New Delhi, August 2: In the annals of modern Indian history, numerous remarkable figures have made indelible contributions to the freedom movement, education, science, and social reform. Among these luminaries is Acharya Dr. Prafulla Chandra Ray, revered as the father of chemistry in India and a cornerstone of the indigenous chemical industry.
Born on August 2, 1861, in the village of Raruli-Katipara in the Khulna district of Bengal (now Bangladesh), Dr. Ray was not just a great scientist but also a teacher, historian, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a true patriot. His life exemplifies that the purpose of science extends beyond mere discovery; it aims to solve societal problems and improve people’s lives.
Dr. Ray’s father, Harishchandra Ray, was a scholar of the Persian language and established a model school in their village. After receiving his early education there, the family moved to Kolkata, where he studied at Hare School and Albert School. In 1879, he enrolled at the Metropolitan Institute, while he had to attend Presidency College for his studies in science. Under the guidance of renowned scientists Sir John Eliot and Sir Alexander Pedler, his interest in chemistry deepened significantly.
In 1882, after receiving the Gilchrist Scholarship, he moved to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland for higher education. He spent six years there, conducting research in chemistry and earning a D.Sc. degree in 1887. His election as vice-president of the university’s Chemical Society was a testament to his talent. However, upon returning to India, he faced the discriminatory policies of British rule. He was denied entry into the Indian Educational Service and had to wait nearly a year for a position in the provincial education department. Eventually, he was appointed as an assistant professor at Presidency College.
At Presidency College, he continued to face discrimination. Many British officials, despite being less qualified, occupied higher positions with better salaries. When he protested, a British officer sarcastically suggested that if he was so capable, he should start his own business. This remark became a turning point in his life. He resolved to establish an indigenous chemical industry in India, linking science with employment and self-reliance.
After returning from England in 1889, he was disheartened to see that science graduates were forced into clerical jobs. He decided to develop a product that would be in demand in the market, allowing him to establish an industry and provide jobs for the youth. In pursuit of this goal, he discovered mercurous nitrate in 1895 and conducted significant research on ammonium nitrate, hyponitrite, and organic nitrate. His achievements garnered acclaim both nationally and internationally, but his true aim was nation-building, not just scientific recognition.
The path to establishing an industry was fraught with challenges. Initially, he considered producing citric acid from lemons but found it impractical. He then planned to make soda inspired by a type of clay used for washing clothes, but competition from existing products proved daunting. Subsequently, he began experiments to create useful chemicals from animal bones. The smell of the bones on his rooftop disturbed his neighbors. When he tried to dry and burn them, the police mistook him for a murderer and arrested him. After much explanation, they realized he was conducting scientific experiments, not committing a crime.
Dr. Ray was not only a scientist but also a scholar who brought the history of Indian science to the forefront. He wrote the renowned book “History of Hindu Chemistry” after nearly a decade of intensive study. This work highlighted the advanced state of chemistry in ancient India and was translated into several European languages, earning him an honorary D.Sc. from Durham University.
His life was marked by simplicity. He lived in rented accommodations throughout his life but generously donated to education and social causes. He provided substantial financial support to educational institutions in Kolkata and was always committed to advancing students. His simplicity and high ideals even impressed Mahatma Gandhi, who remarked that it was hard to believe this humble man in Indian attire was a world-class scientist.
Dr. Prafulla Chandra Ray passed away on June 16, 1944, at the age of 83, but his legacy continues to inspire Indian science, education, and industry. He demonstrated that scientific research is meaningful only when it benefits society. His dedication to science, indigenous industry, education, and national service secures his place among India’s greatest scientists.
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