Tribute to Acharya Sir P C Ray.
pic credit: Internet
Acharya Sir Prafulla Chandra Ray was born in 1861 at Paikgacha in British India. He was one of the seven siblings with 4 brothers and 2 sisters.
He began his studies at Albert school after recovery from illness. Later joined Vidyasagar College. He was initially focused on History and literature which later became is lifelong pursuit also he was member of Sadaran Brahmo Samaj of Keshab Chandra Sen to which his association stood life long.
He joined physics and chemistry lecture as external student. Where by listening to Alexander Pedler he got involved in Chemistry. It’s said that he established a lab in his lodge where it caught fire due to faulty equipment.
He got enrolled in BA for chemistry at University of Calcutta and applied for Gilchrist Prize scholarship. After qualifying he left to University of Edinburgh to study Chemistry.
During his Days in Edinburgh he was under tutelage of Alexander Crum Brown and his demonstrator John Gibson. Here along with chemistry he read history too. His Article “India before and After Mutiny” was used as reference by then liberal politicians. Thus completing BSc Hons he continued Doctoral studies.
His topic was on Inorganic chemistry. He initially did research on Mohr’s salt and proved it needs research on Sulphates. Later he did research on Ammonium Nitrite and other Nitrites also regarded as Master of Nitrites by British Chemists. He wrote 107 papers on all branches of Chemistry.
He was teaching at University of Calcutta and was made Palit Professor by Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee. He did research on Razabazar College and retired at the age of 75 and became professor Emeritus in University of Calcutta.
He established Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals in 1906. Which was first of it’s kind in India.
He won fellowship in many organisations also established Nagarjuna award for contribution in Chemistry also Ashutosh award for Botany and Zoology in the memory of Shri Ashutosh Mukherjee.
He wrote book titled History of Hindu Chemistry from Ancient to earlier sixteenth century that explains about the chemistry practice in India.
He was called as a revolutionary in the garb of scientist.His most attributed quote was science can wait, Swaraj cannot.
Thus let’s remember one of the great scientist, teacher, Entrepreneur, Historian and a Nationalist on his birth Anniversary.
-Tribute by Srikaanth Sridhar
Srikaanth Sridhar
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