cv raman biography 500 words

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Who is C.V. Raman?

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• The Nobel Prize - Biography of Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman
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C.V. Raman was an Indian physicist who won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1930 for his discovery of what became known as the Raman effect . He significantly influenced the growth of science in India through his teaching, his support of nearly every Indian research institution of his time, and his founding of the Indian Academy of Sciences.

What did C.V. Raman discover?

C.V. Raman discovered the Raman effect , which occurs when light that shines through a material is scattered and its wavelength changes from that of the original incident light because of its interactions with the molecules in the material.

Why did C.V. Raman win the Nobel Prize?

C.V. Raman was awarded the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the Raman effect , in which light that passes through a material is scattered and the wavelength of the scattered light is changed because it has caused an energy state transition in the material’s molecules .

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C.V. Raman (born November 7, 1888, Trichinopoly , India—died November 21, 1970, Bangalore) was an Indian physicist whose work was influential in the growth of science in India . He was the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1930 for the discovery that when light traverses a transparent material, some of the light that is deflected changes in wavelength. This phenomenon is now called Raman scattering and is the result of the Raman effect .

After earning a master’s degree in physics at Presidency College, University of Madras , in 1907, Raman became an accountant in the finance department of the Indian government. He became professor of physics at the University of Calcutta in 1917. Studying the scattering of light in various substances, in 1928 he found that when a transparent substance is illuminated by a beam of light of one frequency, a small portion of the light emerges at right angles to the original direction, and some of this light is of different frequencies than that of the incident light. These so-called Raman frequencies are the energies associated with transitions between different rotational and vibrational states in the scattering material.

Raman was knighted in 1929, and in 1933 he moved to the Indian Institute of Science, at Bangalore , as head of the department of physics. In 1947 he was named director of the Raman Research Institute there and in 1961 became a member of the Pontifical Academy of Science. He contributed to the building up of nearly every Indian research institution in his time, founded the Indian Journal of Physics and the Indian Academy of Sciences, and trained hundreds of students who found important posts in universities and government in India and Myanmar (Burma). He was the uncle of Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar , who won the 1983 Nobel Prize for Physics, with William Fowler .

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• Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman - Biographical

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman

Biographical.

His earliest researches in optics and acoustics – the two fields of investigation to which he has dedicated his entire career – were carried out while he was a student.

Since at that time a scientific career did not appear to present the best possibilities, Raman joined the Indian Finance Department in 1907; though the duties of his office took most of his time, Raman found opportunities for carrying on experimental research in the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science at Calcutta (of which he became Honorary Secretary in 1919).

In 1917 he was offered the newly endowed Palit Chair of Physics at Calcutta University, and decided to accept it. After 15 years at Calcutta he became Professor at the Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore (1933-1948), and since 1948 he is Director of the Raman Institute of Research at Bangalore, established and endowed by himself. He also founded the Indian Journal of Physics in 1926, of which he is the Editor. Raman sponsored the establishment of the Indian Academy of Sciences and has served as President since its inception. He also initiated the Proceedings of that academy, in which much of his work has been published, and is President of the Current Science Association, Bangalore, which publishes Current Science (India) .

Some of Raman’s early memoirs appeared as Bulletins of the Indian Associationfor the Cultivation of Science (Bull. 6 and 11, dealing with the “Maintenance of Vibrations”; Bull. 15, 1918, dealing with the theory of the musical instruments of the violin family). He contributed an article on the theory of musical instruments to the 8th Volume of the Handbuch der Physik , 1928. In 1922 he published his work on the “Molecular Diffraction of Light”, the first of a series of investigations with his collaborators which ultimately led to his discovery, on the 28th of February, 1928, of the radiation effect which bears his name (“A new radiation”, Indian J. Phys. , 2 (1928) 387), and which gained him the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Other investigations carried out by Raman were: his experimental and theoretical studies on the diffraction of light by acoustic waves of ultrasonic and hypersonic frequencies (published 1934-1942), and those on the effects produced by X-rays on infrared vibrations in crystals exposed to ordinary light. In 1948 Raman, through studying the spectroscopic behaviour of crystals, approached in a new manner fundamental problems of crystal dynamics. His laboratory has been dealing with the structure and properties of diamond, the structure and optical behaviour of numerous iridescent substances (labradorite, pearly felspar, agate, opal, and pearls).

Among his other interests have been the optics of colloids, electrical and magnetic anisotropy, and the physiology of human vision.

Raman has been honoured with a large number of honorary doctorates and memberships of scientific societies. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society early in his career (1924), and was knighted in 1929.

This autobiography/biography was written at the time of the award and first published in the book series Les Prix Nobel . It was later edited and republished in Nobel Lectures . To cite this document, always state the source as shown above.

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman – died on November 21, 1970.

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CV Raman Essay | Essay on CV Raman for Students and Children in English

February 12, 2024 by sastry

CV Raman Essay: Steeped in intellectual thought with an illustrious eye for detail, he represented India’s scientific temper. He is the first Asian and the foremost Indian to win the Nobel Prize in Physics. Most importantly, he did this at a time when India was little known in the field of Sciences. A man of immense calibre and a pool of talent, he can be none other than Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. – The Intellectual Gem

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on CV Raman for Kids and Students in English

Given below are two essays in English for students and children about the topic of ‘CV Raman’ in both long and short form. The first essay is a long essay on the CV Raman of 400-500 words. This long essay about CV Raman is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay on CV Raman of 150-200 words. These are suitable for students and children in class 6 and below.

Long Essay on CV Raman 500 Words in English

Below we have given a long essay on CV Raman of 500 words is helpful for classes 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Competitive Exam Aspirants. This long essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 7 to class 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants.

Born at Trichinopoly in Tamil Nadu on 7th November, 1888, his father was a lecturer in Mathematics and Physics, in Mrs AV Narasimha Rao College, Visakhapatnam, and later joined Presidency College, Madras. His maternal grandfather was a Sanskrit scholar, well versed in ‘navya nyaya’ or modern logic.

So, from an early age, he was immersed in an academic atmosphere. He was a diligent student. He entered the Presidency College, Madras, in 1902, and in 1904 passed his BA examination, winning the first place and a gold medal in Physics. In 1907, he gained his MA degree, obtaining the highest distinctions. His earliest researches in optics and acoustics—the two fields of investigation to which he dedicated his entire career were carried out while he was a student. Since at that time a scientific career did not appear to offer the best possibilities, Raman joined the Indian Finance Department in 1907. Though the duties of his office took most of his time, Raman found opportunities for carrying on experimental researches in the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Sciences at Calcutta.

In 1917, he was offered the newly endowed Palit Chair of Physics at Calcutta University, and decided to accept it. Raman’s main research was focussed on acoustics and musical instruments, and led to his election as fellow of the Royal Society in 1924. It was during a trip to England in 1921 that he was fascinated by the blue colour of the Mediterranean.

With a very simple experiment, he convinced himself that the blue colour of the sea was not only due to the reflection of the sky, as proposed by Lord Rayleigh, but mainly due to the scattering of light by water molecules. On his return to Calcutta, he began a systematic study of the scattering of light by different liquids, culminating in the discovery of a totally new kind of radiation, predicted by the quantum theory and named after him.

There Raman radiations carry vital information about the internal structure of the scattering molecules, and have proved to be of immense importance in studying molecular structures. His efforts finally paid off when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, the first to be ever won by an Indian. Thereafter, he became the Honorary Secretary of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Sciences. After 15 years in Calcutta, he became Professor at the Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore (1933-1948) and in 1948, he became the Director of the Raman Institute of Research at Bangalore, established and endowed by himself. He also founded the Indian Journal of Physics in 1926, of which he was the Editor.

Raman sponsored the establishment of the Indian Academy of Sciences and served as its President since its inception. He was also the President of the Current Science Association, Bangalore, which publishes Current Science. (India)

Raman has done credible work in his field and his early memoirs appeared as Bulletins of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Sciences. These dealt with the maintenance of vibrations and the theory of musical instruments of the violin family. In 1922, he published his work on the ‘Molecular Diffraction of Light’, the first of a series of investigations with his collaborators which ultimately led to the discovery, on 28th February, 1928, of the radiation effect, which is named after him. This work bagged him the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Some other investigations which propelled the world of science during his time were the experimental and the theoretical studies on the diffraction of light by acoustic waves of Ultrasonic and Hypersonic frequencies. In 1932, he and Suri Bhagavantam discovered quantum photon spin. During his term at IISc, he admitted the talented electrical engineering student, GN Ramachandran, who went on to become a recognised X-ray crystallographer.

Short Essay on CV Raman 200 Words in English

Below we have given a short essay on CV Raman is for Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. This short essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 6 and below.

In 1948, Raman, through studying the spectroscopic behaviour of crystals, approached fundamental problems of crystal dynamics in a new manner. His laboratory has been dealing with the structures and properties of diamond, the structure of optical behaviour of numerous iridescent substances like opal and pearls.

This luminous star in the firmament of the scientific fraternity has been honoured with a large number of honorary doctorates and memberships of scientific societies. He was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society in 1924 and knighted in 1929. In 1941, he was awarded the Franklin Medal. In 1954, he was conferred upon, the Bharat Ratna. He got the Lenin Peace Prize in 1957.

Another big honour was that the American Chemical Society and IACS recognised his discovery as an International Historic Chemical Landmark. India celebrates National Science Day every year on 28th February to remember the discovery of Raman effect that took place in 1928.

At the end of October, 1970, he collapsed in his laboratory. Doctors gave him four hours to live. He survived and asked to be shifted from the hospital to the gardens of his institute. He passed away on 21 st November, 1970. His life was a testimony to hard work, patience and perseverance for achieving one’s goals. One should also be level headed and not go overboard on attaining success. With him, dawned an era of high quality science, and he showed the light for others to follow.

CV Raman Essay Word Meanings for Simple Understanding

• Illustrious – very famous and much admired, especially because of what you have achieved
• Diligent – showing care and effort in your work or duties
• Optics – the scientific study of sight and light
• Acoustics – the shape, design, etc. of a room or theatre that make it good or bad for carrying sound
• Endowed – to give a large sum of money to a school, a college or another institution to provide it with an income
• Inception – the start of an institution, an organisation, etc.
• Propelled – to move, drive or push something forward or in a particular direction
• Diffraction – breaking up of stream of light into a series of dark and light bands or the different colours of the spectrum
• Spectroscopic – a piece of equipment for forming and looking at spectra
• Iridescent – showing many bright colours that seem to change in different lights
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C.V. Raman Biography

Birthday: November 7 , 1888 ( Scorpio )

Born In: Tiruchirappalli, Madras Province

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Also Known As: Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman

Died At Age: 82

Spouse/Ex-: Lokasundari Ammal

father: R. Chandrasekhara Iyer

mother: Parvati Amma

Physicists Indian Men

Died on: November 21 , 1970

place of death: Bangalore, India

discoveries/inventions: Raman Effect

awards: Nobel Prize in Physics (1930) Bharat Ratna (1954)

You wanted to know

What was c.v. raman's contribution to science.

C.V. Raman's major scientific contribution was the discovery of the Raman Effect, which is the inelastic scattering of light by molecules leading to changes in wavelength.

How did C.V. Raman's discovery impact the field of physics?

C.V. Raman's discovery of the Raman Effect provided a new way to study molecular vibrations and revolutionized the field of spectroscopy, leading to advancements in various scientific disciplines.

What motivated C.V. Raman to pursue a career in science?

C.V. Raman was inspired by his father's interest in science and his own curiosity about the natural world, which drove him to pursue a career in scientific research.

What challenges did C.V. Raman face during his scientific career?

C.V. Raman faced challenges such as lack of resources, limited support for scientific research in India, and skepticism from the scientific community, but he overcame these obstacles through determination and perseverance.

How did C.V. Raman's work influence future generations of scientists?

C.V. Raman's groundbreaking work in physics and his dedication to scientific research inspired and motivated future generations of scientists in India and around the world to pursue innovative research and make significant contributions to the field of science.

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Raman was known to have a remarkable sense of humor and often entertained his colleagues and friends with witty anecdotes and jokes.

Despite his groundbreaking scientific discoveries, C.V. Raman had a passion for music and could often be found playing the veena in his free time.

Raman had a deep appreciation for nature and would frequently take long walks in the countryside to observe and admire the beauty of the natural world.

Raman was a prolific writer and published numerous articles and books on a wide range of topics, showcasing his diverse interests and intellectual curiosity.

Raman was a dedicated teacher and mentor, known for his patience and willingness to guide and inspire the next generation of scientists.

See the events in life of C.V. Raman in Chronological Order

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• C.V. Raman: The Raman Effect

C.V. Raman and the Raman Effect

International historic chemical landmark.

Designated December 15, 1998, at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in Jadavpur, Calcutta, India.

Commemorative Booklet (PDF)

"I propose this evening to speak to you on a new kind of radiation or light emission from atoms and molecules." With these prophetic words, Professor C. V. Raman of Calcutta University began his lecture to the South Indian Science Association in Bangalore on March 16, 1928. Raman proceeded to describe a discovery that resulted from a deceptively simple experiment. Conducted far from the great centers of scientific research in the Western world, the results would capture the attention of scientists around the world and bring many accolades, including the Nobel Prize, to their discoverer.

Raman’s Fascination with Light Scattering

Raman measures the effect of light scattering, raman effect as the physicist’s tool.

• Raman Effect as the Chemist’s Tool

The Laser and Raman Spectroscopy

Biography of sir c.v. raman, further reading, landmark designation and acknowledgments, cite this page.

Educated entirely in India, C.V. Raman made his first trip to London in 1921, where his reputation in the study of optics and especially acoustics was already known to the English physicists J. J. Thomson and Lord Rutherford, who gave him a warm reception. Raman's specialty had been the study of the vibrations and sounds of stringed instruments such as the violin, the Indian veena and tambura, and two uniquely Indian percussion instruments, the tabla and the mridangam.

But it was the return trip from London to Bombay aboard the SS Narkunda that would change forever the direction of Raman's future. During the fifteen-day voyage, his restless and probing mind became fascinated with the deep blue color of the Mediterranean. Unable to accept Lord Rayleigh's explanation that the color of the sea was just a reflection of the color of the sky, Raman proceeded to outline his thoughts on the matter while still at sea and sent a letter to the editors of the journal Nature when the ship docked in Bombay.

A short time later Raman was able to show conclusively that the color of the sea was the result of the scattering of sunlight by the water molecules. Ironically, it was exactly the same argument that Rayleigh had invoked when explaining the color of the sky — the blue was the result of the scattering of sunlight by the molecules in the air.

Raman was now obsessed with the phenomenon of light scattering. His group in Calcutta began an extensive series of measurements of light scattered primarily by liquids but also by some solids. As a result, Raman was able to explain the blue color observed in the ice of Alpine glaciers.

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Analysis of light scattered by a liquid is not an easy task, and much of the early work in Calcutta was done by the visual observation of color rather than precise measurements of the light's wavelength as shown in Figure 1 at right. The fundamentals of Raman's crucial experiment are outlined in Figure 2.

The violet light of the solar spectrum is isolated with a violet filter and passed through the liquid sample. Most of the light emerging from the liquid sample is the same color as the incident violet beam: the so-called Rayleigh scattered light. However, Raman and K. S. Krishnan were able to show that some of the scattered light was a different color, which they could isolate by using a green filter placed between the observer and the sample. The advantage of using a visual observation is that several substances can be studied quickly. In his first report to Nature , titled "A New Type of Secondary Radiation," Raman indicated that approximately 60 different liquids had been studied, and all showed the same result — some scattered light had a different color than the incident light. "It is thus," Raman said, "a phenomenon whose universal nature has to be recognized."

The Raman Effect is a very weak effect; only one in a million of the scattered light particles, or photons, actually exhibits the change in wavelength. This explains, in part, why the effect was not discovered earlier. In all of the early light-scattering studies, the excitation source was sunlight, which Raman has described as being plentiful in Calcutta, but it still lacked the desired intensity. The acquisition in 1927 by the IACS of a seven-inch (18 cm) refracting telescope enabled Raman to condense the sunlight and create a more powerful light source for his studies. By early 1928, mercury arc lamps were commercially available, and he switched to this even more intense light source.

Raman knew that visual and qualitative observations alone would not be sufficient information. He methodically set out to measure the exact wavelengths of the incident and Raman scattering by replacing the observer with a pocket spectroscope. He ultimately replaced it with a quartz spectrograph with which he could photograph the spectrum of the scattered light and measure its wavelength. These quantitative results were first published in the Indian Journal of Physics on March 31, 1928.

The significance of the Raman Effect was recognized quickly by other scientists. Professor R. W. Wood of Johns Hopkins cabled Nature to report that he had verified Raman's "brilliant and surprising discovery ... in every particular. It appears to me that this very beautiful discovery which resulted from Raman's long and patient study of the phenomenon of light scattering is one of the most convincing proofs of the quantum theory."

Raman had also recognized that his discovery was important to the debate in physics over the new quantum theory, because an explanation of the new radiation required the use of photons and their change in energy as they interacted with the atoms in a particular molecule. Raman also knew that there was a more important result, remarking in his 1930 Nobel Prize address that "... the character of the scattered radiations enables us to obtain an insight into the ultimate structure of the scattering substance."

In the first seven years after its discovery, the Raman Effect was the subject of more than 700 papers in the scientific literature, mostly by physicists who were using the technique to study the vibration and rotation of molecules and relating those phenomena to the molecular structure. Then, as noted by Raman biographer G. Venkataraman, there was a decline in interest, as "the first bloom of novelty had worn off and physicists were satisfied that they understood the origin of the effect." At the same time, chemists became interested in the Raman Effect as an analytical tool. In James Hibben's words, "The Raman Effect became the adopted child of chemistry."

Raman Effect as a Chemist’s Tool

By the late 1930s the Raman Effect had become the principal method of nondestructive chemical analysis for both organic and inorganic compounds. The unique spectrum of Raman scattered light for any particular substance served as a "fingerprint" that could be used for qualitative analysis, even in a mixture of materials. Further, the intensity of the spectral lines was related to the amount of the substance. Raman spectroscopy could be applied not only to liquids but also to gases and solids. And unlike many other analytical methods, it could be applied easily to the analysis of aqueous solutions. It was a ubiquitous technique, giving information on what and how much was present in a plethora of samples.

The use of Raman spectroscopy as a basic analytical tool changed sharply after World War II. During the war, infrared spectroscopy was enhanced by the development of sensitive detectors and advances in electronics. Infrared measurements quickly became routine operations, while Raman measurements still required skilled operators and darkroom facilities.

Raman spectroscopy could no longer compete with infrared until another development in physics — the laser — revived Raman spectroscopy in a new form beginning in the 1960s.

Raman understood the need for more intense light sources to amplify the effect and observation of the scattered light. The laser provided an even more intense source of light that not only could serve as a probe exploring the properties of the molecule but could also induce dramatically new effects.

With the development of the Fourier transform (FT) technique and the application of computers for data handling, commercial FT-Raman spectrometers became available in the late 1980s, resulting in resurgence in the use of the original Raman Effect.

The new Raman spectroscopy has been used to monitor manufacturing processes in the petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. Illegal drugs captured at a crime scene can be analyzed rapidly without breaking the evidence seal on the plastic bag. Chemists can watch paint dry and understand what reactions are occurring as the paint hardens. Using a fiber-optic probe, they can analyze nuclear waste material from a safe distance. Photochemists and photobiologists are using laser Raman techniques to record the spectra of transient chemical species with lifetimes as small as 10 -11 seconds. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy is used for studying surfaces and reactions on surfaces. And, according to Kathy Kincade, Raman spectroscopy "has the ability to provide specific biochemical information that may foreshadow the onset of cancer and other life-threatening illnesses."

In his 1928 talk in Bangalore, Raman concluded, "We are obviously only at the fringe of a fascinating new region of experimental research which promises to throw light on diverse problems relating to radiation and wave theory, X-ray optics, atomic and molecular spectra, fluorescence and scattering, thermodynamics, and chemistry. It all remains to be worked out."

Seventy years later scientists are still actively working out the results and practical applications of Raman's deceptively simple experiment.

According to Hindu tradition, Raman was originally named Venkataraman after a Hindu deity, preceded by the initial of his father's first name, Chandrasekhara. In school his name was split to C. Venkata Raman, which later became C.V. Raman. With a father who was a professor of physics and mathematics and a mother who came from a family of Sanskrit scholars, Raman exhibited a precocious nature at an early age. He received a B.A. degree from Presidency College in Madras at the age of 16, placing first in his class and receiving a gold medal in physics.

While studying for his M.A. degree, he published his first research paper in Philosophical Magazine at the age of 18. It was the first research paper ever published from Presidency College.

Because of poor health, he was unable to go to England for further education. With nothing else available in India, in 1907 he passed the Financial Civil Service exam, married, and was posted to Calcutta as assistant accountant general.

Shortly after arriving in Calcutta, Raman began after-hours research at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS). In the first 10 years, working almost alone, he published 27 research papers and led the way for the IACS to become recognized as a vibrant research institute. Much of this early work was on the theory of vibrations as it related to musical instruments. After brief postings in Rangoon and Nagpur, he returned to Calcutta, took up residence next door to the IACS, and constructed a door that led directly into the institute, giving him access at any time. He received research prizes in 1912 and 1913 while he was still a full-time civil servant. He also increased the IACS reputation with his extensive lectures in popular science, holding the audience spellbound with his booming voice, lively demonstrations, superb diction and rich humor.

At the age of 29 he resigned from his lucrative civil service job when Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, vice-chancellor, Calcutta University, offered him the Palit Chair Professorship. He continued to lecture even though it was not required, and he used the IACS as the research arm of the university. By the time of his first visit to England in 1921, his reputation in physics was well known. Three years later he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society — only the fourth Indian so honored. That same year he toured the United States, spending four months at the California Institute of Technology through the invitation of Nobel Laureate Robert Millikan.

After discovering the Raman Effect in 1928, he was knighted by the British government in India and received the Nobel Prize in physics in 1930. Three years later, Raman left Calcutta for Bangalore, where he served as head of the Indian Institute of Science. There he continued his work on the Raman Effect and became interested in the structure of crystals, especially diamond. In 1934 he founded the Indian Academy of Science and began the publication of its Proceedings .

In 1948 he became director of the newly constructed Raman Research Institute, where he remained continually active, delivering his last lecture just two weeks before his death. His research interests changed in later years when he primarily investigated the perception of color.

Jagdish Mehra, a biographer, states, "Educated entirely in India, Raman did outstanding work at a time when the small Indian community worked almost entirely in isolation and few made science a career. In fostering Indian science, Raman emerged as one of the heroes of the Indian political and cultural renaissance, along with ... Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru." But as Raman himself once said, outstanding investigators "are claimed as nationals by one or another of many different countries. Yet in the truest sense they belong to the whole world."

• Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
• Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (nobelprize.org)

Landmark Designation

The American Chemical Society and the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science dedicated The Raman Effect an International Historic Chemical Landmark on December 15, 1998 at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in Jadavpur, Calcutta, India. The plaque commemorating the event reads:

At this institute, Sir C. V. Raman discovered in 1928 that when a beam of coloured light entered a liquid, a fraction of the light scattered by that liquid was of a different color. Raman showed that the nature of this scattered light was dependent on the type of sample present. Other scientists quickly understood the significance of this phenomenon as an analytical and research tool and called it the Raman Effect. This method became even more valuable with the advent of modern computers and lasers. Its current uses range from the non-destructive identification of minerals to the early detection of life-threatening diseases. For his discovery Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics in 1930.

Acknowledgments

Adapted for the internet from "The Raman Effect,” produced by the National Historic Chemical Landmarks program of the American Chemical Society in 1998.

American Chemical Society International Historic Chemical Landmarks. The Raman Effect. http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/ramaneffect.html (accessed Month Day, Year).

Back to National Historic Chemical Landmarks Main Page .

Learn more: About the Landmarks Program .

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Essay on CV Raman

Students are often asked to write an essay on CV Raman in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on CV Raman

Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, known as CV Raman, was born on November 7, 1888, in Tamil Nadu, India. He was a brilliant student and showed a great interest in science from a young age.

Achievements

Raman is famous for his work in the field of light scattering. His discovery, known as the ‘Raman Effect’, earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, making him the first Asian to receive this honor in science.

Raman’s work revolutionized our understanding of light and its interactions. His contributions to science continue to inspire students worldwide.

250 Words Essay on CV Raman

Introduction.

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, widely known as C.V. Raman, was an eminent Indian physicist who made significant contributions to the field of light scattering. His groundbreaking work earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, making him the first Asian scientist to receive this honor.

Raman’s Early Life and Education

The raman effect.

Raman’s most notable work is the discovery of the Raman Effect in 1928. This phenomenon, where light changes its wavelength and color when passing through different materials, revolutionized the field of spectroscopy. It provided a new method for studying and identifying substances based on their light scattering properties, with far-reaching implications in various scientific disciplines.

Legacy and Impact

C.V. Raman’s work transcends his lifetime, with the Raman Effect becoming a cornerstone in modern physics. His legacy also lies in his role as a science communicator and educator, inspiring future generations of Indian scientists. Despite the limited resources of his time, Raman’s unyielding curiosity and dedication to science serve as a beacon for aspiring researchers worldwide.

In conclusion, C.V. Raman’s contributions to science, particularly the discovery of the Raman Effect, have had a profound and lasting impact. His life and work continue to inspire and guide the scientific community, cementing his place in the annals of scientific history.

500 Words Essay on CV Raman

Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, popularly known as C.V. Raman, was an eminent physicist who left an indelible mark on the scientific landscape of India and the world. His groundbreaking work in the field of light scattering, known as the Raman Effect, earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. He was the first Asian and non-white to receive a Nobel Prize in any branch of science.

Early Life and Education

C.V. Raman was born on November 7, 1888, in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. He was a prodigious child and completed his schooling at a very young age. Raman graduated with a gold medal in Physics from Presidency College, Madras, in 1907. Despite his keen interest in science, he initially embarked on a career in the Indian Finance Department due to the lack of opportunities in the scientific field in India at that time.

The Path to Discovery

On February 28, 1928, Raman discovered that when light traverses a transparent material, some of the deflected light changes in wavelength. This phenomenon, now known as the Raman Effect, provided the foundation for Raman spectroscopy, a tool commonly used today for identifying the molecular composition of materials. This discovery was a significant leap in the field of quantum physics.

Nobel Laureate and Later Life

Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his discovery. He was knighted in 1929 for his contributions to science. In 1943, Raman established the Raman Research Institute in Bangalore, where he served as the director and remained active in research until his death in 1970.

C.V. Raman’s life and work exemplify the pursuit of knowledge and the power of curiosity. His groundbreaking research in the field of light scattering changed the course of scientific research and continues to have significant implications in various scientific fields. His story is not just about his scientific achievements but also about his commitment to nurturing scientific research in India. His legacy continues to inspire generations of scientists and researchers, encouraging them to think beyond the ordinary and make extraordinary contributions to the world of science.

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Famous Scientists

C. V. Raman

C. V. Raman discovered that when light interacts with a molecule the light can donate a small amount of energy to the molecule. As a result of this, the light changes its color and the molecule vibrates. The change of color can act as a ‘fingerprint’ for the molecule.

Raman spectroscopy relies on these fingerprints. It is used in laboratories all over the world to identify molecules, to analyze living cells without harming them, and to detect diseases such as cancer.

Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was born on November 7, 1888 in the city of Trichinopoly, Madras Presidency, British India. Today the city is known as Tiruchirappalli and sits in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Raman’s father was Chandrasekaran Ramanathan Iyer, a teacher of mathematics and physics. His mother was Parvathi Ammal, who was taught to read and write by her husband. At the time of Raman’s birth, the family lived on a low income. Raman was the second of eight children.

Raman’s family were Brahmins, the Hindu caste of priests and scholars. His father, however, paid little attention to religious matters: Raman grew up to share his father’s casual attitude to religion, but he did observe some Hindu rituals culturally and respected traditions such as vegetarianism.

When Raman was four years old his father got a better job, becoming a college lecturer, and the family moved to Waltair (now Visakhapatnam).

From a very young age Raman was interested in science, reading the books his father had used as a student. As he grew older, he started borrowing mathematics and physics books from his father’s college library. Entering his teenage years, he began learning from books his father had bought when he had intended taking a master’s degree in physics.

Beginning a Degree Course, aged 14

In 1903, aged just 14, Raman set off for the great city of Madras (now Chennai) to live in a hostel and begin a bachelor’s degree at Presidency College. When Raman returned home after his first year at college, his parents were shaken by his unhealthy appearance. They set up a house for him in Madras, where he could be looked after by his grandparents.

Raman was enormously enthusiastic about science. On vacations he would demonstrate experiments to his younger brothers and sisters.

He completed his degree in 1904, winning medals in physics and English. His British lecturers encouraged him to study for a master’s degree in the United Kingdom. Madras’s civil surgeon, however, told him that his health was not robust enough to withstand the British climate; he advised Raman to stay in India.

This was probably excellent advice. The brilliant mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan , born just a year before Raman, traveled from Madras to work at the University of Cambridge in 1914. Although this led to the creation of some exceptional mathematics, it had a severe impact on Ramanujan’s health.

Nobel Prize Winner Mistakes 18-year Old Raman for a Professor of Physics

Raman was awarded a scholarship and he remained at Presidency College to study for his master’s degree. His outstanding potential was recognized, and he was given unlimited access to the laboratories, where he pursued investigations of his own design.

In November 1906, aged 18, Raman had his first academic paper published. He had initially given it to one of his professors to read, but the professor had not bothered. Raman sent his paper directly to Philosophical Magazine and it was accepted. Its title was Unsymmetrical diffraction-bands due to a rectangular aperture : it was about the behavior of light.

Following the publication of his second paper in Philosophical Magazine , Raman received a letter from Lord Rayleigh, the eminent British physicist. Rayleigh, unaware that Raman was just a teenage student, sent his letter to “Professor Raman.”

In 1907, aged 19, Raman graduated with a master’s degree in physics, awarded with the highest distinction.

Full-time Government Administrator, Part-time Scientist

Although Raman was intent upon a scientific career, his brother persuaded him to take the civil service exams. Civil service jobs were highly paid and Raman’s family was deeply in debt.

For 10 years Raman worked as a civil servant in the Indian Finance Department in Calcutta (now Kolkata), rising quickly to a senior position. In his free time he carried out research into the physics of stringed instruments and drums. He did this work at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS).

The IACS had been in a state of hibernation until Raman stumbled upon it and set about reviving it. In addition to his research work, Raman gave public lectures in Calcutta popularizing science.

At Last, Full-time Science

Raman’s part-time research work and his lectures were impressive, establishing his reputation as a highly talented physicist. In 1917, the University of Calcutta sought him out and offered him the Palit Chair of Physics. Although it meant a substantial cut in pay, Raman, now aged 28, accepted – the prospect of devoting all of his time to science was worth more to him than money.

Although it was a research professorship, Raman also chose to give lecture courses: he was an exciting lecturer and he inspired his students.

The Raman Effect

Raman and rayleigh scattering.

Lord Rayleigh, who had believed the teenage Raman’s papers were the work of a professor, had been one of the great physicists of his day. He had won the 1904 Nobel Prize in Physics.

His importance to Raman’s story is that Rayleigh had been the first to explain why the sky is blue. He had then explained the sea’s color by saying it was simply a reflection of the sky’s color.

One day, in the summer of 1921, Raman was on the deck of a ship in the Mediterranean Sea en route to the Congress of Universities of the British Empire at Oxford. He looked at the beautiful blue color of the Mediterranean Sea and began to doubt Rayleigh’s explanation of its color.

Rayleigh had correctly explained that the sky looks blue because of a phenomenon now called Rayleigh scattering.

An approximate representation of Rayleigh scattering in Earth’s atmosphere.

If Earth had no atmosphere, anyone who happened to be around in such circumstances would see a white sun and a black sky. However, this is not what we see, because sunlight interacts with the gases in Earth’s atmosphere.

Rather than coming straight to our eyes from the sun, sunlight is scattered in all directions by the atmosphere. Blue light is scattered most, meaning that it comes to our eyes from everywhere in the sky, therefore the sky looks blue. Yellow and red light are scattered least, so we usually see a yellow sun, and sometimes a red sun.

Rayleigh scattering is elastic . This means that photons of light lose no energy when they interact with gas molecules. The light, therefore, stays the same color.

Raman Discovers that the Sea Scatters Light

When he sailed back to India in September 1921 Raman, an indefatigable scientist, had with him some simple physics apparatus: a prism, a miniature spectroscope, and a diffraction grating. He used these to study the sky and the sea and concluded that the sea was scattering light.

Hence when Rayleigh said the sea’s color is simply a reflection of the sky’s color, he was not wholly correct. Raman reported his findings in a letter to the journal Nature .

When he returned to his laboratory, Raman and his students began an exhaustive program of research into light scattering.

Compton Demonstrates Inelastic Scattering

In 1923, Arthur Compton in St. Louis, USA published exciting new work showing that X-rays can lose energy when they interact with electrons. The X-rays donate some of their energy to electrons, then move on carrying less energy. In other words, Compton demonstrated that inelastic scattering is possible.

Compton received the 1927 Nobel Prize in Physics for this discovery, which became known as the Compton effect.

The significance of the Compton effect is that in classical electrodynamics the scattering of X-rays and other electromagnetic radiation must always be elastic. Compton’s results agreed with quantum theory rather than classical theory.

Compton’s inelastic scattering caused X-ray wavelengths to increase. If inelastic scattering and hence longer wavelengths were possible for visible light, then the light’s color would change.

Raman and his students continued researching light scattering in gases, liquids, and solids.

They used monochromatic light – sunlight that had been filtered to leave only a single color – and found that a variety of different liquids – sixty of them – did indeed change the color of the light. They first observed this in April 1923, but very weakly.

In 1927, they found a particularly strong color change in light scattered by glycerol (then called glycerine):

Raman’s team observed the effect in gases, crystals, and glass. The effect might have been mistaken for fluorescence, another phenomenon in which light has its color changed, but in Raman’s work the light scattered by liquids was polarized, which ruled out fluorescence.

What came to be known as the Raman effect – a color change accompanied by polarization – had never been seen before. The inelastic scattering at its heart was a further, very strong, confirmation of quantum theory.

(A) Blue light approaches a molecule, and then (B) Lower energy green light leaves the molecule. This is inelastic scattering: the light has given some of its energy to the molecule, causing it to vibrate more strongly.

The Raman effect is a very small effect compared with Rayleigh scattering. Only about 1 in ten million photons undergoes inelastic scattering.

Raman and his colleague K.S. Krishnan reported their discovery in March 1928 in Nature .

Raman was awarded the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics for “work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him.”

Raman Spectroscopy

Raman showed that the energy of photons scattered inelastically serves as a ‘fingerprint’ for the substance the light is scattered from. As a result of this, Raman spectroscopy is now commonly used in chemical laboratories all over the world to identify substances. It is also used in medicine to investigate living cells and tissues – even detecting cancers – without causing harm. Laser light rather than sunlight is used as the source of photons.

The Photon’s Spin

In 1932, Raman and his student Suri Bhagavantam discovered that photons of light carry angular momentum – in quantum terms, photons possess a property called spin.

Light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation pass their angular momentum to atoms that absorb them.

Some Personal Details and the End

Raman married Lokasundari Ammal in 1907. The couple had two sons: Radhakrishnan, who became a distinguished astrophysicist, and Chandrasekhar.

Raman was knighted in 1929 for his discovery of the Raman Effect, becoming Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman.

Raman’s Nobel Prize winning work was initially inspired by observations he made on a sea voyage. Coincidentally, it was on a sea voyage that another Indian Nobel Prize winner, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar , actually carried out most of his Nobel Prize winning work. And, even more coincidentally, C.V. Raman was Chandrasekhar’s uncle!

Raman had supreme confidence in his own ability. When the Palit Chair of Physics was endowed at the University of Calcutta, one of the conditions was that the holder would carry out research in other countries to increase Indian expertise. Raman refused to do this. He said that scientists should come from other countries to learn from him . He was so sure he would win the 1930 Nobel Prize that he booked tickets to Sweden four months before the winner was announced.

In 1933, Raman became the first Indian director of the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. In 1947, he became independent India’s first National Professor. In 1948, he founded the Raman Research Institute in Bangalore, where he worked until the end of his life.

Raman was suspicious of governments playing any role in fundamental science, refusing government funding for his work:

Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman died, aged 82, of heart disease on November 21, 1970 in Bangalore, India.

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Further Reading C. V. Raman The Colour of the Sea Nature Vol. 108, pp367-367, 17 November 1921

C. V. Raman and K. S. Krishnan A New Type of Secondary Radiation Nature Vol. 121, pp501-502, 31 March 1921

C. V. Raman and S. Bhagavantam Experimental proof of the spin of the photon Indian J. Phys. Vol. 6 pp353-366, 1931

G. Venkataraman Raman and His Effect Universities Press, 1995

Uma Parameswaran C. V. Raman: A Biography Penguin Books India, 2011

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A short biography of C. V. Raman

• Post author: prakrsinha
• Post published: January 19, 2021
• Post category: Articles / Popular Science / Science / Science Article / Science Articles
• Post comments: 9 Comments

A short biography of C. V. Raman: C. V. Raman or (Sir Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman), was born on 7 November 1888 Trichinopoly Madras presidency  British India ( Tamil Nadu ,  India ). The innovative work of this legend from India, within the sphere of scattering of sunshine, earned him a reward in Physics in 1930.

Raman studied in St. Aloysius Anglo- Indian High school in Vishakhapatnam. Raman completed his metric education at 11 and intermediate at the age of 13 years in 1902. Raman joined Presidency College in Madras (now Chennai).where his father (Chandrasekhar Ramanathan Iyer) had been transferred to teach mathematics and physics. There Raman got a B.A. (Bachelorof Arts) degree from the University of Madras in Physics. There he was awarded a laurel wreath in physics, later in 1907 he completed his M.A. (Master of Arts) with the highest distinction.

His brother (Chandrasekhar Subrahmanya Ayyar ) joined The IFS (Indian Finance service) which is that the foremost honorable government service in India, which is now called Indian Audit and Account service. He started his career working in an exceedingly government sector, but in 1917 he left that job because at that time India wasn’t independent so Britishers weren’t supporting Raman to go further within the field of Physics, but after independence, in 1948 he founded his institute named “Raman research Institute where he did all his researches. Raman also contributed greatly to IACS (Indian Association of the cultivation of the science).

What is Raman Effect?

C.V. Raman was on a Ship, while he was going he saw that the color of the water is blue but he knew that water is transparent i.e. we can see through it and light can completely pass through it. After coming from the trip he did research on it and he found the reason behind this and later it was called Raman Effect.

Raman scattering, change in the wavelength of light that occurs when a light beam is deflected by molecules or atoms. When a beam of light transverse a dust-free, transparent sample of a chemical compound a little fraction of the light emerges in directions other than that of the incident (incoming).His effect is feeble in liquid compound. A short part, however, has wavelengths different from that of the incident light; its presence is a result which is called Raman Effect.

Awards and Honors

•  He was given Curzon Research Award in (1912), while he was working in Indian Finance Services.
• He was awarded Franklin Medal in (1941), in Franklin Institute which is in Philadelphia.
• In 1954 he was awarded Bharat Ratna.
• In 1957, he was awarded the Lenin Peace prize
• In 1930, he received the Hughes Medal of the Royal Society.
• In 1928, he received the Matteucci from the Academia in Rome.
• In 1930, Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman was given Nobel Prize in Physics. He was given this award because he has Discovered the “Raman Effect of Scattering of light’’. Before him, Rabindranath Tagore was awarded Nobel Prize in Literature.

He experienced a major heart attack at the end of October in 1970, while he was working in a laboratory. After this major heart attack, he was referred to a hospital where he lived for few days, he refused to stay there further and when he was counting his last breathe he arranged a meeting with the professors of his institute. And he died in the garden of Raman research institute.

Written by: Pranjal Gautam (Class VIII)

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This post has 9 comments.

Very good written on Sir Raman and I am happy that Small age students are encouraged in writing articles. Keep it up !!!

THANK YOU SIR,

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C.V. Raman Biography- Early Life, Contribution, Achievements

Dr. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman also known as C.V. Raman, was a brilliant Indian physicist. Read here in detail about Early Life, Contribution, Achievements, Awards and more.

Table of Contents

Dr. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman also known as C.V. Raman, was a brilliant Indian physicist whose significant contributions left an indelible mark on the scientific community. Born on November 7, 1888, in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu , Raman’s early exposure to academics within an education-oriented family paved the way for an extraordinary journey of scientific exploration and discovery. One of his most celebrated achievements was the groundbreaking discovery of the Raman Effect. This accomplishment not only earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics but also secured his lasting place in the pages of scientific history. This article will delve into the life, career, and contributions of this exceptional scientist, shedding light on his remarkable journey and the profound impact he made on the scientific world.

C.V. Raman Biography

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, commonly known as C.V. Raman, was born on November 7, 1888, in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India. A brilliant physicist, educator, and Nobel laureate, Raman made substantial contributions to the field of science.

Early Life and Education

• C.V. Raman exhibited exceptional intelligence from a young age. By the age of 13, he had completed his secondary and higher secondary education, demonstrating a remarkable thirst for knowledge. Born into a modest family, his parents recognized his intellectual gifts and supported his educational pursuits.

Academic and Professional Achievements

• In 1917, Raman accepted the Palit Chair of Physics at the University of Calcutta, where his genius flourished. His relentless pursuit of knowledge culminated in the discovery of the Raman Effect in 1928, a groundbreaking phenomenon that observed light changing its wavelength as it interacted with molecules in a transparent material.
• This discovery revolutionized the understanding of light-matter interactions, with applications in various scientific fields. In 1930, C.V. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his exceptional contribution to science, becoming the first Indian to receive this prestigious honour.

Scientific Legacy and Contributions

• Beyond his Nobel-winning discovery, Raman continued to make remarkable contributions to physics. He served as the Director of the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and founded the Indian Academy of Sciences, fostering a vibrant scientific culture in India.
• Raman’s passion for scientific research led to the establishment of the Raman Research Institute, a hub for scientific exploration attracting brilliant minds globally.

Legacy and Recognition

• C.V. Raman’s influence extended beyond the scientific realm. He challenged colonial stereotypes and championed scientific development in India, leaving an enduring legacy. In 1954, he was honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.

Later Years and Passing

• C.V. Raman continued his scientific pursuits until his passing on November 21, 1970. His life remains an inspiration, symbolizing unwavering dedication, the power of human curiosity, and the potential for brilliance to emerge from any background. His legacy continues to illuminate the world of science, with institutions, awards, and research initiatives bearing his name in recognition of his invaluable contributions.

Key Details of C.V. Raman

Here you can read in brief about C.V. Raman’s Full Name, Birth Date, Family, Wife, and award in the table provided below.

C.V. Raman Awards

C.V. Raman, the distinguished Indian physicist, received numerous awards and honours throughout his illustrious career for his groundbreaking contributions to science. Some of the notable awards and recognitions bestowed upon him include:

• Nobel Prize in Physics (1930): C.V. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the Raman Effect, which demonstrated the scattering of light by molecules, revealing valuable insights into the interaction between light and matter.
• Bharat Ratna (1954): In recognition of his outstanding contributions to science and education, C.V. Raman was honoured with Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1954. This prestigious award highlighted his role as a national treasure and a symbol of excellence.
• Lenin Peace Prize (1957): C.V. Raman received the Lenin Peace Prize, an international award given by the Soviet Union, for his commitment to peace and his significant contributions to scientific knowledge.
• Fellow of the Royal Society (1924): C.V. Raman was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1924, recognizing his exceptional achievements and standing in the international scientific community.
• Knight Bachelor (1929): The British government conferred the title of Knight Bachelor upon C.V. Raman in 1929 for his significant contributions to science, marking a notable recognition of his global impact.
• Franklin Medal (1941): C.V. Raman was awarded the Franklin Medal in Physics in 1941 by the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, USA, for his outstanding research in the field of physics.
• Matteucci Medal (1928): The Italian Academy of Sciences awarded C.V. Raman the Matteucci Medal in 1928 for his distinguished contributions to experimental physics.
• Honorary D.Sc. Degrees: C.V. Raman received numerous honorary Doctor of Science degrees from various universities worldwide, acknowledging his exceptional contributions to the scientific community.

These awards and honours reflected international acclaim for C.V. Raman’s scientific achievements and highlighted his role as a pioneering figure in the global scientific landscape. His legacy lives on through these recognitions, inspiring future generations of scientists.

C.V. Raman Contribution

C.V. Raman made a big discovery called the “Raman Effect” in 1928. This discovery helped scientists understand how light interacts with different things. It became very useful in studying molecules, which are tiny building blocks of everything. His work was so important that he won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, making him the first Indian to get this special award. Apart from his discoveries, he also helped a lot in teaching and promoting science in India.

C.V. Raman Death

C.V. Raman, a famous scientist, passed away on November 21, 1970, in Bangalore , India. After a life full of amazing discoveries and contributions to science, he left us. Even though he is not with us anymore, his work and ideas continue to inspire scientists around the world.

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What did C.V. Raman discover?

C.V. Raman was awarded the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the Raman effect, in which light that passes through a material is scattered and the wavelength of the scattered light is changed because it has caused an energy state transition in the material's molecules.

Who was the first Indian to win a Nobel Prize in science?

The correct answer is Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. India's first physicist to win a Nobel Physics Prize in 1930, for his work on the scattering of light. The discovery of the effect was named after him (Raman Effect).

Who did C.V. Raman marry?

C.V. Raman was married to Lokasundari Ammal.

Who is father of Physics in India?

One prominent figure often referred to as the Father of Physics in India is Sir C. V. Raman.

Did C.V. Raman receive Nobel Prize?

Raman was awarded the 1930 Nobel prize in physics “for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him”.

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• Sir C. V. Raman: The Pioneer Of Modern Science In India

Sir C. V. Raman: The Pioneer Of Modern Science In India  Blogs Home

• 07 Nov 2022

At a time of distress when the entire nation was struggling to be free from the shackles of oppression and cruelty, a man of science was busy making space for India on the globe.

“Look at the resplendent colours on the soap bubbles! Why is the sea blue? What makes diamond glitter? Ask the right questions, and nature will open the doors to her secrets.”

These are the words of Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, also known as Sir C V Raman, whose inquisitiveness and incessant efforts to find the answers made him the first Asian physicist to receive the Nobel prize in 1930. 7th November marks the birth anniversary of this revered scientist who discovered the Raman Effect. His discovery enabled the scientific community to move forward and better understand various natural phenomena.

Sir C V Raman was born in 1888 in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. His father was Chandrashekhar Ramanathan. He was a lecturer of Mathematics and Physics at the Presidency College at the University of Madras. He graduated at the age of 16 from the same college. He was a brilliant student and a gold medalist. After obtaining Masters' in Physics, he secured a government job in Indian Finance Department. He continued experimental research in acoustics and optics in the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS). He also published his work in leading Physics journals.

In 1917, he left his government job and became a Palit Professor of Physics at the University of Calcutta. He continued studying acoustics, the sounds of stringed instruments like violin and veena and percussion instruments like tabla and mridangam. His work earned him a good reputation among his peers in the country and internationally. On his first trip to London in 1921, he received a warm welcome from English Physicists J. J. Thomson and Lord Rutherford.

While returning to India from London via sea route, the blue colour of the sea caught his attention. Dissatisfied with Lord Railey’s explanation that the colour of the sea was blue due to the reflection of the colour of the sky, he decided to investigate the reason behind it. With his mentee K. S. Krishnan , he started studying light scattering.

His sincerity, dedication, and contribution towards the discipline of physics got recognition from the Royal Society of London when he was elected a fellow of the society in 1924. He got invited to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in the United States by Nobel Laureate Robert Millikan, where he spent four months studying the scattering of light. On 28th February 1928, he finally got his answer when he discovered Raman Effect, according to which the light changes its wavelength and frequency when it gets deflected by molecules. The day has been commemorated as National Science Day every year since 1987

Sir Raman was already a renowned name in the field of science but discovering the Raman effect strengthened his position in the community. He received a knighthood from the Royal Society of London in 1929, and the following year he became the first Indian scientist to be honoured with the Nobel Prize. He also headed the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore as the first Indian director.

Sir Raman was educated in India; he did most of his research work here and went on to earn the reputation of an internationally celebrated physicist. Ernest Rutherford, who discovered the nucleus, referred to Raman’s Spectroscopy in his presidential address to the Royal Society of London.

Sir Raman dreamt of building a society in India like the Royal Society of London and other entities in the world to inculcate scientific temperament in the Indian youth. In 1934 he founded the Indian Academy of Science (IAS) in Bangalore to further the cause of science. After retiring from IISc, Sir Raman founded Raman Research Institute (RRI) to continue his research. He remained the director of RRI until his death on 21st November 1970.

He expressed his disappointment in Indian talent leaving the country to find better opportunities abroad when he said:

“My life has been an utter failure. I thought I would try to build true science in this country, but all we have is a legion of camp followers for the west.”

But he remained open to working with western physicists like Max Born and Erwin Schrodinger, both of who were Nobel Laureates. He persuaded German scientist Max Born to come to India and work for the country. He stayed for some time at IISc, but Sir Raman’s efforts to prolong his stay could not fructify.

Sir C. V. Raman was honoured on numerous platforms for his incredible contribution to advancing the sciences. After India became independent, he became the first national professor of India. He was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1954. He remains one of the few recipients to receive both the Bharat Ratna and the Nobel Prize. He received Lenin Peace Prize in 1957 in Kremlin. Several buildings and roads are also named after him in Russia.

Today, the Raman effect is used in medicine, surgery, and medical diagnosis like cancer detection. It is being used in remote sensing, geology, and mineralogy. It is used for ensuring quality control in the pharmaceutical industry. Police are also using it for forensic work. The most visible public use of Raman spectroscopy can be seen at airports, metro stations, malls, or other places of security where scanners are used to detect explosives and drugs.

Sir C. V. Raman’s discovery has proved to be a significant stepping stone to the world of science. He left us half a century ago, and his discovery will also be a century old in a few years. Still, his ideas will always remain relevant and encourage curious minds to unravel the secrets of nature.

Priyanka Todariya

https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/ramaneffect.htmlhttps://www.ias.ac.in/ https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/chandrasekhara-venkata-raman-cv-raman-biography-1573042778-1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mme5K68m28Q

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C. V. Raman and the Raman Effect

C. V. Raman (1888 – 1970)

On November 7 1888 , Indian physicist and Nobel Laureate Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was born. Raman carried out ground-breaking work in the field of light scattering , which earned him the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics . He discovered that when light traverses a transparent material , some of the deflected  light changes in wavelength . This phenomenon, subsequently known as Raman scattering , results from the Raman effect .

C.V. Raman – Early Years

C. V. Raman was born on November 7, 1888, the son of a mathematics and physics lecturer in Tiruchirappalli (Trichinopoly) in southern India. He first studied at the Presidency College in Madras,  and later received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Madras . In 1907 he gained his  Master of Sciences degree with the highest distinctions from University of Madras . Since at that time there were unfavorable conditions for an academic career, he accepted a position with the Indian Ministry of Finance – but he found opportunities to continue his experimental research in the laboratory of the Indian Society for the Advancement of Science in Calcutta (Kolkata) in his meager spare time. In 1917 he was offered the newly created Palit Chair of Physics at the University of Calcutta, which he accepted. He moved to the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore as a professor in 1933 and after 1948 was director of the Raman Institute of Research, which he himself established and supervised.

Raman Scattering

There, the scientist led experiments with collaborators, including K. S. Krishnan , on the scattering of light , when he discovered what now is called the Raman effect . This work gave further proof of the quantum nature of light and highly contributed to the field of physics . Already in 1923 , the inelastic scattering of light was predicted by Adolf Smekal , and this is why in German , it is often referred to as the Smekal-Raman effect . Due to the inelastic interaction, an energy transfer takes place, i.e. the scattered light has a higher or lower frequency than the incident light beam and is specific for the scattering atom or molecule. Due to the smaller scattering cross-section, however, the proportion of frequency-shifted light is lower by a factor of 10 3 to 10 4 than the light of elastic scattering, which is referred to as Rayleigh scattering .

Raman Spectroscopy

The Raman spectroscopy came to be based on this phenomenon. Ernest Rutherford referred to it in his presidential address to the Royal Society in 1929 . The spectrum of the Raman-scattered light depends on the molecular constituents present and their state, allowing the spectrum to be used for material identification and analysis. Raman spectroscopy is used to analyze a wide range of materials, including gases , liquids , and solids . Highly complex materials such as biological organisms and human tissue can also be analyzed by Raman spectroscopy .

Nobel Prize

In 1930 , C. V. Raman won the  Nobel Prize in Physics “for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the Raman effect “. He was the first  Asian and first non-white to receive any Nobel Prize in the sciences . Before him the Indian Rabindranath Tagore had received the  Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 .

Raman founded the Indian Journal of Physics in 1926 and promoted the establishment of an Indian Academy of Sciences, which he chaired as its founding president. Raman died in Bangalore on November 21, 1970 of a cardiac arrest. His nephew Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983.

References and Further Reading:

• [1]  C.V. Raman Presentation Speech at the Nobel Prize Foundation
• [2]  C.V. Raman at Famous Scientists
• [3]  C.V. Raman at Britannica
• [4]  Bhagavantam, Suri (1971).  “Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, 1888-1970” .  Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society .  17 : 564–592.
• [5]  “CV Raman centennial issue” .   Journal of the Indian Institute of Science .   68   (11–12). 1988.
• [6] Sri Kantha S. (1988). The discovery of the Raman effect and its impact in biological sciences.   European Spectroscopy News.   80 , 20–26.
• [7] C. V. Raman at Wikidata
• [8]  SIR CV Raman’s Interview with Subtitles ,  raveeshakh  @ youtube
• [9] Timeline of C. V. Raman , via Wikidata

Tabea Tietz

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CV Raman: The Visionary Scientist

Last updated on March 11, 2024 by ClearIAS Team

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, more commonly known as CV Raman, was a pioneering Indian physicist whose work in the field of light scattering earned him the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics. Read here to learn more about his life.

National Science Day is celebrated in India on February 28th every year since 1986 to mark the discovery of the Raman Effect by Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman on this day in 1928.

This celebration not only commemorates Raman’s groundbreaking discovery, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 but also aims to spread the message of the importance of science and its application in the daily life of the people.

Table of Contents

The early life of CV Raman

Born on November 7, 1888, in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, Raman displayed a prodigious intellect from an early age, finishing his secondary education by the age of 11.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Presidency College, Madras, in 1904, and subsequently completed his Master’s in Physics in 1907.

• Despite beginning his career in the Indian Finance Department as a civil servant, Raman’s passion for science never waned.
• He conducted research at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) in Kolkata during his spare time, which led to significant discoveries in acoustics and optics.

CV Raman made his first trip to London in 1921, where his reputation in the study of optics and especially acoustics was already known to the English physicists J. J. Thomson and Lord Rutherford.

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• Raman’s specialty had been the study of the vibrations and sounds of stringed instruments such as the violin, the Indian veena, and tambura, and two uniquely Indian percussion instruments, the tabla, and the mridangam.

But it was the return trip from London to Bombay aboard the SS Narkunda that would change forever the direction of Raman’s future.

• During the fifteen-day voyage, his restless and probing mind became fascinated with the deep blue color of the Mediterranean.
• Unable to accept Lord Rayleigh’s explanation that the color of the sea was just a reflection of the color of the sky, Raman proceeded to outline his thoughts on the matter while still at sea and sent a letter to the editors of the journal Nature when the ship docked in Bombay.

A short time later Raman was able to show conclusively that the color of the sea was the result of the scattering of sunlight by the water molecules.

• Ironically, it was the same argument that Rayleigh had invoked when explaining the color of the sky – the blue was the result of the scattering of sunlight by the molecules in the air.

Also read: Indian Scientists: From Ancient to Modern Era

Nobel Prize and the Raman Effect

CV Raman’s most celebrated discovery, the Raman Effect, came in 1928. It demonstrated that when light traverses a transparent material, some of the deflected light changes wavelength and amplitude.

• This discovery was groundbreaking because it confirmed the quantum nature of light and was the first strong evidence of the quantum behavior of molecules.
• Raman used a simple apparatus to show that when light passes through a transparent substance, it scatters, and the scattered light contains frequencies not present in the original light, a phenomenon that could not be explained by classical physics.

For this discovery, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, becoming the first Asian and the first non-white to receive a Nobel Prize in the sciences.

What is the Raman effect?

The Raman Effect occurs when light interacts with the molecules of a material, causing a change in the energy and wavelength of the scattered light.

• When monochromatic light (light of a single wavelength, usually from a laser) is directed at a material, most of the light scatters elastically (Rayleigh scattering), meaning it retains its original energy and wavelength.
• However, a small fraction of the light (approximately 1 in 10 million photons) scatters inelastically, either gaining or losing energy in the process. This inelastic scattering is the Raman Effect.

Stokes and Anti-Stokes Scattering

The energy change in the scattered light corresponds to the vibrational energies of the molecules in the material.

• If the scattered light loses energy (shifts to a longer wavelength), it is called Stokes scattering.
• Conversely, if the scattered light gains energy (shifts to a shorter wavelength), it is called Anti-Stokes scattering.
• The difference in energy between the incident and scattered light directly relates to the vibrational energy levels of the molecules in the sample.

The discovery of the Raman Effect was a milestone in experimental physics and quantum theory.

• It provided the first experimental evidence of the quantum nature of light and molecules, supporting the theoretical predictions of quantum mechanics.
• The Raman Effect showed that light-matter interactions could result in the exchange of energy, leading to a deeper understanding of molecular energy levels and the electromagnetic spectrum.

Application of Raman effect

In the first seven years after its discovery, the Raman Effect was the subject of more than 700 papers in the scientific literature, mostly by physicists who were using the technique to study the vibration and rotation of molecules and relating those phenomena to the molecular structure.

By the late 1930s, the Raman Effect had become the principal method of non-destructive chemical analysis for both organic and inorganic compounds.

• The unique spectrum of Raman scattered light for any particular substance served as a “fingerprint” that could be used for qualitative analysis, even in a mixture of materials.
• Raman spectroscopy could be applied not only to liquids but also to gases and solids.
• The use of Raman spectroscopy as a basic analytical tool changed sharply after World War II.
• During the war, infrared spectroscopy was enhanced by the development of sensitive detectors and advances in electronics.

Other applications:

• Material Science : It helps in characterizing materials, understanding their structure, and studying phase transitions.
• Biological Studies : Raman spectroscopy is used in the medical field to diagnose diseases, analyze biochemical changes in cells, and study drug interactions at the molecular level.
• Pharmaceuticals : It assists in drug development and quality control by identifying the molecular composition and crystalline forms of drugs.
• Environmental Science : It is employed in detecting pollutants and analyzing environmental changes.

Academic and Research Contributions

After his Nobel win, Raman’s reputation and influence grew. He served as the director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore from 1933 to 1937.

He established the Raman Research Institute in Bangalore in 1948, where he worked until he died in 1970.

He also founded the Indian Journal of Physics in 1926, of which he is the Editor. Raman sponsored the establishment of the Indian Academy of Sciences and has served as President since its inception.

His research at these institutions spanned various domains of physics, including crystal dynamics, musical instruments, and the properties of diamonds.

Raman’s legacy is not just in his scientific discoveries but also in his role as a leader in Indian science. He was instrumental in promoting scientific research in India, inspiring generations of scientists.

Despite facing several challenges, including limited resources and recognition from the global scientific community initially, Raman’s perseverance and dedication to science shone brightly. His work laid the groundwork for numerous scientific advancements, including the study of molecular energy levels, chemical analysis techniques, and even the investigation of quantum mechanics.

Sir CV Raman passed away on November 21, 1970, leaving behind a rich legacy of scientific inquiry and discovery. His life and work continue to inspire scientists around the world, underscoring the importance of curiosity, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

Related article:

• Indian Scientists
• Jagadish Chandra Bose
• Women in STEM

-Article by Swathi Satish

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Sir CV Raman Biography, Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics for Raman Effect

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, known as CV Raman, was an eminent Indian physicist who earned the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. Check here Sir CV Raman Biography in detail.

Table of Contents

Sir CV Raman Biography

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, commonly known as CV Raman, was an eminent Indian physicist whose groundbreaking work in the field of light scattering earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. Born on November 7, 1888, in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, Raman’s contributions not only significantly advanced the understanding of light and its interaction with matter but also paved the way for modern spectroscopy techniques. His life and work remain an inspiration to scientists worldwide, particularly in India.

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Sir CV Raman Biography Overview

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Sir CV Raman’s Early Life and Education

C.V. Raman was born into a Tamil Brahmin family. His father, Chandrasekhara Ramanathan Iyer, was a lecturer in mathematics and physics. From a young age, Raman showed a keen interest in science and mathematics, often conducting experiments at home. He attended local schools in Tiruchirappalli before enrolling at the prestigious Presidency College in Madras (now Chennai) for his undergraduate studies. After completing his Bachelor’s degree, he pursued a master’s degree in physics, graduating in 1907 with top honors.

Career and Contributions of Sir CV Raman in Science

Following his education, Raman began his career as a government servant but soon transitioned to academic research. He joined the Indian Finance Department as an assistant accountant general in Calcutta (now Kolkata) but continued his scientific pursuits in his spare time. In 1917, he took up a position as a professor of physics at the University of Calcutta, where he conducted the research that would later earn him the Nobel Prize.

Raman’s most significant contribution to science came in 1928 when he discovered what is now known as the “ Raman Effect .” While studying the scattering of light in various substances, he observed that when light interacts with molecules, it undergoes a slight change in wavelength. This phenomenon, later named after him, provided crucial insights into the behaviour of light and the molecular structure of materials. The discovery of the Raman Effect revolutionized spectroscopy, allowing scientists to study the vibrational and rotational modes of molecules with unprecedented precision.

In addition to his work on light scattering, Raman made significant contributions to various other areas of physics, including acoustics, magnetism, and optics. He published numerous papers throughout his career, establishing himself as one of the leading scientists of his time. In 1934, he founded the Indian Academy of Sciences and served as its president for several years, further promoting scientific research and education in India.

Awards Honoured to Sir CV Raman

Honourable Works of Sir C V Raman

Legacy and Honors of CV Raman

C.V. Raman’s contributions to science were widely recognized during his lifetime. In addition to the Nobel Prize in Physics, he received numerous awards and honors from scientific societies and governments around the world. He was knighted by the British government in 1929, becoming the first Indian to receive a knighthood in the field of science.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Raman was also a passionate advocate for science education and research in India. He believed in the importance of nurturing young talent and established several research institutes and laboratories to support scientific endeavors in the country.

Check here: Nobel Prize in Physics 2023

Sir C.V. Raman’s life and work exemplify the spirit of scientific inquiry and discovery. His groundbreaking discoveries in the field of light scattering have had a profound impact on various branches of science and continue to inspire researchers today. As a pioneer of Indian science, Raman’s legacy serves as a reminder of the potential for excellence and innovation within the scientific community. His contributions will be remembered for generations to come, cementing his place as one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century.

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Sir CV Raman Biography FAQs

What did sir cv raman discover.

In 1928 Venkata Raman discovered that a small portion of the scattered light acquires other wavelengths than that of the original light.

Who did C.V. Raman marry?

Lokasundari Ammal

Did C.V. Raman got Nobel Prize?

Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was an Indian physicist who won the 1930 Nobel prize for physics for his work on light scattering, known as the Raman effect.

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C.V. Raman Biography: Early Life,Family, Education, Career, Awards and Achievements

Cv rama biography: november 7 marks the birth anniversary of the great scientist cv raman. he was a physicist, nobel laureate, and bharat ratna recipient who was instrumental in india’s growth in the fields of science and physics. let us read more about c.v. raman, his childhood days, education, family, discoveries, awards, and achievements.      .

National Science Day 2023: Every year, November 7 commemorates the birth of Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. He discovered the Raman Effect on February 28, 1928, and for this discovery, he was honoured with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

This article includes instances from his birth, early life, career, various achievements, and more.

C.V Raman: Biography

C.V. Raman, or Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, was born on November 7, 1888, at Tiruchirappalli in southern India. His father was a lecturer in mathematics and physics. At a young age, he was exposed to an academic environment. His contribution to science and innovative research helped India and the world. 

Dr. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (C.V. Raman): Early Life and Family

Dr. C.V. Raman was born on November 7, 1888, in a South Indian Brahmin family in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. His father's name was Chandrasekhara Ramanathan Iyer. He was a lecturer in mathematics and physics at a college in Vishakhapatnam. His mother's name was Parvathi Ammal.

C. V. Raman has been an intelligent student since his early childhood. At the age of 11, he passed his matriculation and 12th grade on a scholarship. In 1902, he joined the Presidency College and received his graduate degree in 1904. At that time, he was the only student who received the first division. He has a Master's in Physics from the same college and broke all the previous records.  In 1907, he married Lokasundari Ammal and had two sons, namely Chandrasekhar and Radhakrishnan.

Dr. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (C.V. Raman): Career

Because of his father's interest, he appeared for the Financial Civil Services (FCS) examination and topped it. In 1907, he went to Calcutta (now Kolkata) and joined as an assistant accountant general. But in his spare time, he went to the laboratory to do research at the Indian Association for Cultivation of Sciences. Let us tell you that, his job was very hectic, and he also continued his research work at night due to his core interest in science.

Though the facilities available in the laboratory were very limited, he continued his research and published his findings in leading international journals, including 'Nature', 'The Philosophical Magazine', 'Physics Review', etc. At that time, his research was focused on the areas of vibrations and acoustics.

He got an opportunity to join the University of Calcutta in 1917 as the first Palit Professor of Physics. After 15 years at Calcutta, he became a Professor at the Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore from 1933 to 1948 and since 1948, he has been the Director of the Raman Institute of Research at Bangalore which was established and endowed by him only.

Dr. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (C.V. Raman): Works and Discovery

He established the Indian Journal of Physics in 1926 where he was the editor. He also sponsored the establishment of the Indian Academy of Sciences and served as the President since its inception. He was the President of the Current Science Association in Bangalore, which publishes Current Science (India).

In 1928, he wrote an article on the theory of musical instruments for the 8th Volume of the Handbuch der Physik. He published his work on the "Molecular Diffraction of Light" in 1922 which led to his ultimate discovery of the radiation effect on February 28, 1928, and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. He became the first Indian to receive a Nobel Prize.

Other research carried out by Dr. C.V. Raman was on the diffraction of light by acoustic waves of ultrasonic and hypersonic frequencies and the effects produced by X-rays on infrared vibrations in crystals exposed to ordinary light.

In 1948, he also studied the fundamental problems of crystal dynamics. His laboratory has been dealing with the structure and properties of diamonds, and the structure and optical behaviour of numerous iridescent substances like pearls, agate, opal, etc.

He was also interested in the optics of colloids, electrical and magnetic anisotropy, and the physiology of human vision.

No doubt, he was honoured with a large number of doctorates and memberships in scientific societies. In 1924, he was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society early in his career and was knighted in 1929.

As briefly described he is best known for discovering the 'Raman Effect' or the theory related to the scattering of light. He showed that when light traverses a transparent material, some of the deflected light changes its wavelength.

Dr. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (C.V. Raman): Awards and Honours

- In 1924, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society early in his career and was knighted in 1929.

- He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

- He was awarded the Franklin Medal in 1941.

- He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954, the highest civilian award in India.

- In 1957, he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize.

- The American Chemical Society and the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in 1998 recognised Raman's discovery as an International Historic Chemical Landmark.

- On 28 February every year, India celebrates National Science Day to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect in 1928 in his honour.

In 1970, he received a major heart attack while working in the laboratory. He took his last breath at the Raman Research Institute on 21st November 1970.

Dr. C.V. Raman was one of the great legends from India whose hard work and determination made India proud and became the first Indian to receive a Nobel Prize in Physics. He proved that, if a person wants to pursue his/her desires nobody can stop. His interest in science and dedication towards research work made him discover the Raman Effect. He will always be remembered as a great Scientist, Physicist, and Nobel laureate.

Get here current GK and GK quiz questions in English and Hindi for India , World, Sports and Competitive exam preparation. Download the Jagran Josh Current Affairs App .

• Why is National Science Day celebrated? + NationalScience Day is observed on 28 February to commemorate the discovery of the 'Raman Effect'. In 1986, the Government of India designated 28 February as National Science Day (NSD). On this Day, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, also known as CV Raman announced the discovery of the 'Raman Effect' for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930.
• When is National Science Day observed? + Every year on 28 February, National Science Day is celebrated to pay tribute to the Nobel Laureate Dr. C.V. Raman.
• When did C.V. Raman die? + Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (C.V. Raman) died on 21 November 1970.
• When and Why was C.V. Raman awarded with Nobel Prize? + Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (C.V. Raman) won Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him that is the Raman Effect.
• What is the full name of C.V. Raman? + C.V. Raman full name is Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. He was born at Tiruchirappalli in Southern India on 7 November 1888.
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Sir CV Raman and His Contributions

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Science and Technology

Table of Contents

Sir CV Raman and Raman Effect

Importance of the raman effect, other scientific works of sir cv raman, honours received by sir cv raman.

Prelims:   General Science

Mains: Achievements of Indians in science and technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Sir CV Raman was born in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, on November 7, 1888. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, the son of a teacher who taught physics and mathematics, was raised in an academic environment from an early age. After earning his M.A. in physics in 1907 from Presidency College, Madras, Sir CV Raman was involved in research in the area of atomic physics and optics. The first Asian to get the Nobel Prize in Physics and the first Bharat Ratna awardee, Sir CV Raman is best known for his advanced theory of the scattering of light - an inelastic theory of scattering .

Sir CV Raman and his student KS Krishnan found that the light, after passing through a transparent medium, changes its wavelength and energy during the scattering - the phenomenon is called the Raman Effect or Raman Scattering , which has various applications in spectroscopy.

Rayleigh had already established the phenomenon of the scattering of light and had provided reasons for the blue colour of the sky. But his work was based on the multi-wavelength light passing through the atmospheric gases that scatter the light of lower wavelengths. C. V. Raman established a more advanced theory of scattering.

Molecular Scattering of Light

When light is scattered by a molecule, the oscillating electromagnetic field of a photon induces a polarisation of the molecular electron cloud, which leaves the molecule in a higher energy state after the energy of the photon is transferred to the molecule.

• This is sometimes referred to as the virtual state of the molecule and can be thought of as the formation of a very brief-lived complex between the photon and molecule.
• The virtual state is unstable and the photon is reemitted almost immediately, as scattered light.
• The wavelength of the scattered photon is equal to that of the incident photon in the vast majority of scattering events because the energy of the molecule remains constant following its interaction with the photon. This is the main process and is known as elastic (energy of a scattering particle is conserved) or Rayleigh scattering .
• Sir CV Raman and his student, K. S. Krishnan, in 1928 found an inelastic scattering of photons by matter (medium), meaning that there is both an exchange of energy and a shift in the light's wavelength. This phenomenon is called the Raman Effect .
• They found that there is a shift in the energy of the scattered photons (light particles) - either energy absorption (called Stokes scattering ), resulting in a redshift, or energy release (called a nti-Stokes scattering ), resulting in a blue shift.

Although termed a very weak effect, as only one scattered particle out of a million undergoes the shift in wavelength, the Raman Effect has proved to be a significant achievement in physics due to its various applications.

• Nature of light: The Raman Effect further cemented the particle theory of light, which holds that light is composed of tiny particles known as photons.
• Proof of quantum theory: The study of the phenomenon of light scattering is one of the most convincing proofs of quantum theory.
• Applications: The Raman Effect (scattering) provides information on vibrational, rotational and low-frequency modes of energy of molecules, which are the basis of its numerous applications.

Raman Spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy is an analytical technique where scattered light is used to measure the vibrational energy modes of a sample.

• Raman spectroscopy provides chemical as well as structural information of molecules.
• Raman spectroscopy extracts this information through the detection of Raman scattering from the sample.
• Both organic and inorganic compounds can be nondestructively analysed by the Raman spectroscopy. 
• Resonance Raman Spectroscopy (RRS)
• Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)
• Micro-Raman Spectroscopy
• Non-linear Raman Spectroscopic Techniques

Apart from scattering of light, Sir CV Raman was associated with other scientific works. 

• Spin of photons: With Suri Bhagavantam, Sir CV Raman determined the spin of photons in 1932, which further confirmed the quantum nature of light. 
• This effect has enabled optical communication components based on laser systems through the use of modulators and switching systems.
• Study on diffraction of light: He conducted theoretical and experimental studies on the effects of X-rays on infrared vibrations in crystals exposed to ordinary light, as well as on the diffraction of light by hypersonic and ultrasonic acoustic waves.
• From 1944 to 1968, he studied the structure and characteristics of diamonds .
• In the early 1950s, he studied the structure and optical behaviour of many iridescent materials, including labradorite, feldspar, agate, quartz, opal, and pearl. 
• His last interests in the 1960s were in biological properties such as the colours of flowers and the physiology of human vision.

Sir CV Raman has been honoured with a number of awards and recognitions for his contributions.

• In 1930, Sir CV Raman was conferred with the Nobel Prize in Physics. He was the first Asian to get this recognition.
• He was one of the recipients who got the Bharat Ratna for the first time in 1954 (along with S. Radhakrishnan and C. Rajagopalachari).
• Sir CV Raman was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize in 1957.
• Raman, a lunar crater, is named after Sir CV Raman.

National Science Day (NSD)

The day on which the Raman Effect was discovered by CV Raman (February 28, 1928) is commemorated as National Science Day in India.

• History: The National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) requested that the Indian government declare February 28 as National Science Day in 1986.
• The then-Indian government agreed and announced the day as National Science Day in 1986.
• February 28, 1987, marked the first National Science Day.
• NSD 2023: "Global Science for Global Wellbeing" is NSD-2023's theme.
• The theme "Global Science for Global Wellbeing" was chosen to increase public understanding of the scientific issues in a global context that are affecting global well-being.

FAQs on Sir CV Raman

What is the raman effect, named after sir cv raman.

Sir CV Raman and his student, K. S. Krishnan, in 1928 found an inelastic scattering of photons by matter (medium), meaning that there is both an exchange of energy and a shift in the light's wavelength. This phenomenon is known as the Raman Effect.

What is the contribution of Sir CV Raman to the field of physics?

Sir CV Raman gave Raman Effect. Raman spectroscopy uses the Raman effect. He was also part of the Raman-Nath theory.

Why was Sir CV Raman awarded the Nobel Prize in physics?

On February 28, 1928, Sir C.V. Raman introduced the "Raman effect," for which he was given the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

Which honours have been received by Sir CV Raman?

In 1930, Sir CV Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. He was the first Asian to get this recognition. Sir CV Raman was one of the recipients who got the Bharat Ratna for the first time in 1954. Raman, a lunar crater, is named after him.

Where was Sir CV Raman born?

Sir CV Raman was born in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, on November 7, 1888.

When is National Science Day celebrated?

The day on which the Raman Effect (named after Sir CV Raman) was discovered, February 28, 1928, is commemorated as National Science Day in India.

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• C V Raman Biography

Writing a Biographical Essay of a Historical Figure

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, was an Indian physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his work on light scattering and the discovery of a new form of scattering called Raman scattering or the Raman effect. The compositions of solids, liquids, and gases can all benefit from this effect. It can also be used to diagnose diseases and track manufacturing processes. 

Biography is an account of a person’s life by another person. It is a descriptive work written in detail. Biographical pieces can be in various forms, like a video or book and they can be of any length, like a book or an essay. An authorized biography is written with the permission of the subject and an unauthorized one is not. However, biographies of historical figures written for purely academic purposes do not require consent from the subject or people who hold the rights of consent for the subject.

Choosing the Right Level

Biographies can be written by students of all classes. The higher the class, the more details go into the essay. The biography by a fifth-grader will be smaller and less detailed than that written by a ninth-grader. The demand for making it more interesting and decorating it with aptly placed figures of speech grows with grade.

Choosing the Right Source

Biography is not fiction or a made-up story. It is the arrangement of boring dates and facts into a beautiful landscape that would be the subject’s life. For the facts to be accurate and true, trustworthy sources must be consulted, like a known book or reliable websites that contain life information.

Choosing the Right Information

Having selected the right source of information, it can get mind-boggling to choose what information to keep and what not to mention in the essay. It is better to have too much information than too little so that the best out of them can be chosen. A biography should answer some basic questions about the person. The place and date of his birth and death. Information about his immediate family. Important milestones of his life, like schooling, occupation, marriage, kids, appointments, or discoveries. His accomplishments during his lifetime. And then the legacy he leaves behind, like his impact on society or education and the historical significance.

How to Arrange the Information?

Biographies are descriptions of someone’s life, so setting the tone and making it sound interesting relies freely on the writer’s shoulders. The student can make life sound fun and lively, or gripping and intense. This is where the talent of a writer shines through, so use all of the writing tools at hand and make the best of them.

The Person Behind the Facts

The personality of the subject should shine through the essay. Select appropriate adjectives to build upon the character of the person. If interesting anecdotes highlight the kind of person he was, use them to build upon his personality.

Legacy in Conclusion

The achievement of his life and his notable works need to be mentioned, as well as how he affects posterity. In conclusion, the importance of his work and legacy should be highlighted.

It should be remembered that however tempting it feels to include interesting details and fun facts, the word limit should be kept in mind. This is what should rule which facts go and which do not in the essay. The introduction, body, and conclusion need to be clearly arranged. A biographical essay is not a story-telling spree, so the spirit of an essay should be intact.

The best essays are easy to read and the flow from one part to another is seamless. It might sound contradictory to keep a seamless flow while keeping the three parts of an essay demarcated, but it is not impossible and this is the delicate balance that can only be achieved by persistent practice. Language is not much different from Maths or Science in this aspect – practice makes perfect.

Information About C V Raman

Sir C V Raman’s birthday- November 7, 1888

Sir C V Raman’s death day- November 21, 1970

Alma mater- The University of Madras (M.A.)

Known for Raman effect

Spouse- Lokasundari Ammal (1908–1970)

Children- Chandrasekhar Raman and Venkatraman Radhakrishnan

About C V Raman’s Family and Background

Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was born to a Tamil Brahmin family in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, on November 7, 1888. Raman's forefathers were agriculturists who settled in the Tanjore district near Porasakudi Village and Mangudi. Chandrasekhara Iyer, his father, attended a school in Kumbakonam and graduated with honours in 1881. He eventually earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics from Tiruchirapalli's Society of the Promotion of the Gospel College in 1891. In the same college, Chandrasekara became a lecturer. He married Parvathi Ammal after passing the Matriculation exam and they had eight children: five sons and three daughters. Chandrasekaran, Raman's father, moved to Visakhapatnam when he was four years old to work as a lecturer at Mrs. A.V. Narasimha Rao College. He taught Physics, arithmetic, and physical geography at the university. Chandrasekaran was regarded as physically and mentally powerful due to his involvement in athletics, physical culture, and Indian Carnatic music, among other things. Raman, unlike his father, was not physically powerful, but he was a brilliant thinker. He excelled in school and displayed early signs of exceptional ability, receiving praise from his teachers as well as numerous prizes and scholarships. While still in school, Raman developed an interest in Physics. He once designed a dynamo on his own and was fascinated with how physical principles and machines worked. C. V. Raman graduated from high school at the age of eleven, receiving first place in the Matriculation Examination (top marks). He then enrolled in the AVN College to prepare for the Intermediate Exam. He received more accolades this time, and he received top scores on the university test. In 1903, he received a scholarship to study for a BA degree at the Presidency College in Chennai (then Madras), where he was the youngest student. At the time, the Presidency College was the best in Southern India. When Raman was in college, the majority of his professors were Europeans. Raman's interest in Physics grew even stronger during this period, and he also developed a strong liking for English. Raman earned first place in the university's BA exams in 1904, and gold medals in English and Physics. Raman's teachers encouraged him to continue his education in England, but the Madras Civil Surgeon refused, arguing that the young Raman was too weak to endure the English climate. Raman, on the other hand, completed his MA in Physics at Presidency College and did not travel abroad until he was thirty-three years old.

About C V Raman’s Early Career and Marriage

In January 1907, Raman sat for and passed his Master's examination, earning top marks and a slew of awards and prizes. While he desired to focus on science (particularly research), there were no research opportunities in India (specifically for Indians). Owing to his deteriorating health at the time, he was unable to travel to England. As a result, Raman's thoughts turned to work for the government, which is known to be clean, stable, and even prestigious. Even in this situation, he desired to enter the prestigious Indian Civil Service (ICS), the highest level of government service, but this meant training in England and taking the exam there—an option that was also ruled out due to medical reasons. The Financial Civil Service (FCS), where Raman's brother C.S. Iyer was already a member, which was his next preference. The FCS served as a forerunner to today's Indian Audit and Accounts Service. Raman passed the FCS examination in 1907 and married Lokasundari before taking up an official job. This period of his life unfolded unusually. Typically, parents arranged Indian marriages, which includes finding a suitable horoscope match for their infant. This included looking at the positions of the stars on their birth date, as well as other horoscopic statistics.  The boy and his parents then pay a visit to the girl's house to see if she likes them; during this period, the girl is normally asked to give a musical performance. The date for their marriage is fixed if all arrangements are in agreement and the girl's family provides adequate dowry. Raman's marriage went in a different direction. Mr. Ramaswamy Sivan, a freemason, theosophist, and radical thinker, was a friend of Raman's as a college student. Mr. Sivan's house was a frequent stop for Raman, and one day he heard music from an Indian classical instrument, the veena, played by Lokasundari, Sivan's sister-in-law, who was visiting from Madurai. Lokasundari was a natural at playing the veena, and Raman was instantly drawn to her. Sivan discussed this idea with Raman, who immediately accepted it since Lokasundari was of marriageable age at the time and her family was looking for a suitable groom. Raman then continued to seek permission from his parents. However, it was later discovered that Lokasundari, thought of the same caste as Raman (Brahmin), belonged to a separate subset—a match that was strictly forbidden at the time. Raman's father, who is a rather liberal man, agreed that Raman could choose his bride, even if she came from a different subset. The rest of the family, including Raman's mother, was unhappy, however. Despite these challenges, Raman followed his heart and kept on doing things his way. In mid-1907, Raman was appointed Assistant Accountant-General in Calcutta, even though he was still a teenager. His pay, including the marriage allowance, was Rs. 400 at the time. Raman and Lokasundari set out for Calcutta, the capital of British India at the time. Raman took advantage of Calcutta's vibrant and scientific environment, allowing him to fully articulate his scientific creativity—Calcutta was then regarded as the East's premier science city. Raman was sent to Nagpur and Rangoon in addition to Calcutta; no matter where he was posted, Raman still found a way to perform experiments at home.

C V Raman Contribution to Science

Raman productively used the time he had with Professor Jones while studying Physics at Presidency College, designing and creating experiments to address the boundless questions he had. Only the most basic laboratory instruments (enough for classwork) were available in the Physics lab at the time, but Raman made use of them all. Raman's questions were frequently those for which there were no answers in the literature. As a result, the nature of science came naturally to him, prompting him to perform experiments throughout his life. Raman experimented with asymmetric diffraction of light though he was well aware of light in a wave shape and the principle of diffraction. Professor Jones was given his observations on this experiment, which he collected and gave to him for feedback. Professor Jones, on the other hand, remained silent for many months. Raman was aware of the Philosophical Magazine at the time, possibly those subscribed to by the Connemara Public Library, which was about five kilometers from Presidency College (it is not certain how Raman came to know of this magazine). This paper was written in 1906, and Raman, who was only 18 at the time and had not yet graduated from high school, was the sole author with no acknowledgments. Raman's achievement was all the more remarkable because Presidency College was not a research institution, and Raman's paper was the first to emerge from there. Almost immediately after Raman's first publication, Johns Hopkins University's R.W. Wood published another. Wood later sent a cable to Nature announcing the Raman Effect's discovery. Raman left the government in 1917 to take up the newly established Palit Professorship in Physics at the University of Calcutta. Simultaneously, he continued his study at the IACS, where he eventually rose to the position of Honorary Secretary. Raman referred to this period in his career as his "golden age." At the IACS and the University of Calcutta, he was surrounded by a group of gifted students. In 1929, he presided over the 16th session of the Indian Science Congress. Raman worked on the acoustics of musical instruments in addition to his Nobel Prize-winning work on light scattering. Based on superposition velocities, he developed a theory of transverse vibration of bowed strings. In comparison to Helmholtz's method, this does a great job of describing bowed string vibration. He was also the first to explore the harmonic essence of Indian drum sounds like the tabla and mridangam. Raman was appointed director of the newly established Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore in 1933. The IISc was established in 1909 with the aim of conducting original research and providing science and engineering education. Before Raman's appointment, all of IISc's directors, as well as the majority of its faculty, were British. He remained a Professor of Physics for another two years. The new government of Independent India named him the country's first National Professor in 1947. In 1948, he retired from the Indian Institute of Science and a year later founded the Raman Research Bangalore, Karnataka, where he served as director until he died in 1970.

C V Raman’s Discovery

Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his research on light scattering and the discovery of the Raman effect. The inelastic scattering of a photon is known as "Raman scattering" or "Raman effect." This phenomenon is the basis for Raman spectroscopy.

What led to C V Raman’s Invention of Raman Effect?

C V Raman Discovery of the Physics of Musical sound- Understanding the Physics of musical Sound was one of Raman's passions. The Sensations of Tone by Hermann Von Helmholtz, which he came across when he entered IACS, inspired him. Between 1916 and 1921, he researched and published a lot of his observations. Based on the superposition of velocities, he developed the principle of transverse vibration of bowed string instruments. The wolf tone in violins and cellos was one of his earliest experiments. He investigated the acoustics of various violins and related instruments, as well as water splashes and Indian stringed instruments. "Experiments with mechanically-played violins" was one of his works. C V Raman Discovery behind the Blue colour of the sea- In 1919, Raman began investigating light scattering as part of his broadening foray into optics. His first amazing discovery was the mechanics of seawater's blue colour. In September 1921, he reflected on the Mediterranean Sea's blue colour while sailing home from England on the S.S. Narkunda. He tested the seawater with basic optical instruments, including a pocket-sized spectroscope and a Nicol prism. No.56 Lord Rayleigh's explanation in 1910, "The much-revered dark blue of the deep sea has little to do with the colour of water, but is the blue of the sky seen by refraction," was the strongest of many theories on the colour of the sea. C V Raman Inventions: Most photons are elastically dispersed as light is scattered from an atom or molecule. The incident photons have the same energy (frequency) as scattered photons, and therefore the same wavelength. Excitations of optical frequencies distinct from, and normally lower than, the frequency of the incident photons scatter a small fraction of scattered light (roughly one in ten million photons). Raman scattering may occur in gas when a molecule's vibrational, rotational, or electronic energy changes. "The character of scattered radiations allows us to obtain an insight into the ultimate structure of the scattering," Raman explained. Raman published his thesis on "Molecular Diffraction of Light" in 1922, the first of a series of investigations with his collaborators that eventually led to his discovery of the radiation effect that bears his name (on February 28, 1928). In 1928, C. V. Raman and K. S. Krishnan, as well as Grigory Landsberg and Leonid Mandelstam, independently identified the Raman effect. Raman's discovery was hailed by physicists as evidence of the quantum theory. The vibrational Raman effect is of primary interest to chemists. The Raman Effect was named a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society in 1998, in recognition of its importance as a method for studying the structure of liquids, gases, and solids. The Raman Effect is distinct from the fluorescence mechanism. The incident light is completely absorbed in the latter case, and the system is transferred to an energetically excited state from which it can only transition to various lower states after a certain period (resonance lifetime). Both processes emit a photon with a different frequency than the incident photon, and the molecule is brought to a higher or lower energy level. However, the Raman Effect can occur for any frequency of incident light, which is a significant difference. The Raman Effect, in contrast to the fluorescence effect, is not a resonant effect.

C V Raman’s Contribution as an Author

C V Raman’s discoveries led him to write a set of books which are listed below-

Vol. 1 -Scattering of Light (Ed. S Ramaseshan)

Vol. 2 -Acoustic

Vol. 3 -Optica

Vol. 4 -Optics  of Minerals and Diamond

Vol. 5 -Physics of Crystals

Vol. 6 -Floral Colours and Visual Perception

C V Raman’s Achievements and Awards

Many honorary doctorates and memberships in scientific societies were bestowed upon Raman. He was a member of the Deutsche Akademie in Munich, the Swiss Physical Society in Zürich, the Royal Philosophical Society in Glasgow, the Royal IrishAcademy, the  Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Sciences of The Soviet Union, the Optical Society of America, and the Mineralogical Society of America, the Romanian Academy of Sciences, the Catgut Acoustical Society of America, and the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1924. He did, however, resign from the fellowship in 1968 for unknown reasons, making him the only Indian FRS to do so. In 1929, he was the President of the Indian Science Congress's 16th session. From 1933 until his death, he was the first President of the Indian Academy of Sciences. In 1961, he was elected to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

Though still employed by the Indian Finance Service, Raman won the Curzon Research Award in 1912. While still working for the Indian Finance Service, he received the Woodburn Research Medal in 1913. The Accademia Nazionale delle Scienze in Rome awarded him the Matteucci Medal in 1928. He was knighted in 1930. The Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin, conferred him a Knight Bachelor in a special ceremony at the Viceroy's House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan) in New Delhi after his inclusion in the 1929 Birthday was postponed. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for "research on light scattering and the discovery of the phenomenon named after him."He was the first Asian and non-white person to win a Nobel Prize for Science. Rabindranath Tagore (another Indian) had previously won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. He was awarded the Hughes Medal of the Royal Society in 1930. The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia awarded him the Franklin Medal in 1941. He received the Bharat Ratna award in 1954. (along with politician and former Governor-General of India C. Rajagopalachari and philosopher Sir Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan). He received the Lenin Peace Prize in 1957.

FAQs on C V Raman Biography

1. What is the discovery of C V Raman about?

On a boat trip back from England in 1921, Indian physicist C.V. Raman began work on a line of research that would lead to the discovery of a new scattering effect, now known as the Raman effect, in February 1928. The Raman effect is significant in Physics and Chemistry.

2. Why write a biography about CV Raman?

Writing a biography is a good way to practice research and describe a person and his legacy to mankind. CV Raman is an apt topic for biography because he was a historical figure of great importance and his legacy in the field of Mathematics and Physics is big and easily available for research.

3. Are there ways of talking about a subject other than a biographical essay?

A biographical essay is just one of the many ways of describing a person’s life. Some other forms are a documentary, a biographical movie, the life of a person written as a play or story – it can be short or long – the options are as endless as one’s creativity. Refer to the official website of Vedantu or download the app for an elaborate explanation.

4. What are the tools that one can use to make a boring biography interesting?

Writing tools that can brighten up a boring biography are figures of speech, including relevant quotes, presenting the facts in a story-telling manner, etc

5. Was CV Raman a scientist or a mathematician?

CV Raman was a Nobel Prize-winning Physicist whose exemplary work in Optics won him a place in the annals of history.

6. C V Raman is Famous For?

The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to C.V. Raman in 1930 for his discovery of the Raman effect, in which light passing through a substance is dispersed and the wavelength of the scattered light is altered due to an energy state transfer in the material's molecules.

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C. v. raman: essay on c. v. raman (760 words).

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Read this comprehensive essay on Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman (1888 A.D. – 1970 A.D.) !

The Great Indian physicist Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman, popularly known as C.V Raman, was born on 7 th November, 1888 at Trichirapalli in Tamil Nadu. His father was a physics teacher and so it was natural that Raman developed love for this subject. He was a brilliant student from the very beginning. As a brilliant and promising lad, he passed his matriculation examination at the young age of 12 from Madras University.

His parents wanted to sent him England for higher studies but his poor health did not allow it. He studied at Hindu College, Visakhapatnam and Presidency College, Madras. He obtained his post-graduation degree in physics in 1907 with the top position. During his student period he conducted many researches and published his papers in many reputed magazines.

His interest in physics was deep and lasting and so he continued his research work in his spare time in the laboratory of the Association. He published his research results in the leading journals of Calcutta, now Kolkata which were in regard to the subject of propagation of light. These original research papers were of great scientific significance.

When these came to the notice of the then Vice -Challenger of Calcutta University, Sir Ashutosh Mukharjee, he appointed him Professor of physics in the University. During his stay at the University he continued his research with much more devotion and won immense honour and recognition as a physicist.

He was elected the Fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1924. He discovered the “Raman Effect” in 1928. For it he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1930. He became the first Indian to win this prestigious honour. With this award, his reputation increased by leaps and bounds and many Universities and institutions of repute honoured him with Ph D and D.Sc. degrees.

In December, 1927 he was busy in laboratory when the news came that the well-known physicist A.M. Compton was awarded the Nobel Prize for demonstrating that the nature of X-rays undergoes a change when passed through a matter.

This effect came to be known as the “Compton Effect.” Encouraged by this discovery, Raman continued his experiments and ultimately proved that light rays can also be scattered. His discovery enabled for the first time, the mapping of possible levels of energy gains of molecules and atoms of a substance and thus discovered their molecules and atomic structure. This discovery of the scattering of light led to the development of a simple alternative to infra-red spectroscopy, namely, Raman Spectroscopy.

Raman Effect happens when molecules of a medium scatter light energy particles known as photons. The spectrum varies with the nature of the transparent medium used to scatter the light. Raman Effect has proved to be of great scientific value and with its help the structure of more than 200 compounds has been known. He also gave us the scientific explanation for the blue colour of the sky and the ocean.

He explained that the blue color of the ocean was as a result of the scattering of sunlight by the molecules of the water. He travelled widely abroad delivering lectures about his discoveries and researches. In 1933 he became the Director of the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore. In 1943 he founded the Raman Research Institute at Bangalore. He was knighted in 1927. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954 and the International Lenin Prize in 1957.

Raman was a born genius and a self-made man and scientist with deep religious convictions. His interests were wide and deep and so were his contributions to the human knowledge and development. Besides optics, he was deeply interested in acoustics—the science and study of sound.

His contributions to the mechanical theory of bowed, stringed and other musical instruments like violin, sitar, cello, piano, veena, Tanpura and mridangam have been very significant. He explained in detail how these musical instruments produce harmonious tones and notes. He died on November 21, 1970 at the ripe age of 82 at Bangalore and his mortal remains were consigned to flames in the campus of the Raman Research Institute.

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🗒️CV Raman Biography: Life, Family, Education, Awards and Achievements

• Updated on  
• Nov 4, 2023

Sir Chandrashekhar Venkata Raman ( CV Raman ) was born on 7 November 1888 in Tiruchirappalli, India. He made tremendous contributions in the field of physics for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize. CV Raman’s father was a lecturer of mathematics and physics. Hence, watching him get involved in science , Raman also developed an interest in the field of physics. He acquired his higher education in Physics from the Presidency College, Chennai in 1904. CV Raman is famous for his discovery of the scattering of light which is popularly known as Raman’s Effect. Stay tuned and read this article to know more about CV Raman Biography!

Also Read: Importance of Technology in Education

CV Raman Biography

Dr CV Raman was an intelligent scientist who was born on 7 November 1888. He was involved in academics from his childhood. His father, Chandrasekhara Ramanathan Iyer was a lecturer and his mother was a homemaker. They both supported him in his higher education.

In 1907, Raman married Lokasundari Ammal. He had two sons who were also great at studies. CV Raman once said that his wife was his greatest critic and supporter, whereas his children were the source of inspiration. He became a teacher and dedicated his life to teaching and mentoring young scientists at the Indian Institute of Science where is served as a Director from 1933 to 1948.

CV Raman Education 

CV Raman acquired his higher education from the Presidency College, Madrad in 1902 and obtained his bachelor’s degree in physics ( BA ) in 1904. He secured first place and won the gold medal in physics. Post graduation he completed an MA degree in physics in 1907 with the highest distinctions. CV Raman has researched in the field of optics and acoustics and gave the most popular discoveries i.e. scattering of light.

In 1907, he joined the Indian Finance Department and while working he took out time to conduct experimental research in the labs of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science at Calcutta.

In 1917, he earned the Palit Chair of Physics at Calcutta University. He also served as a Professor at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore (1933-1948) and then, he became the director of the Indian Institute of Science. 

Also Read: MSc Physics

Also Read: How to Prepare for UPSC in 6 Months?

Awards and Achievements 

CV Raman’s great contributions in the field of science and technology have inspired many young scientists. He also became the first Indian physicist to win the Nobel Prize. Some of his awards and achievements are listed below:

• Nobel Prize in Physics (1930)
• Bharat Ratna (1954)
• Lenin Peace Prize (1957)
• Hughes Medal of the Royal Society (1930)
• Matteucci Medal (1928)
• Franklin Medal (1941)
• Knight Bachelor (1930)
• Fellow of the Royal Society (1924)
• Woodburn Research Medal (1913)
• Curzon Research Award (1912)

Also Read: Why Sky is Blue in Colour?

Relevant Blogs

CV Raman was an Indian physicist born at Tiruchirappalli on 7 November 1888. His father was a lecturer of mathematics and physics so his efforts inspired him to get into the science stream. He was the discoverer of the scattering of light. 

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was the first Indian to win a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his famous work on the scattering of light also referred to as the Raman effect.

CV Raman got married to Lokasundari Ammal.

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• This Day in History
• This Day In History Nov - 21

Death of Eminent Scientist Sir C V Raman - [November 21, 1970] This Day in History

21 November 1970

Eminent scientist Sir C V Raman passed away.

What happened?

On 21 November 1970, eminent Indian physicist and Nobel laureate Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman passed away in Bangalore.

Sir C V Raman Biography

• C V Raman was born on 7 November 1888 in Tiruchirapalli in modern Tamil Nadu.
• His parents were R Chandrasekhara Iyer and Parvati Amma. His father was a lecturer of Physics and Mathematics at a college in Visakhapatnam.
• So, from an early age, Raman was exposed to science. He was a brilliant student and joined the Presidency College at Chennai in 1902 aged just 13 for his graduation. He passed out in 1904 with a Gold Medal in Physics. He completed his post-graduation from the University of Madras in 1907 with distinction.
• At his father’s behest, Raman took the Financial Civil Service and aced the exam. He joined the Indian Finance Department as Assistance Accountant General in Calcutta.
• Even though employed in the civil services, Raman’s heart was with science. He continued to do research at the Indian Association for Cultivation of Sciences in Calcutta (IACS) whenever he got time. He also published papers in leading international journals such as ‘Nature’ and ‘Physics Review’.
• In 1917, he resigned from his government job and pursued his true calling when he was offered the Palit Chair of Physics at Calcutta University.
• He continued his research at the IACS at this time. His research was on acoustics and optics. It was at IACS that Raman along with his collaborators discovered what is now called the ‘Raman Effect’ .
• This discovery on the scattering of light was made on February 28, 1928 . This effect proved the quantum nature of light and had huge value at that time. The Raman Spectroscopy was based on this phenomenon. Consequently, February 28 is celebrated as National Science Day in India since 1987 annually in honour of this discovery.
• For this discovery, Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in the year 1930. The Nobel Committee stated that the award was given “for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him”.
• He was the first Indian, Asian and non-white person to win a Nobel Prize for the sciences.
• In 1933, he became the first Indian Director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) in Bangalore. He was the institute’s director till 1937 and the Head of the Physics Department till 1948.
• In 1948, he founded the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in Bangalore for conducting experiments in Physics. He continued to do research at RRI till his death in 1970.
• Raman died of natural causes on 21 November 1970 aged 82 in Bangalore.

Honours and awards

• Fellow of the Royal Society – 1924
• Knighthood – 1929
• Nobel Prize (Physics) – 1930
• Franklin Medal – 1941 (Franklin Institute, USA)
• Bharat Ratna – 1954
• Lenin Peace Prize – 1957
• Several phenomena in science related to the Raman Effect are named after him.
• There are many institutes and places, including a crater on the moon named after Sir CV Raman.

1899 : Birth of freedom fighter and former Chief Minister of Odisha Harekrushna Mahatab. 1914 : Birth of woman revolutionary Ujwala Mazumdar. 1962 : China declared a unilateral ceasefire in the Sino-Indian war.

See previous  ‘This Day in History’ here .

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100 Words Essay On C.V Raman In English

C.V Raman’s full name is Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. He is an Indian physicist. He is popularly known for his work in light scattering. He was born and brought up in India. His father was a lecturer in mathematics and physics and therefore one could say that the influence could be highly taken from his father.

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