Sir J.C. Bose
Acharya (Sir) J.C. Bose (1857-1937), the
doyen of Indian science appointed as an officiating Professor of Physics in
1885 at the Presidency College, Kolkata. It is a rare event in the history of
science that the work of a single investigator so profoundly affects many
branches of knowledge. In 1894-95 he emerged as a research worker in the field
of electromagnetic wave – now called microwave, one of the technologies that
benefit the human race most even today. He developed galena detector, which is
the first photo-voltaic cell in the world.
From the study of the response
behavior of metal J.C. Bose preceded to the study of response behavior of
plants whose sensitivity is intermediate between metal and highly organized
animal organisms. As plants are not provided with elaborate structure like
nervous system, Bose had to device various instruments (>100) for his
experiments. They were very delicate and sensitive.
Bose Institute
Photograph taken in 1920
In
1916, Government of Bengal acquired five bighas of
land for J.C. Bose to the north of his residence on which buildings and
laboratories of Bose Institute were erected. The Institute was formally opened
on November 30, 1917. Bose delivered his address “The voice of life”, on this
occasion he dedicated the Institute to the nation to revive once more the
traditions of
At present the Institute has two major
campuses, one located at 93/1 Acharya P.C. Road near
Raja Bazaar where the Bose Institute was originally founded (commonly known as
Main Campus) and the other at Bagmari Road near Kankurgachi (commonly referred to as Centenart
Campus, as it was built to commemorate the birth centenary of the founder). In
addition, the Institute has few more campuses, like Astroparticle
Physics Research Centre, High Altitude Research centre at Darjeeling and Rennovative Centre for Plant Biotechnology.
The research work of
Bose Institute centers on system response analysis and resource survey analysis
integrating different branches of science to have a multidisciplinary approach
for unveiling the mysteries of nature and utilization thereof. Pioneering work
in the fields of photon-atom scattering, cholera toxin, improved plant types,
microbial strains, understanding the process of gene expression, designing of
drugs for the treatment of various diseases, biotechnology etc. had been part
of scientific projection of this institute. The present generation of
scientists is proud carriers of that torch of enlightenment and is also giving
due importance to the national thrust area problems. Their contributions both
in the fundamental and applied areas of science helping the nation as envision
by the Founder of the Institute.