ARTICLE JAGADISH CHANDRA BOSE: THE PHYSICIST WHO WAS FORGOTTEN D. P. SENGUPTA* This paper touches upon the exposure Jagadish Chandra had with the leaders of science in Cambridge, his joining Presidency College, Calcutta ,his initiation and researches as a physicist, before he switched over to become one of the leading Plant electro-physiologists. Contrary to popular belief, the objective of Bose was to establish experimentally Maxwell’s theory of Electromagnetic wave propagation for short waves rather than explore the commercial aspects of wireless signal transmission. A cursory glance is made at the history of electromagnetism that led to Maxwell’s Electromagnetic theory. Jagadish Chandra’s extraordinary intuition and skill in instrumentation carried out in the most primitive and ill equipped laboratory conditions, led to the production of equipment some of which is still used in modern communication. In this attempt, he turned out to be the first person to produce, transmit and receive millimeter waves that are used for much of today’s mass communication. Unknown to most, he anticipated the first semiconductor, the seed of today’s computer and electronic revolution. Caught in the transition of classical to modern Physics he decided to change track and was forgotten as a physicist that he was, only to be remembered sixty years later to have been the first one to produce millimeter waves and anticipate semiconductors. agadish Chandra Bose found himself in the right place Jagadish completed his Tripos in Natural Sciences, at the right time. After his studies at St. Xavier’s Physics, Chemistry and Botany. He also obtained a degree JCollege under Father Lafont, he set off for England from London University. Equipped with excellent in 1880 to study medicine. Afflicted by Kala azar before recommendations, he returned home after four years (1885) he left India, he had difficulties in continuing the study of to seek an interview with the Viceroy Lord Ripon who medicine. Instead, he joined Christ’s College, Cambridge, was very pleased to meet Jagadish. But despite the in 1881, under the tutorship of Lord Rayleigh, who was a instructions from the Viceroy, the Director of Public polymath. Rayleigh had received the Nobel Prize for Instructions (D.P.I) Sir Alfred Croft, who, even after fifty discovering Argon. He took Jagadish under his wings. years of Macaulay, believed that Indians cannot be trusted Jagadish also studied under Francis Darwin, son of Charles to teach exact sciences and are only given to mysticism, offered him not an IES (Indian Educational Service) but a Darwin , Sir James Dewar and Sydney Vines the great Provincial service which Jagadish promptly declined. Later physiologist. Europe was surging ahead in scientific studies on Lord Ripon, not having seen Jagadish Chandra’s name and research. Cambridge was in the front line. in the gazette, reprimanded the D.P.I who reluctantly offered him an officiating Professorship of Physics at * Retired Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Presidency College, Calcutta, at a salary one third of his email : [email protected] British equivalent. 342 SCIENCE AND CULTURE, NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2017 In 1885, Bose joined Presidency College and carried 2) The second period (1899-1904) began with his out his commitment as a Professor but refused to draw study of the fatigue effect in metallic coherers, used any salary. This continued for three years. Jagadish Chandra for detection of electric waves, from which he went was by now married to Abala Das, (a niece of the famous over to the study of various other inorganic systems barrister and patriot, Chittaranjan Das), lived with his sisters which exhibit stress under different kinds of by turn. The D.P.I Sir Alfred Croft and the Principal of physical stimulation. The similarities in responses the college Mr. C. H. Tawney realized the worth of of inorganic and organic systems led to his famous Jagadish Chandra and raised his salary to the same level and controversial generalization about the as for a British Professor. Jagadish Chandra was paid in responses in the living and the non-living. retrospective effect. Later on Sir Alfred turned out to be 3) The third period that logically followed led to his one of his best well wishers. studies on Plant Electrophysiology and led to This example illustrates the intransigence that gave monumental investigations, which, like most of his him extraordinary patience in carrying out his research researches, were ahead of his time. These single-handedly, and also his pride as an Indian fighting researches lasted till the end of his life. against the naked discriminatory policy of the British. After reading the book of Prof. Lodge, Jagadish Jagadish won the fight. He teamed up with his mentor Chandra decided to take up experimental study of Father Lafont to help him in science popularization. Maxwell’s electromagnetic waves and their various facets Jagadish also gave lectures at the Indian Association for and he hit the Bull’s eye. This article deals with the first Cultivation of Science (IACS) set up by Dr Mahendralal period of his research career. Sircar in 1876. This was the time when the Bengal renaissance had brought extraordinary people from all walks James Clerk Maxwell of life together, in self-assertion as Indians. Several years James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879), born in an passed and Jagadish Chandra realized that rather than spend aristocratic family in Scotland, was a shy young boy whose his life as a Science teacher he would like to become a talent in mathematics was recognized very early in his life. Scientist and a teacher. He joined the University of Edinburgh and was taught by It was in 1894 that Jagadish Chandra made the resolve scientists like Sir William Hamilton. Maxwell turned out of getting involved in scientific research. Abala Bose fully to be an exceptional scientist who came to be classed with supported his resolve. Jagadish Chandra used to visit the Galileo, Newton and Einstein. He made major contributions Asiatic Society where he came across a paper written by to subjects like Heat and Thermodynamics but his most Professor Oliver Lodge, entitled…”Heinrich Hertz and his profound contribution was his publication of “A Dynamical successors”. He was fascinated by the article. theory of the Electromagnetic Field.” and this discovery and the researches that followed changed the world that Choosing an area of research is always difficult. As we live in today. a matter of fact, Jagadish Chandra changed his area of research at different stages of his life. But at every stage Going a few centuries back in time: Static electricity his research was based on accurate experiments since and magnetism as separate entities were known for a long Jagadish Chandra knew that experimental research was his time, going back to Thales (BC 624 - 546) of Miletus in forte. Ionia (present day Turkey) and possibly further back in time by the Chinese and Indians. It was known that magnets According to D.M. Bose1, his nephew and a well attract or repel each other and static charges attract or repel known physicist, the research activities of J.C. Bose each other. But a magnet does not attract a charged body extended from 1894 to 1937, the year he died, can be and a charged body does not attract or repel a magnet. divided into three periods. Alessandro Volta (1745-1827) of Italy chemically 1) During the first period (1894–1899), he produced produced current electricity in the year 1800 and thereby the shortest of then possible electromagnetic waves opened a main gate of science, leading to great discoveries. (the microwaves)and extensively studied their The serendipitous discovery of Hans Christian Oersted quasi-optical properties. His researches with (1777-1851) that electric current switched into or turned coherers not only led to the anticipation of semi- off a wire deflected a magnetic compass needle placed conductors but the effect of microwaves on the nearby, showed that electricity and magnetism are coherers led to the next important phase of interlinked . His publication was followed by several research. VOL. 83, NOS. 11–12 343 discoveries of electromagnetism by Andre M. Ampere spheres which may be called a detector ring placed about (1775-1836) of France and the major discoveries of 1.5m away. The first circuit was connected to an Induction Michael Faraday (1791-1867)of England changed the coil, connected through a switch. As soon as the switch world. That magnetic field and electric current could was closed, a spark appeared between the small copper produce rotational motion (motors), rotation of cylindrical spheres of the first circuit followed almost instantaneously coil in magnetic field produce electricity (generators) were by a spark in the detector ring physically displaced from shown by Michael Faraday but the way electric and the first. The electric discharge in the first circuit produced magnetic fields interacted to produce waves that travelled an electromagnetic wave which while passing through the at the speed of light was not known until Maxwell stepped second ring induced a voltage that caused a spark. Hertz in. systematically carried out a number of experiments, placing Maxwell’s equations on a firm footing. Hertz measured the Maxwell unified various theories pertaining to wavelength of the wave by producing stationary waves and electricity and magnetism and came to the stupendous it turned out to be about 66 cm. Hertz tested their optical discovery that visible light is nothing but a small section properties. Hertz’s publication of his paper in 1888 created of electromagnetic waves that travel at the speed of about a sensation. But Hertz did not live long enough to carry 310740 km per second which was remarkably close to the out all the studies he possibly had in mind and died at the measured value of speed of light.