Google Doodle celebrates 112th birthday of Indian biochemist Kamala Sohonie ( skworldtelevision )
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Google Doodle celebrates 112th birthday of Indian biochemist Kamala Sohonie
2 min read 18 Jun 2023, 02:40 PM Sudarsan SahuGoogle Doodle pays tribute to Dr. Kamala Sohonie, the Indian biochemist who paved the way for women in science, on her 112th birthday.
Today's Google Doodle pays tribute to Dr. Kamala Sohonie, the remarkable Indian biochemist who paved the way for women in science. On her 112th birthday, we celebrate her ground-breaking achievements and her role in inspiring future generations.
The early years
Born on this day in 1911 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Sohonie hailed from a family of respected chemists. Determined to follow in her father's and uncle's footsteps, she pursued her studies in chemistry and physics at Bombay University, where she graduated at the top of her class in 1933. Despite facing scepticism and gender bias, she became the first woman to be accepted into the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
Overcoming doubts
In her early days at IISc, Dr. Sohonie encountered stringent conditions imposed on women, reflecting the prevailing doubts about their capabilities in the scientific field. However, she shattered these barriers through her sheer competence and dedication, earning the respect and admiration of the institution's director who was initially sceptical of women in science. Her success opened doors for more women to enter the program at IISc.
Proving competence
For the next few years, Dr. Sohonie focused her research on studying proteins in legumes and their impact on nutrition, particularly in children. Her findings not only contributed to the field of biochemistry but also highlighted the importance of legumes in boosting overall nutrition. In 1936, she published her thesis on this subject and obtained her master's degree.
In 1937, Dr. Sohonie received a research scholarship at Cambridge University, where she made a ground-breaking discovery. She identified and studied Cytochrome C, an enzyme crucial for energy generation, and found its presence in all plant cells. Within a remarkably short period of 14 months, she completed her thesis on this ground-breaking finding, earning her Ph.D.
Upon returning to India, Dr. Sohonie continued her research on the nutritional benefits of various foods. She played a significant role in the development of an affordable dietary supplement called Neera, made from palm nectar. This nutritious drink, enriched with Vitamin C, proved to be a valuable resource for combating malnutrition among children and pregnant women.
Honouring a legacy
Dr. Sohonie's contributions were recognized and honoured with the Rashtrapati Award. Additionally, she achieved another remarkable feat by becoming the first female director of the Royal Institute of Science in Bombay.
Google Doodle's reach
The Google doodle showcasing scone is visible only for the Google users of India, Germany, Iceland and Brazil.
Also read: Happy Father's Day! Google marks the special day with a unique doodle
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