Kamala Sohonie

Ph.D. (1939, Cambridge). Recipient of the Rashtrapati award for best scientific research. Life time achievement felicitation by ICMR. Assistant Director, NRI, Cunnoor, India. Retired as First Lady Director, Institute of Science, Mumbai.

An excerpt from the publication "The Scientist Lady":
"Her father Narayanrao Bhagwat and his brother Madhavrao were distinguished chemists too. They were among the first to pass out from (Tata) Institute of Science, Bangalore. Therefore after passing her B.Sc (physics and chemistry) from Bombay University and having stood first (in first class) in that exam, she thought that doing research work at that famous institute was a matter of course. She then applied for admission there and received a prompt refusal. The reason cited being that she was a woman. The illustrious director of the institute, Sir C.V. Raman, Nobel Laureate, did not think a woman scientist, to be research material! Kamala refused to accept this refusal based on gender bias. A firm believer in Mahatma Gandhi, she decided to do Satyagraha in Raman’s office, till she was admitted. Prof. Raman granted her admission on condition that for one full year she would be on probation; meaning that she could work but that work would not be recognized until the director was satisfied about its quality and also that her presence did not distract his male researchers from their work. Kamala accepted these terms, but one can only imagine her indignation at them. The first hurdle in her pursuit of science was crossed (1933)."