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While working on this excruciating project Kolkata. Soon after that Vikram Sarabhai
which involved conquering literal mountains, invited her to join the Physical Research
cosmic rays, cloud chambers and Laboratory in Ahmedabad. She was a
photographic plates, Bibha discovered two major part of the Kolar Gold Field
new particles - years before any such similar experiments.
discoveries. The research had more potential,
but tragedy struck. The world was But her only friend there seemed to be
crumbling under the weight of World War Dr. Sarabhai himself. With him died the
II and this research had to be abandoned. evidence of her contribution, her future
projects, and her will to be a part of the
Bibha moved to Manchester, U.K. in laboratory. She returned to Kolkata and
1945, making Patrick Blackett her research became a visiting scientist at the Saha Institute
advisor. Conducting research on extensive of Nuclear Physics, and a visiting teacher
air showers using a device constructed by at the Calcutta University.
Blackett, Bibha wrote her thesis and
obtained her Phd. She continued her research Most of her work now survives as ‘special
work there, and when interviewed by the thank you’ notes in the works of her
Manchester Evening News for an article colleagues who won national awards. She
titled Meet India’s New Woman Scientist - kept on publishing research articles till her
she has an eye for cosmic rays, she said “it death in 1991, but not even one copy of her
is a tragedy that we have so few women works can be found.
physicists today”. It must have been alienating
to work in a field over-saturated by men, with Homi J. Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai
the only women who were present being keep on living in the memories of the
cleaners and sweepers. masses, but she was erased and forgotten.
She won no awards.
She taught for some years at the University
of Manchester. In 1949, she returned to The International Astronomical Union
India - invited by Homi J. Bhabha himself has now renamed a star after her - Bibha,
to teach at his newly established institute telling us that no matter how difficult it is
the Tata Institute of Fundamental to see, no matter how long the journey is,
Research. She was the first female teacher her light will be found. Bibha Chowdhuri
there, and continued her research on would be happy to know that now more
extensive air showers, formulating new women can be found in STEM fields - still
techniques, and observing particles. less than she would like, but more than she
had.
Everyone wants to return to their roots
after some time, and she was India is never without her successes.
no exception. In 1953 she Even when it comes to her daughters.
left TIFR and joined Bengal Everyone should remember that, and
Engineering College in everyone should remember their names.
References:
Karuna 1. https://amazingwomeninhistory.com/bibha-chowdhuri-indian-physicist/
GGSSS B 1 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibha_Chowdhuri
3. https://www.thelovepost.global/decolonise-your-mind/articles/bibha-chowdhuri-missed-nobel-
Yamuna Vihar prize-and-unfulfilled-prophecy
4. https://www.telegraphindia.com/science-tech/the-woman-who-could-have-won-a- nobel/cid/16764888586870118
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