Page 19 - Nai Udaan December 2024 Final

Journey of a Scientist Need to know
Meteorology is the
Anna Mani scientific study of the
Anna Mani
atmosphere, focusing
on weather processes
and forecasting. It

The Trailblazing Weather examines phenomena
such as temperature,
humidity, precipitation,
wind, and atmospheric
Woman of India pressure to understand
and predict weather
patterns and climate
changes. Meteorology
plays a vital role in
- Born: August 23, 1918, Travancore (now part of Kerala) agriculture, aviation,
- Died: August 16, 2001, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala disaster management,
- Field of Study: Meteorology, Renewable Energy and daily life.
- Major Contributions: Developed India’s weather instruments,
contributed to ozone layer research, and pioneered wind energy
studies in India.
- Awards: INSA K.R. Ramanathan Medal
- Legacy: Known as the “weather woman” of India, Anna’s innovations continue
to shape India’s environmental science and renewable energy sectors.

The Spark of Curiosity

Born in 1918 in Travancore, Kerala, Anna Mani exhibited an insatiable
curiosity from a young age. Rejecting societal norms, she opted
for a set of encyclopedias instead of diamond earrings for her
eighth birthday. By the age of 12, she had devoured her local
library’s collection, showcasing her intellectual hunger.
Her family, progressive yet traditional, allowed her to
pursue higher education, albeit without
encouragement. Initially aspiring to study medicine,
Anna pivoted to physics, earning her degree at
Presidency College, Chennai, in 1939.
From Crystals to Clouds:

Anna’s Academic Ascent
After earning her degree in physics from
Presidency College, Anna joined Nobel
Laureate C.V. Raman’s laboratory. Here,
she conducted pioneering research on the
optical properties of crystals. Yet, the jour-
ney was far from smooth. The lab had
strict rules for women, isolating her from
male peers and intellectual debates. Unde-
terred, she published five significant
research papers. Despite this, she was
denied her doctorate, a setback that redirected
her toward meteorology—a field that would
benefit immeasurably from her genius.
-2024
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Portrait of Anna Mani by Weilu Shen