North Bengal Science Centre Unveils Busts of 10 Women Scientists to Inspire Local Youth
Siliguri, February 28, 2026 — National Science Day was observed today at the North Bengal Science Centre (NBSC) in Siliguri, highlighted by the unveiling of busts honoring ten pioneering Indian women scientists.
The NBSC, a unit of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) under the Government of India’s Ministry of Culture, organized the event to celebrate the nation’s scientific heritage and encourage regional youth to pursue technical fields. The day brought together students, educators, and science enthusiasts in a shared commitment to promoting a scientific temper, curiosity, and inclusion in STEM.
Darjeeling Member of Parliament Raju Bista joined the commemorative event alongside esteemed guests Col. Meghna Dave and Dr. Neela Bhattacharya.
Commemorating the Raman Effect
The program commenced with a formal floral tribute to Sir C. V. Raman, honoring his timeless contribution to the scientific community.
National Science Day is celebrated annually on February 28 to mark the historic discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ by the Indian physicist in 1928. The Raman Effect demonstrates the change in the wavelength of light that occurs when a light beam is deflected by molecules. For this groundbreaking discovery, Sir C. V. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, becoming the first Indian scientist to receive the honor.
Honoring Trailblazing Women in Science
The focal point of today’s event was recognizing the foundational contributions of women who broke barriers in India’s scientific landscape. The newly unveiled busts honor ten distinguished figures across disciplines such as medicine, high-energy physics, agriculture, meteorology, and anthropology:
Dr. Kadambini Ganguly: South Asia’s first woman physician trained in Western medicine, paving the way for women in medical education during the colonial era.
Dr. Bibha Chowdhuri: India’s first woman high-energy physicist, recognized for her pioneering cosmic ray research and co-discovering mesons.
Dr. E.K. Janaki Ammal: A renowned botanist who advanced cytogenetics and sugarcane breeding, strengthening India’s agricultural independence.
Dr. Asima Chatterjee: A celebrated medicinal chemist known for advancing research on Indian medicinal plants and developing key anti-malarial and anti-epileptic drugs.
Dr. Kamal Ranadive: A pioneering cancer researcher who established India’s first tissue culture laboratory and studied the viral and hereditary links to cancer.
Dr. Darshan Ranganathan: A distinguished bio-organic chemist acclaimed for her work in biomimetic architectures and molecular design.
Dr. Irawati Karve: India’s first woman anthropologist, recognized for her foundational contributions to Indian sociology and her classic literary work, Yuganta.
Dr. Anna Mani: An eminent physicist and meteorologist who advanced atmospheric ozone research and developed indigenous weather instruments.
Dr. Prof. Archana Sharma: A noted cytogeneticist recognized for her contributions to plant speciation studies and innovative chromosome techniques.
Dr. Rajeshwari Chatterjee: A trailblazing microwave engineer who strengthened defense communication research and established India’s first microwave engineering laboratory.
Inspiring the Next Generation in STEM
Following the unveiling, MP Raju Bista emphasized the educational importance of the new installations. He stated that the presence of these busts at the North Bengal Science Centre will serve as an ongoing inspiration for visitors. Bista expressed hope that learning about the achievements of these ten scientists will actively encourage students and youth from the Darjeeling and wider North Bengal region—particularly young women—to pursue and excel in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
