Dr. Kamala Sohonie was a biochemist born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh in 1911. She hails from a family of well-respected chemists. Following in her father’s and uncle’s footsteps, Sohonie pursued graduation in Chemistry & Physics from Bombay University in 1933.
She is the first female to be inducted into the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Initially, her research fellowship application was rejected by the director of IISc., who doubted her scientific abilities. However, with her grit determination, and willpower, she made it to the IISc under various conditions. One of the conditions was that she would be put on probation for the first year until the institute director found her work worthy enough to continue.
Dr. C.V. Raman, who was the director of IISC at that time was highly impressed by the dedication and work ethic of Kamala Sohonie and granted her permission to continue her research work at the institute. It is believed that after Sohonie, the IISc began inducting more female students in the coming years.
In 1937, Sohonie got a research fellowship to pursue her Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge. In a record 14 months, she completed her thesis work on Cytochrome C, which is an enzyme responsible for energy generation. After coming back to India, Kamala Sohonie continued her research work on developing healthy and affordable dietary supplements.
Dr. Sohonie was awarded the Rashtrapati Award for her work on Neera – a source of Vitamin C that has been proven to improve the health of malnourished children and pregnant women. Apart from many of her achievements, she holds the record for the first female director of the Royal Institute of Science in Bombay.
In 1998, Kamala Sohonie passed away.
She is the first female to be inducted into the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Initially, her research fellowship application was rejected by the director of IISc., who doubted her scientific abilities. However, with her grit determination, and willpower, she made it to the IISc under various conditions. One of the conditions was that she would be put on probation for the first year until the institute director found her work worthy enough to continue.
Dr. C.V. Raman, who was the director of IISC at that time was highly impressed by the dedication and work ethic of Kamala Sohonie and granted her permission to continue her research work at the institute. It is believed that after Sohonie, the IISc began inducting more female students in the coming years.
In 1937, Sohonie got a research fellowship to pursue her Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge. In a record 14 months, she completed her thesis work on Cytochrome C, which is an enzyme responsible for energy generation. After coming back to India, Kamala Sohonie continued her research work on developing healthy and affordable dietary supplements.
Dr. Sohonie was awarded the Rashtrapati Award for her work on Neera – a source of Vitamin C that has been proven to improve the health of malnourished children and pregnant women. Apart from many of her achievements, she holds the record for the first female director of the Royal Institute of Science in Bombay.
In 1998, Kamala Sohonie passed away.
