Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose

07/11/11

" As one enters a hall of mirrors (thousands of them embedded all around), one would be initially frightened at the sight of thousands gaping at him or her, until discovered at closer look, that all those appearing are but one's own reflections.  So also is the individual in this vast mirror-hall of Universe. "
-----  Spring Leaves '   by   KMG 

       Hello to you all !         Somvaar  Suprabhaath !

       Today propose to present a brief life-sketch of a great son of India, a great scientist, Sir. Jagadish Chandra Bose:

                                        
                                                SIR   JAGADISH  CHANDRA  BOSE 

       " Plants are also living beings. They also possess life as we have.  They also consume food like humans. Also sleep during nights, and wake up early in the mornings. They also experience pains and pleasures as we do."  This fantasy but truth about the plant kingdom, was made known to the world by an Indian scientist called  Jagadish Chandra Bose.

       J.C. Bose, as he is known popularly, was born on 30th November  1859  in Mymensingh of the Faridapur district of the present Dhaka of Bangla Desh. Bhagavan Chandra Bose was the father of J.C. Bose, and was an officer of a high rank in the British Government of India.  J.C. Bose had his  elementary education in St. Xavier's  High School.  Later he did his higher education at Calcutta.  He graduated at the age of 19. Later, he went to Cambridge to procure a degree in Science in 1884.  He desired to become a Civil Administrator with an I.C.S.  His father too wanted his son to be an ICS officer.  Otherwise, he wanted him to become highly educated, and be a teacher to serve the community and the country.  While in London, Bose showed much inclination to study Botany and Zoology, though he studied Physics for his B.Sc degree.  At that point of time in London, J.C. Bose came into contact with a scientist by name Lord Rele.  His association with Rele and subsequently with his guidance, Bose could develop further more interest in the studies of plants.

       Jagadish Chandra Bose was offered the job of a Faculty member in Physics, in Presidency College, Calcutta.  He established his own Laboratory and conducted many scientific investigations in Botany, and also in Physics.  Being basically a Physicist, he did a lot of work on radio-waves. He is credited with inventing a wireless transmission system that went unrecognized, much before Marconi. Bose also produced a compact apparatus for generating electro-magnetic waves of wavelength from 22 mm to 5 mm, and the study of their quasi-optical properties. He also discovered the common nature of electric  response to all forms of stimulation. He was the first in the world to fabricate the device that generated micro-waves of very short wavelength.  Bose's studies on molecular strain and recovery, led him to a new photographic theory. Some credit for the early revolutionary thinking to point to the direction of computer science and technology, has to go to J.C. Bose.  Bose was one of the celebrated thinkers and researchers of those times.

       J.C. Bose was the author of two world-famous books entitled 'Response in the Living and the Non-Living', and, 'The Nervous Mechanism in Plants'. Through these works, he proved that plants are also sensitive to heat, cold, light, noise and other external stimuli  as humans. In 1915, in the Royal Society of London,  Bose spoke to the audience about the tolerance that the plants endured to external stimuli. With his indigenous apparatus, he conducted many demonstrations of his studies on plants.  For his outstanding contributions in the world of plants, J.C. Bose was elected the Fellow of Royal Society, London in 1920. He was also knighted for his achievements in Science.  

       Bose was not only an outstanding Scientist, but also a lover of arts and literature as well. He had close contacts with the famous Indian poet  Rabindranath Tagore. Bose founded the Bose Institute at Calcutta, where facilities to conduct research work on several subjects, were provided.  In 1928 the citizens of Calcutta honored him for several of his achievements in Science, especially on life and activities of plants. On this occasion, thanking the Forum, Bose uttered these memorable words:   " Life in all beings is the same. So also, the entire human race belongs to one kind for its existence.  Co-existence and tolerance to other living beings, must be practised.  It is not good for nations to live with mutual distrust ".

        Bose had shone forth in the firmament of the Scientific world. His physical existence came to an end on 23rd November 1937, leaving behind him the spirit of courage, adventure, patriotism, confidence and perseverance with which he lived, worked and achieved tremendous success in all his endeavours.
 
( The above narration  is from the book  " World-Renowned  Scientists ", a publication of Vasan Book Depot, Bangalore )

Well, that was something from the illustrious and inspiring life of  Sir. J.C. Bose.

Wishing you all a very pleasant week ahead, 
Krishna  M.  Gutala

A  tail-piece:   'The Law of Five Any-s ' :   Anything can happen to anyone  or  anything anytime anywhere.           ........   KMG