C.V Raman : Great Scientist and noble prize winner

C. V. Raman was one of India’s greatest scientists and a Nobel Prize winner. In 1930, he received the Nobel Prize for discovering the Raman Effect, which explains how light changes when it passes through different substances. He was the second Indian to win a Nobel Prize after Rabindranath Tagore.

Raman was born on November 17, 1888, in Trichy, South India. His mother was highly educated in Sanskrit, and his father was a mathematics professor. From childhood, his mother taught him that determination and hard work can make even impossible tasks possible.

He was a brilliant student. He passed his matriculation at the age of twelve, completed his B.A. at sixteen, and earned his M.A. at eighteen with first-class marks.

Good books greatly influenced his life. He loved reading literature and scientific works. Books inspired him to search for truth, just like the great sages and thinkers of the past.

Although he wished to study abroad, poor health prevented him. Instead, he joined the Finance Department and became Deputy Accountant General in Calcutta at a very young age. However, his real passion was scientific research, which he continued in his spare time.

One day, he discovered the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science and began conducting research there. Later, when the Science College was established in Calcutta, he left his high-paying government job to become a professor.

He chose a life of teaching and research over wealth and comfort. For many years, he guided students, developed their character, and carried out important scientific work.

While working in India, without foreign training or advanced foreign laboratories, he made his historic discovery of the Raman Effect. This achievement brought great pride to India and proved that world-class research could be done in the country itself. Even after winning the Nobel Prize, he continued his studies in light and sound.

Raman was not only a scientist but also a lover of literature, music, and history. He lived simply and remained humble despite worldwide fame. He generously supported students and helped develop scientific institutions. He founded the Indian Academy of Sciences and served as its president for many years.

He believed that knowledge and nature should be respected and preserved, not used selfishly. He passed away on November 21, 1970, at the age of 82. His life remains an inspiration to Indian youth, showing that dedication, simplicity, and love for truth can lead to greatness.