When apples fall from trees, people have been watching them for centuries, but no one before Newton could understand the mystery behind their fall. Similarly, countless people throughout history have gazed upon the vast ocean’s blue hue, yet the veil concealing this phenomenon’s secret remained intact—until the eminent Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman appeared before us.

The year was 1921, and Raman was on a sea voyage. Standing on the ship’s deck, gazing at the blue ocean, the nature-loving Raman felt a sense of peace. He would lose himself in the ocean’s blue shimmer for hours. Yet Raman was not merely an emotionally sensitive nature lover; within him burned a scientist’s equally powerful curiosity. This very question—“Why is the ocean blue, and not some other color?”—arose in his mind and set him on a quest to find the answer. In his search, he became world-renowned.

Raman was born on November 7, 1888, in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. His father, Vishakapatnam, was a teacher of mathematics and physics. From childhood, his father taught him these two subjects. It is no exaggeration to say that the strong foundation in these two fields—whose knowledge made him globally famous—was laid solely by his father. Raman completed his college education first at A. B. E. N. College in Tiruchirappalli and then at Presidency College in Madras. He achieved high marks in both the B. E. and M. A. examinations.

From childhood, Raman’s mind was captivated by the mysteries of science. Even during his college years, he began showing interest in research work. His first research paper was published in the Philosophical Magazine. His heart’s desire was to dedicate his entire life to research work, but at that time, there was no special provision for making research a lifelong career. Talented students were drawn toward government jobs. Like many other promising students of his time, Raman too became a clerk in the Finance Department of the Government of India. His posting was in Calcutta*.

During his government service in Calcutta, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman maintained his natural inclinations. As soon as he got some free time from the office, he would return to the bazaar, where the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science was located. This institution was unique in itself, established by Dr. Mahendralal Sarkar in Calcutta after years of arduous effort and perseverance. The goal of this institution was to foster scientific consciousness in the country. Despite its noble objectives, the institution suffered from a constant lack of resources. Raman conducted research in this laboratory using available simple equipment. This was, in itself, an example of modern asceticism, where a researcher, after working hard in the office, would reach this modest laboratory in the bazaar and, with sheer willpower, strive to enrich physical science. [^28]

It was around this time that he became fascinated with musical instruments. He sought to uncover the scientific layers hidden behind their sounds. During this period, he studied various musical instruments, both Indian and foreign.

In his studies of musical instruments, Raman examined not only Western instruments like the violin, cello, or piano but also Indian ones such as the veena, tanpura, and mrindangam. He attempted to shatter the Western misconception that Indian instruments were inferior to their foreign counterparts. Using mathematical principles, he conducted excellent work on the vibrations of instruments and published numerous research papers.

At that time, the renowned educationist Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee learned about this gifted young man. Around the same time, a new professorship was created at the University of Calcutta. Mukherjee offered Raman the proposal that he leave his government job and accept the professorship at the University of Calcutta. For Raman, this was a difficult decision. According to the standards of that era, he held a highly prestigious government position, accompanied by a generous salary and many benefits. He had already spent ten years in this job. To make the bold choice of leaving a government job for a lower-paying university position with fewer facilities required real courage.

Raman left the comforts of his government job and joined the University of Calcutta as a professor in 1917. For him, the pursuit of knowledge was far more important than government benefits. Within the academic environment of the University of Calcutta, he devoted all his time to teaching, studying, and conducting research. Four years later, in 1921, during his sea voyage, when the question about the reason for the ocean’s blue color suddenly struck Raman’s mind, he began to explore this direction further, leading to the discovery of the Raman Effect.

Raman conducted extensive studies on the effect of light rays on various solid and liquid substances. He found that when a monochromatic light ray passes through a liquid or solid substance, its color changes after passing through. The reason is that the photons of monochromatic light, while passing through the liquid or solid, collide with its particles, either losing or gaining some energy. Both scenarios result in a change in the light’s color (wavelength). Among monochromatic light rays, the highest energy is in blue light. Following blue, the energy decreases sequentially in cyan, green, yellow, orange, and red. Thus, red light has the least energy. The extent to which a monochromatic light ray loses or gains energy while passing through liquids or solids determines the degree of its color change.

Raman’s discovery was revolutionary in the field of physics. Its first consequence was that it provided experimental proof regarding Einstein’s views on the nature of light. Earlier, Einstein’s predecessors had considered light as a wave, but Einstein proposed that light is a rapid stream of extremely small particles. He compared these particles to bullets and named them ‘photons.’ Raman’s experiments provided direct evidence for Einstein’s hypothesis, as the change in color of monochromatic light clearly proves that light rays behave like a stream of high-speed microscopic particles.

Thanks to Raman’s discovery, the study of the internal structure of atoms and molecules of substances became easier. Previously, the study of this subject relied on infrared spectroscopy. This is a difficult technique with a high probability of errors. After Raman’s discovery, Raman spectroscopy became the method used to study the atomic and molecular structure of substances. This technique provides accurate information about the structure of atoms and molecules of substances based on the change in color of monochromatic light. Thanks to this knowledge,

it became possible to synthesize substances in the laboratory and artificially produce many useful substances.

The discovery of the Raman Effect elevated Raman to the ranks of the world’s top scientists. He was showered with honors and awards like leaves on a tree. In 1924, he was honored with fellowship in the Royal Society. In 1929, he was awarded the title of ‘Sir.’ The very next year, he was honored with the Nobel Prize in Physics, the world’s highest award. He received many more awards, such as the Medal of Metius from Rome, the Hughes Medal from the Royal Society, the Franklin Medal from the Philadelphia Institute, the International Lenin Prize from Soviet Russia, etc. In 1954, he was honored with the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award. He was the first Indian scientist to receive the Nobel Prize. No other Indian citizen has received this award to date. The honors he received during a time when India was under British rule gave the country a new sense of self-respect and self-confidence. He awakened a new Indian consciousness in the field of science.

Raman always felt a deep attachment to Indian culture. He consistently upheld his Indian identity. Even after achieving international fame, he never abandoned his South Indian attire. He was a strict vegetarian and strictly abstained from alcohol. When he went to Stockholm to receive the Nobel Prize, he demonstrated the Raman Effect on alcohol there. Later, during a party arranged in his honor, when he refused to drink alcohol, an organizer jokingly asked him, “Raman, you showed no hesitation in demonstrating the Raman Effect on alcohol to delight us, so why are you abstaining from demonstrating the alcohol’s effect on you?”

Raman’s scientific personality did not limit itself to experiments and research papers alone. Within him resided a national consciousness, and he was dedicated to fostering scientific vision and thought in the country. He always remembered the struggles he faced in his early days when he had to conduct experiments and write research papers in a laboratory lacking proper equipment and instruments. That is why he established an extremely advanced laboratory and research institute in Bangalore, which is now known as the Raman Research Institute. To promote research in physics, he also initiated a research journal titled the Indian Journal of Physics. Throughout his life, he mentored hundreds of research students. Just as a single flame can ignite many others, his research students went on to achieve excellent results. Many of them later rose to prominent positions. They also contributed significantly to the popularization of science by editing a magazine called Current Science. The Raman Effect did not limit itself to light rays alone; through the light rays of his personality, he illuminated and influenced the entire country. He passed away on November 21, 1970, at the age of 82.

Raman was a living embodiment of scientific consciousness and vision. He always conveyed the message that we should examine the various natural phenomena occurring around us with a scientific perspective. Only then can we extract scientific principles from the melodies and rhythms of music and the colors of light rays. There are countless things scattered around us, searching for their rightful place. It is essential to draw inspiration from Raman’s life and to delve into the scientific mysteries hidden within nature.

Questions for Practice

#Oral

Give the answers to the following questions in one or two sentences-

1. What else was Raman besides being a nature-loving enthusiast?

2. What two questions arose in Raman’s mind when he looked at the ocean?

3. In which subjects did Raman’s father lay a strong foundation in him?

4. What did Raman want to achieve through his study of the sounds of musical instruments?

5. What was Raman’s feeling behind leaving his government job?

6. What question was haunting Raman behind the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’?

7. What did Einstein say about light waves?

8. What studies did Raman’s discovery make easier?

Written

(क) Write the answers (in $25-30$ words) to the following questions-

1. What was Raman’s heart’s desire during his college days?

2. Which misconception did Raman attempt to shatter through his research on musical instruments?

3. Which job-related decision was difficult for Raman?

4. Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was honored with which awards from time to time?

5. Why is it said that the awards Raman received awakened Indian consciousness?

(ख) Write the answers (in 50-60 words) to the following questions-

1. Why is Raman’s early research work called modern asceticism?

2. What is the Raman Effect discovered by Raman? Explain clearly.

3. What work became possible in the field of science due to the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’?

4. Highlight the significant contribution of Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman in providing scientific vision and thought to the country.

5. Write the message you received from the life of Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman in your own words.

(ग) Explain the meaning of the following-

1. For him, the pursuit of knowledge was far more important than government benefits.

2. There are countless things scattered around us, searching for their rightful place.

3. This was, in itself, an example of modern asceticism.

(घ) Choose the appropriate word and fill in the blanks-

Infrared Spectroscopy, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Philosophical Magazine, Physics, Raman Research Institute

1. Raman’s first research paper was published in the $ \qquad $.

2. Raman’s discovery was a revolution in the field of $ \qquad $.

3. The name of the modest laboratory in Calcutta was $ \qquad $.

4. The research institute established by Raman is known by the name of $ \qquad $.

5. Earlier, $ \qquad $ was used to study the internal structure of atoms and molecules of substances.

Language Study

1. Below are some synonymous words given. Use them in your own sentences so that the difference in their meanings becomes clear.

(क) Proof $ \qquad $……. (ख) Salutation $ \qquad $…….

(ग) Belief $ \qquad $……. (घ) Support $ \qquad $…….

(ङ) Previous $ \qquad $……. (च) Subsequent $ \qquad $…….

(छ) Change $ \qquad $……. (ज) Implementation $ \qquad $…….

2. Fill in the blanks using the antonym of the underlined word

(क) Mohan’s father, though strong in mind, is weak in .………..

(ख) The jobs given to the temporary employees of the hospital were .…………. in nature.

(ग) Raman studied the effect of light rays on many solid and .………. substances.

(घ) Today, both .……………….. types of toys are available in the market.

(ङ) The attraction of the waves of the ocean transforms into .………. after seeing its destructive form.

3. In the example below, the underlined part uses a compound word. Use the following compound words in sentences as shown in the example

Example : Chautan enjoys singing and playing music.

Use the compound words as per the example below:

सुख-सुविधा $ \qquad $……..
अच्छा-खासा $ \qquad $…….
प्रचार-प्रसार $ \qquad $……..
आस-पास $ \qquad $…….

4. Write the following anusvaars and anunasiks in the table below

Anusvaar

Anunasik
(क) अंदर $ \qquad $ (क) ढूँढ़ते
(ख) $ \qquad $……. (ख)$ \qquad $……..
(ग)$ \qquad $…….. (ग)$ \qquad $……..
(घ)$ \qquad $…….. (घ)$ \qquad $……..
(ङ)$ \qquad $…….. (ङ)$ \qquad $……..

5. The following special language usage has appeared in the given text. Explain the meaning of these in simple words-

घंटों खोए रहते, स्वाभाविक रुझान बनाए रखना, अच्छा-खासा काम किया, हिम्मत का काम था, सटीक जानकारी, काफ़ी ऊँचे अंक हासिल किए, कड़ी मेहनत के बाद खड़ा किया था, मोटी तनख्वाह

6. Match the following based on the text-

7. List the colors mentioned in the text. Additionally, write the names of ten more colors.

8. Create five sentences using the word ‘ही’ as shown in the example below. Example : उनके ज्ञान की सशक्त नींव उनके पिता ने ही तैयार की थी।

Competency Expansion

1. Discuss the topic ‘Contribution of Science to Human Development’ in the classroom.

2. Find out and write the names of Indian scientists who have received the Nobel Prize.

3. Gather information about Newton’s inventions.

Project Work

1. Create a list of prominent Indian scientists along with their works and contributions.

2. Show the location of Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu and Calcutta on the map of India.

3. Create a list of scientific discoveries and instruments that have changed human life in the last twenty to fifty years.

Glossary and Notes Notes