A pioneering scientist

Imagine a time long ago when science was a domain exclusive to the West, while the East was viewed merely as a land of mysterious sages. But then came a man—a great scholar—who broke these barriers, challenging colonial and scientific norms. This is the story of an unsung hero who transformed our perspective on technology and life.

On November 30, 1858, in Mymensingh, born to a Bengali Kayastha family, was Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose, or Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose. His mother, Bama Sundari Bose, and father, Bhagwan Chandra Bose, raised him with a rare curiosity. Mymensingh, now part of Bangladesh, was where his journey began. His father, Bhagwan Chandra Bose, a Deputy Magistrate, prominent member of the Brahmo Samaj, and Commissioner of Police, believed in blending traditional wisdom with modern education. This belief guided Sir J.C. Bose to question everything he learned.

Bhagwan Chandra Bose wanted people to take pride in Bengali language and culture, so young Jagadish was initially enrolled in Bengali-medium schools, such as the rural Pabna Zilla School and Dhaka Collegiate School. In 1869, he joined Hare School in Kolkata and later passed the entrance exam for Dhaka University in 1875. Then, in 1877, under British rule in India, Sir J.C. Bose graduated from St. Xavier’s College. It was there that he met Jesuit Father Eugene Lafont, a member of the Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits. Lafont played an essential role in Bose’s life, igniting his extraordinary interest in natural science.

In 1880, at the age of 22, after completing his studies in India, he traveled abroad to England, where he initially began studying medicine at the University of London. However, due to health issues, he shifted his path to study natural science at Christ’s College, Cambridge. It was there that Jagadish Chandra Bose’s journey toward becoming a scientist began. However, he encountered racial discrimination during his time there. He began his research with the support of Lord Rayleigh.

Jagadish Chandra Bose could have chosen to stay in England, but after completing his education, he returned to India in 1885. With the support of Henry Fawcett and Lord Ripon (Viceroy and Governor-General of India from 1833 to 1905 and 1858 to 1947), he joined Presidency College in Kolkata as a professor of physics. Among his notable students were Satyendra Nath Bose, Meghnad Saha, Sisir Kumar Mitra, and Debendra Mohan Bose. In 1887, he married Abala Bose, a women’s rights activist and social worker. Abala Bose had graduated from Madras Medical College, as women were not admitted to Calcutta Medical College at the time.

At Presidency College, Sir J.C. Bose began his groundbreaking work in wireless communication. Did you know? Bose was the first to demonstrate that radio waves could pass through walls, plants, and mountains. However, he never patented his work, believing that knowledge should benefit everyone.

However, Bose did not stop there. Another notable contribution of his was in plant physiology. He developed an instrument called the crescograph, which demonstrated that plants are an integral part of nature and respond just like other living beings on Earth.

Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose’s work received widespread acclaim, and he was the first Indian scientist to be honored internationally. In recognition of his contributions to his country, he was given the honorary title “Acharya.” In 1917, he founded the Bose Institute in Kolkata, which remains a distinguished institution in Indian science to this day.

Bose is also regarded as the “Father of Science Fiction.” In 1896, he wrote a short story titled *Niruddesher Kahini*, which was later included in the collection *Abyakta* in 1921 under the new title *Palatak Tufan*. It was one of the earliest works of Bengali science fiction.

Rabindranath Tagore highlighted the impact of Jagadish Chandra Bose’s plant-related theories in his book *Visva-Parichay*.

Acharya Bose passed away on November 23, 1937, but his contributions remain immortal among us. Even after his passing, he is honored with the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Award, the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose National Fellowship, and the Jagadish Chandra Bose Memorial Award.