Indian Physicist Bibha Chowdhuri Honored with Star Named After Her
Bibha Chowdhuri, a trailblazing Indian physicist, was recognized posthumously with a star named after her, celebrating her contributions to cosmic ray research.
KOLKATA, Oct 26: Bibha Chowdhuri, an influential Indian physicist known for her work on cosmic rays, was posthumously honored when a star was named after her. The International Astronomical Union designated the star HD 86081 Bibha in 2019, highlighting her legacy in the scientific community.
Born on July 3, 1913, in Kolkata, Chowdhuri pursued physics at a time when the field was predominantly male. She completed her master’s degree in physics at the University of Calcutta in 1936, reportedly as the only woman in her class of 24. Her education was supported by a progressive family background associated with the Brahmo Samaj reform movement, which advocated for women’s education.
Chowdhuri began her research with physicist Debendra Mohan Bose at the Bose Institute, exploring cosmic rays using photographic emulsions to track subatomic particles. Their findings were published in prestigious journals like Nature between 1938 and the early 1940s, contributing to early studies on mesons. Due to a shortage of materials during World War II, Chowdhuri later pursued a PhD at the University of Manchester under Nobel laureate Patrick Blackett.
In 1949, she became the first woman researcher at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in India and later joined the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad to continue her studies on cosmic rays and high-energy particles. Despite making significant contributions, Chowdhuri remained relatively unrecognized outside scientific circles until recent years.
Chowdhuri passed away on June 2, 1991, but her contributions are now celebrated. The name Bibha, which means ‘ray of light’ in Bengali, reflects her work in illuminating the complex realm of cosmic particles. Her story emphasizes the often delayed recognition of scientific achievement.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.