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On September 9, 2015, an unassuming woman stepped into the limelight and created history in India’s defence research establishment – J Manjula, an outstanding scientist of high repute, took charge as the first woman director general of the Electronics and Communication Systems cluster of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
An alumna of the Osmania University, and an electronics and communications engineer, Manjula is the recipient of the DRDO Award for Performance Excellence, Scientist of the Year 2011, and the India Today Woman Summit Award, 2014. Expectedly, Manjula has been hailed by women from all walks of life – not quite so expectedly, media reaction has been muted, which is highly surprising, considering we do not get to hear news of women buy azithromycin 100 mg scientists making it big in this country too often. Indian women do not seem to take to science as much as they could, and the reasons are numerous — pre-conceived notions, regressive indoctrination, gender stereotyping, scarcity of role models, etc.
Pre-Independence era women scientists – Those were the days
That, however, does not mean there are no names to be proud of. Going back all the way to the 19th century, the name of Dr Anandibai Joshee (1865-1887) comes to mind. Anandibai was one of the very first Indian women doctors qualified to practice modern medicine, having been the physician-in-charge of the female ward of the Albert Edward Hospital in the princely state of Kolhapur.
Then there was Janaki Ammal (1897-1984), who specialized in cytogenetics and phytogeography, and served as the Director-General of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI).
Physicist Anna Mani (1918-2001) worked with Prof. C V Raman and eventually became a meteorologist, retiring as the Deputy Director General of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). She made significant contributions to the field of meteorological instrumentation.
Another notable name is that of Maharani Chakravorty (1937-2015). A molecular biologist, Maharani organized the first laboratory course on recombinant DNA techniques in Asia and the Far East.
The case of Darshan Ranganathan (1941-2001), who worked with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and did path-breaking work in biochemistry, exemplifies institutional biases against women – since her husband also worked at the same institute, she languished as a research associate, as the institute had an unwritten rule that forbade spouses from simultaneously holding a faculty position in the same department. She eventually joined Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, where she became deputy director. After her death, her husband instituted the Professor Darshan Ranganath Memorial Lecture, which is always to be delivered by a woman scientist who has made an outstanding contribution in the field of science.
And the story today…
Post-Independence, the story has changed, though not as much as one would have liked it to. Sure, there are more women scientists today, but there could be many more, but for societal biases, assumed gender roles and an overall lack of an enabling environment. That having been said, women scientists are making a mark in all disciplines of science, and the glass ceiling is cracking. Recall the recent Mars Orbiter Mission — one of the most enduring images relating to that was women scientists of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) celebrating the success of their mission.
Here’s a look at some of the women scientists who make us proud today.
Tessy Thomas: Tessy Thomas is the country’s ‘Missile Woman’, with her other moniker being ‘Agniputri’. Born in 1964 in Alappuzha, Kerala, she is the first woman scientist to head a missile project in India. Tessy grew up near a rocket launching station, leading to a life-long fascination with rockets and missiles. Presently based at the Advanced Systems Laboratory in Hyderabad, she was Associate Project Director of the 3,000-km range Agni-III missile project, and the Project Director for mission Agni-IV, which was successfully tested in 2011. In 2009, she was appointed as the Project Director for the 5,000-km range Agni-V. The missile was successfully tested on April 19, 2012.
Qamar Rahman: In a career spanning 40 years, Qamar Rahman has worked extensively in the field of physiological effects of nano particles. Presently the Dean of Research Science and Technology, Amity University, Lucknow, she is known internationally for her work on asbestosis, the effects of slate dust, and other household and environmental particulate pollution. Born in 1944, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Rostock University of Germany in 2009, becoming the first Indian to receive this honour from the 600-year-old university.
Vandana Shiva: A multi-faceted, multi-talented personality, Vandana Shiva has specialized in quantum theory, and has also conducted interdisciplinary research in science, technology and environmental policy at the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore. Born in 1952, Vandana has written and spoken extensively about advances in the fields of agriculture and food. As an activist, she has worked in the fields of Intellectual Property Rights, biodiversity, biotechnology, bioethics, genetic engineering, etc. The concept of seed freedom and the rejection of corporate patents on seeds are central to her work.
Sunita Narain: Environmentalist and political activist Sunita Narain is the Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment (with which she has been associated since 1982), and the Director of the Society for Environmental Communications. She is also the publisher of the fortnightly magazine, Down to Earth. Born in 1961, Sunita has literally devoted her life to studying and analyzing the relationship between the environment and development, and creating public consciousness about the need for sustainable development. A Padma Shree awardee, she has also won the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize and the Raja-Lakshmi award.
Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath: A neuroscientist, Vijaylakshmi Ravindranath is the Chairperson of the Centre for Neuroscience at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. She was formerly the Founder Director of the National Brain Research Centre, Gurgaon. Her main area of interest is the study of brain-related disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases. Born in 1952, she has extensively researched the metabolizing capacity of the human brain, focusing on psychoactive drugs and environmental toxins. She received the Padma Shree award in 2010.
These are but a few of the amazing Indian women scientists that we can all be justifiably proud of. Given a chance, there will be many more in the years to come. Here’s to that happy thought
