ACHARYA PRAFULLA CHANDRA RAY

• Recently, Ministry of Culture organised a curtain raiser for two days International Conference on the “Contributions of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray as a Chemist and Freedom Fighter” at the Department of Chemistry, Delhi.
• The Conference will be held on the 161st birth anniversary of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray on 2nd-3rd August 2022, under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• The Department of Chemistry is celebrating its centenary year along with the University of Delhi and Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA) is going to organize jointly with Indraprastha Vigyan Bharti, New Delhi and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, New Delhi.
• Expand the legacy and contribution of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray in Society, with an aim to increase general awareness and background of ancient chemistry along with its importance.
• It is unexpected that the government is updating the education system from the traditional concept of the 1980’s to align with the aspirational goals of 21st century education including SDG4 (Quality Education), while building upon India’s traditions and value systems.

Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray

• Known as “Father of Indian Chemistry”, Prafulla Chandra Ray (1861-1944) was a well-known Indian scientist and teacher and one of the first “modern” Indian chemical researchers.
• Originally trained at the University of Edinburgh, he worked for many years at Presidency College in Calcutta and then at Calcutta University.
• He discovered the stable compound Mercurous Nitrite in 1895.
• The British Government first honored him with the imperial title of CIE (Companion of the Indian Empire), and then with the Knighthood in 1919.
• In 1920, he was elected General President of the Indian Science Congress.
• As a nationalist he also wanted the Bengalis to come up in the world of enterprise.
• He himself set an example by establishing a chemical firm called the Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works (1901).
• He was a true rationalist and was completely against the caste system and other irrational social systems. He persistently carried on this work of social reformation till he passed away.
• A postage stamp was issued on him by India Post on 2nd August 1961 to commemorate his Birth Anniversary.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT