Challenging the Odds (Part I)- Dr. Kamala Sohonie
Breaking beakers and barriers: Dr. Kamala’s satyagrah for Science
Written By - ISHA GOSHRANI
Kamala Sohonie was a pioneering scientist, the first Indian woman to earn a PhD in science, and a dedicated teacher. She was passionate about consumer rights and founded the Consumer Guidance Society of India. Sohonie was also a prolific science writer, publishing numerous books and articles to inspire young students. Despite facing gender bias and societal obstacles, Sohonie persevered and made history in the field of science, paving the way for future generations of women in India.
Dr. Kamala’s application for pursuing master’s was dismissed in 1933 by Prof. C.V. Raman, the then director of Indian Institute of Science (IISc), even though she had topped her university in bachelor’s. The reason for the rejection of her application was that he heavily doubted the competence of women to pursue research. You might be wondering how she continued research and later received her Ph.D if her application was not accepted in the first place. She was adamant and took over the Nobel Laureate by holding a satyagraha in his office. He was unable to give a valid official justification and eventually had to accept her application on three conditions. Firstly, she will not be allowed as a regular candidate and will stay on some sort of a probation. Secondly, she had to work late at night as per the instruction of her guide. Lastly, she will not spoil the lab environment - a subtle warning that she “should not be a 'distraction' to male researchers''. Dr. Kamala was deeply hurt, but her strong will to pursue science made her accept all the terms, and her perseverance led her to become the first woman to be admitted to the institute.
After gaining admission to IISc, she worked closely with Prof. Sreenivasayya, a strict and demanding teacher. After a year, Prof. Raman allowed her to pursue research in Biochemistry, demonstrating the competence of women in science. This led to the institute allowing female students to study, helping other aspiring women scientists excel.
During her time at IISc, she focused on characterizing proteins in milk, legumes, and pulses. Her first paper in 1935 showed that pulses contain simpler, easily digestible components, which are important for boosting nutrition in children. Her subsequent work further characterized milk's nutrients, leading to her MS thesis in 1936.
She earned a research scholarship at Cambridge University to pursue her Ph.D., where she discovered the universality of the enzyme 'Cytochrome C' in all biochemical reactions within plants. Her Ph.D. thesis, completed in just 14 months and 40 pages, made her the first Indian woman to receive a Ph.D. in a science discipline from Cambridge University.
Following completion of her Ph.D she returned to India and worked as a head of department of biochemistry at Lady Hardinge College. She later joined the Royal Institute of Science in Mumbai and conducted biochemical studies on food items to improve the nutritional status of the malnourished population of India. She developed 'neera', a drink made from palm extract, which was a good source of Vitamin C and sulfhydryl compounds that protected vitamins during storage. This drink was popularized as a cheap and good supplement for poor tribals, improving their health significantly. Kamala received the President's award for her work and later became Director of the Institute of Science, Mumbai. Despite being delayed due to gender bias in the scientific community, she attributed her achievements to her family, teacher, and husband. Kamala was also a prolific science writer, publishing books for young students and developing a protocol to prevent milk curdling. She founded India's Consumer Guidance Society (CGSI), the earliest consumer protection organization in India.
Her life symbolizes the grit of women to overcome struggles and prove their worth. She broke the glass ceiling in those days and now women are thriving in the scientific community. With her passing in 1998, we have lost an inspiring scientist, but her work and attitude continue to motivate future generations of scientists.
