- On June 18, the Google Doodle celebrated Kamala Sohonie’s 112th birthday.
- Kamala Sohonie, the first Indian woman to get a PhD in a scientific subject, made substantial advances to nutrition and fought malnutrition among tribal children.
- Despite gender bias, especially from Nobel laureate CV Raman, Sohonie made an indelible mark on Indian research.
Who was Kamala Sohonie?
- Kamala Sohonie (nee Bhagvat) was born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on June 18, 1911.
- Her father and uncle were also chemists who attended Tata Institute of Sciences (now IISc, Bengaluru).
- Sohonie received a BSc degree in Chemistry and Physics from Bombay University in 1933, topping the merit list.
- Sohonie’s encounter with CV Raman Sohonie was rejected by CV Raman when she enrolled for an MSc degree at IISc.
- She faced Raman, challenging him to allow her admission.
- Raman consented reluctantly but set additional conditions, including probation and restrictions on her student status.
Academic Achievements and Employment
- Sohonie graduated with honours and was admitted to Cambridge University, where she earned her PhD in just 14 months.
- Her studies on potatoes led to the identification of the enzyme ‘Cytochrome C’ and its involvement in cellular respiration.
- Sohonie returned to India and became the head of the Department of Biochemistry at Lady Hardinge College in New Delhi.
- She studied numerous food items to identify their nutrients at the Nutrition Research Lab in Coonoor and the Royal Institute of Science in Mumbai.
Contribution to Nutrition and Social Impact
- Sohonie’s major work centred around ‘neera,’ a palm extract drink suggested by India’s first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
- She showed that ‘neera’ was high in Vitamin C and other nutrients, making it advantageous to the health of impoverished tribal children and pregnant women.
- Sohonie has worked with the Aarey Milk Initiative to increase the quality of milk.
- Aside from her scientific endeavours, she was an important founding member of the Consumer Guidance Society.
Personal History and Legacy
- Sohonie married MV Sohonie, an actuary, in 1947, and the couple lived in Mumbai.
- Kamala Sohonie’s achievements broke down barriers and inspired future generations of female scientists.
- Her perseverance in the face of gender bias, as well as her outstanding contributions to nutrition and consumer protection, have left an indelible impression.
Source: https://www.dnaindia.com/science/report-google-doodle-today-who-was-kamala-sohonie-first-indian-woman-to-get-phd-in-science-iisc-bangalore-3048117