UNSUNG HERO OF SCIENCE IN INDIA - Dr. RUCHI RAM SAHNI

Highlights of The Article - In this article you will come to know how the Ruchi ram Sahni was different from other scientists and the educationalist in the pre-independence era. How much contribution given by Sahni and his family in Indian science history. His collaborations with Rutherford will give an idea of his quality of research. He was the first person in that time who do great work in the field of science popularization in Punjab. He was a devoted social worker. Lets Start

The Popularization of Science in Punjab - Punjab before the independence was extended to Haryana, Himachal, Lahore and other areas of Pakistan. Dr. Ruchi Ram Sahn was the first educationist who wanted to create awareness about science with the help of science popularization in Punjab. In that time no one thinking to do. In 1885 RRS established Punjab Science Institute in Lahore for science popularization. He worked to improve the quality of science teaching in schools and colleges. To fulfill the objectives a workshop was attached to it for repairing and manufacturing simple science equipment. Because he thought that without such practicals experience science teaching not possible. The product produced by the workshop was of standards equal to a British firm. He worked to improve the quality of science teaching in schools and colleges. Jawahar Lal Nehru mentioned Scientific Temperament and its need for society in his book "DISCOVERY OF INDIA" in 1944. Once the workshop awarded a Gold medal in Kolkata, the judge of the competition was Sir J.C. Bose.

Sahni & Son's contributions - RRS was the first Indian who started work on the atomic nucleus. He first went to Germany and then Manchester for his research work. He worked with Rutherford and publish two research papers in Nature journal. In Manchester, he undertook the study of alpha scattering in radioactive cosmic rays emissions. The results were communicated by Rutherford himself in Philosophical Magazine.

Unfortunately, when he was returning from Manchester, his photographic plates damaged and his carrier ends in that field. He established a sulphuric acid factory in Lahore and he was assisted by Prof. P.C. Ray. He was interested in the Agriculture field and written three famous books.

a) Kheti Ki Pehli Kitab
b) Kheti Ki Dusri Kitab
c) Kheti Ki Tisri Kitab.

Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar was a student of RRS at Dayal Singh College, Lahore. Bhatnagar was very inspired by RRS and RRS took a keen interest in the study of Bhatnagar. Today we all know the contribution of Bhatnagar in Indian Science. In 1942 Bhatnagar established the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR). While recall-ing, the influences of his teachers in him Bhatnagar writes: “Prof. Ruchi Ram Sahni took a special interest in me and was largely responsible for the award of a scholarship from the Dyal Singh College Trust for my studies abroad.

In 1946 his son and known Paleobotanist, Birbal Sahni established Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences in Lucknow. His other son Mulk Raj Sahni founded the Department of Geology in Punjab University Chandigarh.