C.V. Raman Biography: Early Life,Family, Education, Career, Awards and Achievements

C.V. Raman Biography: Every year, November 7 commemorates the birth of Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. He discovered the Raman Effect on February 28, 1928, and for this discovery, he was honoured with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

This article includes instances from his birth, early life, career, various achievements, and more.

C.V Raman: Biography

C.V. Raman, or Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, was born on November 7, 1888, at Tiruchirappalli in southern India. His father was a lecturer in mathematics and physics. At a young age, he was exposed to an academic environment. His contribution to science and innovative research helped India and the world.

He discovered the Raman Effect and won a Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery. Every year on February 28, National Science Day is celebrated to pay tribute to Nobel Laureate Dr. C.V. Raman.

Father’s Name: R. Chandrashekhara Aiyer

Mother’s Name: Parvathi Ammal

Spouse Name: Lokasundari Ammal

Died on: 21st November, 1970

Place of Death: Bangalore, India

Discovery: Raman Effect

Awards: Matteucci Medal, Knight Bachelor, Hughes Medal, Nobel Prize in Physics, Bharat Ratna, Lenin Peace Prize, Fellow of the Royal Society

Dr. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (C.V. Raman): Early Life and Family

Dr. C.V. Raman was born on November 7, 1888, in a South Indian Brahmin family in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. His father’s name was Chandrasekhara Ramanathan Iyer. He was a lecturer in mathematics and physics at a college in Vishakhapatnam. His mother’s name was Parvathi Ammal.

C. V. Raman has been an intelligent student since his early childhood. At the age of 11, he passed his matriculation and 12th grade on a scholarship. In 1902, he joined the Presidency College and received his graduate degree in 1904. At that time, he was the only student who received the first division. He has a Master’s in Physics from the same college and broke all the previous records.  In 1907, he married Lokasundari Ammal and had two sons, namely Chandrasekhar and Radhakrishnan.

Dr. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (C.V. Raman): Career

Because of his father’s interest, he appeared for the Financial Civil Services (FCS) examination and topped it. In 1907, he went to Calcutta (now Kolkata) and joined as an assistant accountant general. But in his spare time, he went to the laboratory to do research at the Indian Association for Cultivation of Sciences. Let us tell you that, his job was very hectic, and he also continued his research work at night due to his core interest in science.

Though the facilities available in the laboratory were very limited, he continued his research and published his findings in leading international journals, including ‘Nature’, ‘The Philosophical Magazine’, ‘Physics Review’, etc. At that time, his research was focused on the areas of vibrations and acoustics.

He got an opportunity to join the University of Calcutta in 1917 as the first Palit Professor of Physics. After 15 years at Calcutta, he became a Professor at the Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore from 1933 to 1948 and since 1948, he has been the Director of the Raman Institute of Research at Bangalore which was established and endowed by him only.

Dr. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (C.V. Raman): Works and Discovery

He established the Indian Journal of Physics in 1926 where he was the editor. He also sponsored the establishment of the Indian Academy of Sciences and served as the President since its inception. He was the President of the Current Science Association in Bangalore, which publishes Current Science (India).

In 1928, he wrote an article on the theory of musical instruments for the 8th Volume of the Handbuch der Physik. He published his work on the “Molecular Diffraction of Light” in 1922 which led to his ultimate discovery of the radiation effect on February 28, 1928, and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. He became the first Indian to receive a Nobel Prize.

Other research carried out by Dr. C.V. Raman was on the diffraction of light by acoustic waves of ultrasonic and hypersonic frequencies and the effects produced by X-rays on infrared vibrations in crystals exposed to ordinary light.

In 1948, he also studied the fundamental problems of crystal dynamics. His laboratory has been dealing with the structure and properties of diamonds, and the structure and optical behaviour of numerous iridescent substances like pearls, agate, opal, etc.

He was also interested in the optics of colloids, electrical and magnetic anisotropy, and the physiology of human vision.

No doubt, he was honoured with a large number of doctorates and memberships in scientific societies. In 1924, he was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society early in his career and was knighted in 1929.

As briefly described he is best known for discovering the ‘Raman Effect’ or the theory related to the scattering of light. He showed that when light traverses a transparent material, some of the deflected light changes its wavelength.

Dr. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (C.V. Raman): Awards and Honours

– In 1924, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society early in his career and was knighted in 1929.

– He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

– He was awarded the Franklin Medal in 1941.

– He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954, the highest civilian award in India.

– In 1957, he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize.

– The American Chemical Society and the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in 1998 recognised Raman’s discovery as an International Historic Chemical Landmark.

– On 28 February every year, India celebrates National Science Day to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect in 1928 in his honour.

In 1970, he received a major heart attack while working in the laboratory. He took his last breath at the Raman Research Institute on 21st November 1970.

Dr. C.V. Raman was one of the great legends from India whose hard work and determination made India proud and became the first Indian to receive a Nobel Prize in Physics. He proved that, if a person wants to pursue his/her desires nobody can stop. His interest in science and dedication towards research work made him discover the Raman Effect. He will always be remembered as a great Scientist, Physicist, and Nobel laureate.