President Kovind pays homage to Acharya J C Bose

Kolkata : President Ram Nath Kovind today paid his homage to Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose describing him as a "true pioneer" of Indian science, an innovator and scientist of world class distinction who was not given enough credit for his rich scientific career.

The President, who was addressing the closing ceremony of centenary celebrations of Bose Institute here, said Bose had demonstrated wireless transmission as microwaves in 1895 much ahead of Italian engineer Guglielmo Marconi's transmission of radiowaves.He had also designed and fabricated the first semi-conductor device Galena detector in the world.

"He was probably the first scientist to study responses of plants using instruments crafted by himself. This gave rise to inter-disciplinary research in the area called biophysics," the President said.Referring to Bose's multifaceted talents, Kovind said he was the first person in India to write science fiction and regretted that in his life time he was not given enough credit for his rich scientific career.

Bose had little institutional and financal support as the then colonial government put road blocks in his works. He was encouraged by Swami Vivekananda and Sister Nivedita, who helped him get some financial support, Kovind said.The institute came up as result of the sense of nation building as Bose had felt the need to set up an institute devoted to scientic research and help young Indian scientists.Its social outreach programme in rural Bengal through its rural biotechnology initiative and educational programme for school children in various north eastern states was also mentioned by him.

Bose Institute Council chairman Prof Bikash Sinha, its director Siddhartho Roy, Secretary to the department of science and technology Ashutosh Sharma too spoke on the occasion. West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi was present at the function.Roy said the institute in its centenary year would launch interdisciplinary programmes on climate change.