Google Feature — Asima Chatterjee Doodle
100th Birth Anniversary of Dr Asima Chatterjee
Today marks the 100th birth anniversary of Dr Asima Chatterjee ( September 23, 1917 – November 22, 2006), a renowned Indian organic chemist who was a groundbreaking pioneer in the fields of organic chemistry and phytomedicine.
Her most notable work includes research on vinca alkaloids, used today in chemotherapy in slowing down cancer cells from multiplying. Her research also contributed to the development of drugs that treated epilepsy and malaria. She also authored a considerable volume of work on medicinal plants of the Indian subcontinent. She has published over 400 research papers in esteemed scientific journals and is extensively cited even today.
Asima Chatterjee was born on September 23, 1917 in what is modern-day Kolkata in West Bengal. She graduated with honors in chemistry from the Scottish Church College of the University of Calcutta in 1936. She completed her master’s in organic chemistry from the University of Calcutta in 1938. Asima Chatterjee later went on to join the Lady Brabourne College in the University of Calcutta in 1940 as the founding head of the department of chemistry. She was the second woman to be conferred a Doctorate of Science by an Indian university – the University of Calcutta.
Dr Asima Chatterjee
(September 23, 1917 – November 22, 2006)
Google today celebrates the Birth Centenary of Dr Asima Chatterjee, a renowned Indian chemist, with a doodle. The doodle marks the immense contribution she made in the fields of organic chemistry and phytomedicine. The doodle very aptly shows a smiling Asima Chatterjee coloured in green represented with leaves for hair and the Google logo designed to resemble hexagonal chemical bonds.
On clicking the doodle, it takes the visitor to Google search result page for news on Asima Chatterjee.
Google Doodle — Asima Chatterjee’s 100th Birthday
GoogleDoodle celebrates Asima Chatterjee’s 100th Birthday in today’s GoogleDoodle!
When Dr Asima Chatterjee was growing up in Calcutta in the 1920s and 1930s, it was almost unheard of for a woman to study chemistry. But that didn’t stop Chatterjee: she not only completed her undergraduate degree in organic chemistry, but she also went on to receive a Doctorate of Science, the first woman to do so in India!
Dr Chatterjee primarily studied the medicinal properties of plants native to India. Throughout her career, her research contributed to the development of drugs that treated epilepsy and malaria. Dr Chatterjee’s most noted contribution to the field, however, was her work on vinca alkaloids. Alkaloids are compounds made from plants, often to treat medical ailments. Vinca alkaloids, which come from the Madagascar periwinkle plant, are used today in chemotherapy treatment because they help slow down or stall the multiplying of cancer cells.
Dr Chatterjee’s groundbreaking contributions to medicine were recognized by universities all over the world. She received numerous accolades from the Indian government, including some of the highest awards (like the Padma Bhushan) and an appointment to the upper house of Parliament!
A firm believer in collaboration and teaching, Dr Chatterjee also founded and led the department of chemistry at Lady Brabourne College. She started a research institute and mentored many of India’s rising chemistry scholars.
Today’s Doodle pays homage to this trailblazer and her great accomplishments in the name of science.
Discover more about Dr Asima Chatterjee’s life and work by visiting Google Arts & Culture.
Below is a picture of the Doodle on Google’s home page as it appeared today.
Asima Chatterjee’s 100th Birthday
100th Birth Anniversary of Dr Asima Chatterjee
Asima Chatterjee Jayanti
Awards and Recognition
- She was a Premchand Roychand Scholar of the University of Calcutta.
- She was the second woman after Janaki Ammal to be conferred Doctorate of Science by an Indian University, the University of Calcutta in 1944.
- In 1960, she was elected a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi.
- In 1961, she received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in chemical science, in the process becoming the first female recipient of this award.
- From 1962 to 1982, she was the Khaira Professor of Chemistry, one of the most prestigious and coveted chairs of the University of Calcutta.
- In 1972, she was appointed as the Honorary Coordinator of the Special Assistance Programme to intensify teaching and research in natural product chemistry, sanctioned by the University Grants Commission (India).
- In 1975, she was conferred the prestigious Padma Bhushan (the third-highest civilian award) and became the first lady scientist to be elected as the General President of the Indian Science Congress Association.
- She was conferred the D Sc (honoris causa) degree by several universities.
- She was nominated by the President of India as a Member of the Rajya Sabha from February 1982 to May 1990.
Asima Chatterjee Biography
Published on September 22, 2017 by .
Early life. Asima Chatterjee (née Mookerjee) was born on September 23, 1917 in Bengal. An excellent student, Asima grew up in Calcutta, attending school and subsequently enrolling at the Scottish Church College, of the University of Calcutta, graduating with honours in chemistry in 1936.
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Over the years, doodles on the Google homepage have made searching on Google more fun and enjoyable for its users worldwide. When doodles were first created, nobody had anticipated how popular and integral they would become to the Google search experience. Nowadays, many users excitedly anticipate the release of each new doodle and some even collect them!
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