Biochemist Kamala Sohonie, the first Indian woman to earn a PhD in a scientific field, will be honored by Google this Sunday (18). The Doodle, the image featured in the search engine, celebrates the 112th birthday of the scientist who broke down barriers and paved the way for other Indian women to break down gender stereotypes and pursue a career in science.
Kamala Sohonie was the first woman to join the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and was appointed Director of the Royal Institute of Science in Mumbai. It can look back on a pioneering history.
Family history records indicate that the biochemist was born on June 18, 1911 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. As the daughter and niece of a distinguished chemist, Sohonie wanted to follow in the footsteps of her father and uncle and studied chemistry and physics at Bombay University. in the state of Maarastra and graduated with distinction in 1933.
Kamala Sohonie was the first woman to join the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). As a result, strict requirements were imposed on her in her freshman year, as IISc Director Professor Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, CV Raman, questioned the ability of women in the scientific field.
In the first year of research, for example, Dr. Sohonie was not admitted as a regular student and was not allowed to visit the area surrounding the institute so as not to be a “distraction” to the men studying there. But after that time, Professor CV Roman was so impressed with the scientist’s competence that he began to include more women in the research program.
Kamala Sohonie’s research
In 1936, Kamala Sohonie became a master of research into the various proteins found in vegetables. With the study, the scientist came to the conclusion that they improved the diet of children.
A year later, on a research fellowship at Cambridge University in the UK, Sohonie discovered cytochrome C, an important enzyme in energy production. In the study, she found that this enzyme was present in all plant cells. In a year and two months, Sohonie earned her PhD from this research.
Back in India, the benefits of certain foods continued to be the focus of study by Kamala Sohonie, who helped develop a dietary supplement made from palm nectar called Neera.
For her work with Neera, Dr. Sohonie received the Rashtrapati Award given by the President of India or in some cases the Prime Minister for achievements in sports, arts, military, literature, film, culture, science and technology or scouting.
Her contribution to science also led to her appointment as the first female director of the Royal Institute of Science in Bombay.