Asima Chatterjee: 1st Woman To Earn Doctorate Of Science From An Indian University

Asima Chatterjee, an extraordinary Indian organic chemist, left an indelible mark on science through her contributions to organic chemistry and phytomedicine. A woman of many firsts, Chatterjee was the first Indian woman to receive a Doctorate of Science from an Indian university. She provided hope in an era when women faced significant barriers to education.

Early Life: A Foundation in Curiosity 

Born on 23 September 1917 in Kolkata, Asima Chatterjee grew up in a middle-class family where higher education for women was rare. Encouraged by her father, Indra Narayan Mookerjee, a doctor with a passion for botany, she developed an early interest in plants and their medicinal properties. Despite societal norms, she excelled academically, earning a chemistry degree with honours from Scottish Church College, University of Calcutta, in 1936. Her perseverance set the stage for a remarkable career in science.

Breaking Barriers in Education and Research

Chatterjee pursued her Master’s in Organic Chemistry, graduating in 1938, and later made history by becoming the first woman to earn a Doctorate of Science (D.Sc.) from an Indian university in 1944. Mentored by revolutionaries like Prafulla Chandra Ray and Satyendra Nath Bose, she specialised in the chemistry of plant products. Her postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin and Caltech further refined her expertise in alkaloids, biologically active compounds with significant medicinal potential.

In her career, Chatterjee faced immense challenges, including a lack of funding and resources. She often used her personal finances to support research and pay her students' salaries. Despite these obstacles, her determination yielded significant breakthroughs in phytomedicine and synthetic organic chemistry.

Contributions to Science

Chatterjee's work spanned diverse areas of chemistry and medicine, including:

• Anti-epileptic Drugs: Development of 'Ayush-56,' derived from Marsilia minuta, remains a notable contribution to epilepsy treatment.
• Anti-malarial Therapies: Her research on plant-based compounds led to effective anti-malarial drugs.
• Cancer Research: With over four decades dedicated to cancer research, she studied alkaloids used in chemotherapy.
• Medicinal Plants: Her numerous studies on the Indian subcontinent's medicinal flora advanced the understanding of natural products in medicine.

Her extensive work also included complex structures of indole and isoquinoline alkaloids, developing synthetic methods for coumarins, and introducing innovative analytical techniques in organic chemistry.

Personal Resilience and Academic Leadership

Despite personal tragedies, including the loss of her father and husband in 1967, Chatterjee returned to her work with hope and unyielding determination. She established a chemistry department at Lady Brabourne College, inspiring generations of female scientists.

Married to Baradananda Chatterjee, a physical chemist, she balanced family life while excelling in a demanding academic career. Her legacy continues to inspire women to break barriers in male-dominated fields.

A Life of Achievements

Chatterjee’s exceptional contributions earned her numerous accolades:

• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1961): The first woman to receive this prestigious honor in chemical sciences.
• Padma Bhushan (1975): Recognized for her services to science.
• Rajya Sabha Nomination: Served as a member from 1982 to 1990, reflecting her influence beyond the scientific community.
• Fellowships and honorary doctorates from leading institutions.
• International recognition, including a Google Doodle in 2017 on her 100th birth anniversary.

A Legacy of Empowerment and Discovery

Asima Chatterjee's journey was one of perseverance and hope. Her legacy is not just one of scientific breakthroughs but also of empowerment, proving that determination and passion can overcome the toughest societal constraints, paving the way for future generations to dream and achieve.