite their initial controversy, paved the way for new
research directions in plant biology and made him one of the first scientists
to explore the idea that plants have a form of life that is more active and
responsive than previously thought.
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Investigation
of Metal Fatigue and Cell Reaction
Bose was not just fascinated by plants in his environment. The way that other
types of matter, such as metals, reacted to outside stress piqued his
curiosity. Bose showed in one of his amazing experiments that metals showed
symptoms of fatigue and responded to stress as well. He demonstrated how, like
biological cells recovering from exhaustion, some metals may
"recover" after being overworked.
Bose's experiments continue to have an impact on our knowledge of the intricate
interaction between organic and inorganic matter. This groundbreaking work
contributed to the burgeoning area of material science.
Fiction
based on Science
Bose was a gifted writer in addition to a scientist. One of the
first known pieces of science fiction written in Bengali is attributed to him.
Published in 1896, his short novella Niruddesher Kahini (The novella of the
Missing One) blends speculative physics with a plot that was well ahead of its
time. The narrative blends his technical understanding with creative writing to
examine the ideas of teleportation and invisibility.
Even while his literary achievements paled in comparison to his scientific
accomplishments, his science fiction work showcased his broad intellectual
scope and his imaginative thinking that even ventured into the world of
hypothetical futures.
Bose
Institute
One of India's first multidisciplinary research institutes, the Bose Institute
was established in 1917 by Jagadish Chandra Bose in Calcutta. The institute's
goal was to become a hub for the advancement of scientific understanding and
the promotion of biological and physical science research. Continuing Bose's
tradition of inventive and multidisciplinary research, the Bose Institute is
still among the most esteemed research institutions in India.
Bose's idea that scientific investigation crossed national borders, societal
divisions, and even disciplines was demonstrated by the founding of the Bose
Institute. His goal for the institute was to develop scientists with a wide
range of multidisciplinary talents, not just experts.
Individual
Opinions
Deeply principled, Jagadish Chandra Bose was a guy. He embraced a life
philosophy that emphasized the value of scientific advancement along with a
profound regard for the natural world and human equality. Despite his
scientific endeavors connecting him with experts in Europe, Bose never wavered
from his Indian roots.
Bose frequently turned down the financial benefits of his creations, declining
to file for patents in favor of freely disseminating his knowledge to
everybody. Long before the period of open science, his ideas on the
accessibility of knowledge were progressive, emulating a culture of
intellectual freedom and cooperation.
Philosophical
Opinions
Bose's scientific research and cultural background have had a significant
impact on his philosophical beliefs. His studies on the relationship between
the living and non-living worlds furthered his belief in the unity of life. His
belief in the persistence of life in all forms of matter guided his
investigations with metals and plants.
Bose's thinking was also quite similar to the old Indian concept of "Sarve
Bhavantu Sukhinah" (Let everyone be happy). He believed that his work
added to a more comprehensive view of life that cut across national, social,
and religious lines.
.jpg "Jagadish Chandra Bose")
Honors and
Legacy
The legacy of Jagadish Chandra Bose is extensive and diverse. He is considered
as one of the best scientists in India, and his contributions have influenced
many different sectors for a long time. Bose's contributions established the
groundwork for current studies in plant physiology, radio science, and
materials science.
Bose was knighted by the British government in 1917, one of many accolades and
honors he received during his lifetime for his scientific achievements. His biggest
legacy, perhaps, is his continuing influence on modern science. Bose's work is
honored by organizations and universities worldwide, and his name continues to
motivate scientists and scholars everywhere.
Publications
Jagadish Chandra Bose was an avid writer who published extensively in both
scientific journals and popular literature. Some of his notable scientific
works include:
1. "Response
in the Living and Non-Living" (1902) – This work details his
groundbreaking experiments on the response of both living organisms and metals
to external stimuli.
2. "Plant
Response as a Means of Physiological Investigation" (1927) – A
comprehensive treatise on plant physiology based on his research into the
behavior of plants under various stimuli.
3. "Niruddesher
Kahini" (1896) – His science fiction story, considered one of the
first of its kind in Bengali literature.