50th Death Anniversary of C.V. Raman, known for Raman Effect

Hyderabad: Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, C. V. Raman was born at Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu on 7 November 1888. His father was a lecturer in mathematics and physics so from the very beginning he was immersed in an academic atmosphere. Raman’s established his academic brilliance at a very young age. In 1970, he received a major heart attack while working in the laboratory. He took his last breath in the Raman Research Institute on 21st November 1970.

After completing school at a very young age of 13, he went to Mrs A.V.N. College at Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh for further studies. Then he moved to the prestigious Presidency College in Chennai. At 15, C.V. Raman completed his B.A. degree with honors in Physics and English and at 18, he received his M.A. degree with honours.

C.V. Raman's professional life

• C. V. Raman joined the Indian Audit and Accounts Service. There he was appointed the Assistant Accountant General in the Finance Department in Kolkata.

• In Kolkata, he sustained his interest in science by working in the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, in his spare time studying the physics of stringed instruments and Indian drums.

• In 1917, C. V. Raman gave up his government job to become the Sir Taraknath Palit Professor of Physics at the Science College of University of Calcutta (1917-33).

• After 15 years at Calcutta, he became a Professor at the Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore (1933-1948), and since 1948 he was a Director of the Raman Institute of Research at Bangalore, established and endowed by himself. He also founded the Indian Journal of Physics in 1926, of which he is the Editor.

50th Death Anniversary of C.V. Raman, known for Raman Effect

• Other Contributions - He made enormous contributions to research in the areas of vibration, sound, musical instruments, Ultrasonics, diffraction, Photoelectricity, colloidal particles, X-ray diffraction, magnetron, dielectrics, etc.
• Raman spectroscopy is used in many varied fields – in fact, any application where non-destructive, microscopic, chemical analysis and imaging is required.

Every year, National Science Day is celebrated to commemorate the discovery of the 'Raman Effect' on February 28.

50th Death Anniversary of C.V. Raman, known for Raman Effect

Some of CV Raman's inspiring quotes

• "Treat me right and you will see the light…Treat me wrong and you will be gone!"

• "Ask the right questions, and nature will open the doors to her secrets I am the master of my failure… If I never fail how will I ever learn."

• "You can't always choose who comes into your life but you can learn what lesson they teach you Success can come to you by courageous Devotion to the task lying in front of you."

• "I strongly believe that fundamental science cannot be driven by instructional, industrial and government or military pressures."

• "If someone judges you, they are wasting space in their mind…Best part, it's their problem."