“It is a tragedy that we have so few women physicists today,” said Bibha Chowdhuri. Dr Bibha said it before we even knew it. She knew the importance of science and the role it played in the development of our world. As a physicist, Dr Bibha was unrecognised, uncredited and unappreciated for the work she dedicated her life to, yet many scientists and physicists who won the Nobel Prize and National Award, the research could not have been possible without Dr Bibha's work and prior research.
Born and brought up in Calcutta (present-day Kolkata) Dr Bibha completed her M.Sc in Physics in 1936 from the University of Calcutta where she was the only girl in the batch of 1934-1936. She completed her higher education and did research in pre-independent India when women were not even recognised outside 'household chores' she strived to make an impact in academia not only in India but also in England. Soon she joined the Bose Institute under Dr Debendra Mohan Bose where she published 3 research papers in and around sub-atomic particles and cosmic rays.
Steps away from Nobel Prize
Dr Bibha was the first physicist to measure the mass of meson from the 'stars' formed in photographic emulsion when exposed to cosmic rays as mentioned by S.C. Roy in his book, A Jewel Unearthed. For this research, she worked in extreme conditions of mines and mountains. S.C. Roy says, "This was long before the work by C.F. Powell who was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for the year 1950 for the development of a photographic method for particle detection and the discovery of the pion using the same method of measurement that was used by Bibha Chowdhuri and D.M. Bose." Dr. Bibha had to forgo this research due to the onset of the Second World War but she had already discovered the two particles- Pi Masons and Muons but unfortunately never got the credit for it. Powell, a British physicist who received the Nobel Prize thanked Dr. Bibha saying that with the help of her prior work, he was able to build his research.
She was the first woman high-energy physicist in India and the first woman scientist to be recruited at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). She was hired by Homi J. Bhabha in TIFR IN 1949 where she researched air showers. In 1953 she was hired by PRL (Physics Research Laboratory) to work in the famous Kolar Gold Mines where she gave birth to new research and took care of administration of staff. The irony is that her work of 14 years in TIFR has been erased but the staff who received
National Awards for these projects never mentioned her. All the recognition she got was in the footnotes of the research paper of the staff. It is after 30 years that Dr. Bibha finally got the recognition she deserved. The Indian Astronomical Union named the star 'HD 86081'- 'Bibha' and in 2020 the
Government of India created a chair professorship in physics by her name. While this was a due credit it still doesn't compensate for years of unrecognition.
"Women Should Study Atomic Power"
In S.C. Roy's paper on Bibha Chowdhuri, we get to see her views on women and science. In reply to the question of the journalist on why we find so few women physicists, BC replied “Women are terrified of physics– that is the trouble.”
“At school scientifically-inclined girls choose Chemistry; perhaps because a really sound grasp of Higher Mathematics is one essential of any Physics equipment.” At the same time, she emphasised the importance of women to be involved in science and scientific developments. “In this age when
science, and physics particularly, is more important than ever, women should study atomic power; if they don’t understand how it works, how can they help decide how it should be used?”
Dr Bibha worked till her very last day and her contributions in the field of physics have not only led to real-time progress in science but also reflected the need to acknowledge, appreciate and encourage women in STEM. We need more iconic female figures like Dr Bibha to let our younger generation know that women in STEM are not only revolutionary but also successful and thrive in an inclusive environment.
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