Asima Chatterjee | Brief Biography
Asima Chatterjee | Brief Biography
Asima Chatterjee was an Indian chemist and natural product chemist, best known for her work in the fields of organic chemistry and phytomedicine. Born on September 23, 1917, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), she was the first woman in India to receive a doctorate in science. She dedicated her life to the study of natural products and made pioneering contributions to the field of scientific research in India.
Chatterjee’s early education took place in Calcutta, where she excelled in her studies, particularly in science and mathematics. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Calcutta in 1936 and a Master of Science degree in 1938. After completing her master’s degree, Chatterjee worked as a research assistant for two years before enrolling in the Ph.D. program at the University of Calcutta in 1940. She was awarded her Ph.D. in 1944, becoming the first woman in India to receive a doctorate in science.
After receiving her Ph.D., Chatterjee joined the Department of Chemistry at Lady Brabourne College in Calcutta as a lecturer. She held this position for several years before being appointed as a reader in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Calcutta in 1951. In 1958, she was promoted to the position of professor and head of the Department of Chemistry, a post she held until her retirement in 1979.
Throughout her career, Chatterjee made numerous significant contributions to the fields of organic chemistry and phytomedicine. She is best known for her work on vinca alkaloids, a group of natural products that have been shown to have potent anti-tumor activity. Chatterjee discovered several new vinca alkaloids and also elucidated their structures, making important contributions to the understanding of these compounds.
In addition to her work on vinca alkaloids, Chatterjee also made significant contributions to the study of plant-derived natural products, including their chemical synthesis, isolation, and structure determination. She was a pioneer in the field of phytomedicine, which involves the use of natural products from plants for medicinal purposes, and her research laid the foundation for the development of new drugs for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
Chatterjee’s contributions to the fields of organic chemistry and phytomedicine were recognized through numerous awards and honors throughout her career. She was elected as a fellow of the Indian National Science Academy in 1975 and as a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences in 1978. She was also awarded several prestigious awards, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology in 1961 and the Padma Vibhushan, one of India’s highest civilian awards, in 1975.
In conclusion, Asima Chatterjee was a pioneering scientist who made significant contributions to the fields of organic chemistry and phytomedicine. Her work laid the foundation for the development of new drugs for the treatment of cancer and other diseases, and her dedication to scientific research inspired generations of scientists in India and around the world. 0 0 0.
Asima Chatterjee | Brief Biography
Sources:
“Asima Chatterjee.” Chemical Heritage Foundation.
“Asima Chatterjee.” The Hindu.
“Asima Chatterjee.” Wikipedia. ***
N.B. This article originally belongs to the book entitled ‘Brief Biographies of Prominent Bengali Writers‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
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