Kamala Sohonie: Science for India's People

Kamala Sohonie, born on June 18, 1911, was a trailblazing biochemist who defied a male-dominated scientific world. Her initial admission to the Indian Institute of Science in 1933 was met with resistance, yet she persevered. Sohonie's research extended to plant-cell studies and crucial nutritional analysis of common Indian foods, including pulses and palm sap.

Returning to India after earning her PhD from Cambridge, Sohonie focused her science on practical applications. She investigated the nutritional value of foods like Neera, the sap from palm trees, earning a Rashtrapati Award for her findings on its vitamin and iron content. This work aimed to improve the diet of economically weaker communities.

Sohonie further advanced her career by becoming the Director of the Royal Institute of Science in Bombay, another significant achievement for women in leadership. Her commitment to science extended to consumer rights and food safety post-retirement. In 2020, the Indian government recognized her eminent status by establishing a university chair in her name.