Prafulla Chandra Ray Biography: On August 2nd, 1861, the Indian chemist Prafulla Chandra Ray was born. Ray is typically referred to as the “father of chemistry in India.” In 1882, he was awarded a scholarship to join the University of Edinburgh in recognition of his exceptional academic potential as a young man in Bengal. In 1887, he received his Doctor of Philosophy degree after earning his Bachelor of Science degree there in 1886. When organic chemistry was popular, he decided to pursue inorganic chemistry and became an expert on mineral salts like sulphates and nitrates. This article discusses the Bengali chemist Prafulla Chandra Ray and the Royal Society of Chemistry he founded.
Prafulla Chandra Ray Biography
Beginnings of Prafulla Chandra Ray’s Life
Prafulla Chandra Ray was born to a Brahmin family on 2 August 1861. He was the son of Bhubanmohini Debi and Harish Chandra Ray. He received a first-division score on the Entrance Examination and was admitted to the Presidency College. After earning a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Chemistry, he became a teacher at City College in Calcutta. He received an M.Sc. from Calcutta University and a DSc from Edinburgh University for his thesis entitled “The Chemical Constituents of Asparagus.” In India, Prafulla Chandra Ray was a renowned scientist, educator, chemist, and scientist. He also made contributions to chemistry and international science. He received numerous distinctions, including the Hope Prize.
Prafulla Chandra Ray had attended Presidency College in Kolkata as a student. During his college years, he demonstrated that alcohol could be produced from pyruvic acid through fermentation using yeast. Prafulla Chandra Ray was born in a Bengal, India, village.
He had some education from a village pathshala, but he entered the Hare School at the age of ten and passed the Entrance Examination in the first division. He received his master’s degree from Presidency College, Kolkata, after completing his bachelor’s degree. He earned his doctorate with honour from the University of Edinburgh.
Contributions
Indian chemist and educator Prafulla Chandra Ray made significant contributions to chemistry. He pioneered the use of mercury to treat cutaneous diseases and was the first person to synthesise mercury. In addition, he discovered thallium. In addition to his scientific accomplishments, Ray was a dedicated educator who was instrumental in establishing the Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works, the first Indian enterprise to manufacture drugs and chemicals. He also authored a number of popular science publications, which helped to make science more accessible to the general public. Ray’s contributions paved the way for the modernization of chemistry in India, and he is widely regarded as the father of Indian chemistry.
A nationwide appeal for the Swadeshi movement advocated for the elimination of all purchases of British goods in favour of the exclusive use of Indian-made goods in order to promote the expansion of India’s domestic manufacturing sector. He was a distinguished Bengali chemist, author, and businessman. During this period, he rented a home at 91 Upper Circular Road in Calcutta. In addition, the company has 9 (nine) Sales Outlets and 2 (two) C & F Agencies strategically located throughout India. He established Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BCPL) with a meagre capital investment of Rs 700.00.
Encourage the expansion of Indian industries, compete with imported goods, and attain a state of complete independence with the goal of producing high-quality drugs, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals using indigenous technology to satisfy the needs of millions of ordinary people. It should be noted that a number of once-popular products, such as fire extinguishers, surgical and hospital instruments, talcum powder, toothpaste, glycerin soap, and carbolic soap, were eventually discarded because it was determined that they were no longer profitable in the current market environment.
In addition to founding the National Tannery Works, Bengal Enamel Works, and Calcutta Pottery Works, he promoted khadi material and made it more broadly accessible. He was a rationalist who opposed the caste system and all other illogical forms of social organisation. His dedication to advancing social change remained unwavering up until the present moment.
Prafulla Chandra Ray Literary interests and activities
He contributed Bengali articles to numerous monthly periodicals, primarily on scientific topics. The first volume of his autobiography Life and Experience of a Bengali Chemist was published in 1932 and was dedicated to the young of India. In 1935, the second volume of this work was published.
The first volume of A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century was published in 1902. In 1909, the second volume was published. The work was the result of a multi-year investigation of ancient Sanskrit manuscripts and orientalist works.
Regularly, he contributed to the welfare of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, Brahmo Girls’ School, and the Indian Chemical Society. In 1922, he contributed funds to establish the Nagarjuna Prize for the best achievement in chemistry. 1937 saw the establishment of a second award, named for Ashutosh Mukherjee and designated for the best accomplishment in zoology or botany.
