J.C. Bose Summary: Jagadish Chandra Bose was a prominent Indian scientist and polymath known for his significant contributions to various fields of science. Read More English Summaries.
Jagadish Chandra Bose Summary in English
A little boy was admitted to St. Xavier’s School in Calcutta (now Kolkata). The boys at the school were much amused to have in their company a ‘new boy who could hardly converse in English. One day, when the other boys were making fun of this new boy, he suddenly jumped at one of his attackers and surprisingly emerged as a brave boy and won the respect and admiration of the other boys. This boy learnt a great lesson that day. “Success doesn’t fall into one’s lap. It is to be earned through great pains and struggle.’
This boy was Jagadish Chandra Bose, who was born on the 30th of November 1858 in Faridpur district Decca (now in Bangladesh). Things around him made him curious. Why does the wind blow? Why does the water flow? Why are plants green? etc. were the questions that often struck his mind. Seeing his curiosity, his father Bhagwan Chandra Bose, admitted him to St. Xavier’s Calcutta at the age of nine. Later he emerged as a great Indian scientist.
It was the 10th of May, 1901, and some eminent scientists had gathered in the great hall of the Royal Society in London. Jagdish Chandra Bose was going to demonstrate that plants have feelings like we have. He claimed that plants can feel pain. Most of the scientists present could not believe it, as they had doubts. Bose was adamant about it, so he injected poison into a plant. According to his claim, the plant would soon show signs of death. But nothing happened. However, Bose calmly announced, “The poison has failed to affect the plant. So I believe it would not hurt me either.” As the audience looked on in horror, he injected the poison into himself. Suddenly a man appeared on the scene and confessed that he had replaced the poison with similar coloured water.
Bose, repeated the experiment with a real poison. This time the plant’s pulse beat showed movement on the screen of an instrument and it ultimately died. However, the Royal Society was not convinced and was not ready to accept the result. But Bose would not give up easily. So he took up the challenge and after years of rigorous research he published an article, ‘Response in the Living and Non-Living’. This article convinced the Royal Society. Consequently, Bose was awarded the fellowship of the Royal Society in 1920.
Although more famous as a biologist, Bose was a great physicist as well. He can rightly be called the inventor of wireless telegraphy. Though Marconi invented the wireless. Bose had already demonstrated its functioning in public in the year 1895, a year before Marconi’s patent for the telegraph. This impressed the Royal Society of England and he was honoured with the degree of ‘Doctor of Science’. In fact, Bose was a pioneer in multimedia communication. He was the first to fabricate the device that generated radio wavelength.
Another example of Bose’s greatness is revealed in the invention of the radar. Bose worked out some details of very great importance which are used in the working of the radar. Jagadish Chandra Bose has a permanent place in the world of science, especially in botany.
He began the age of Modern Science in India and deserves honour for this. He was a great scientist, who selflessly dedicated his findings to the further development of science. An inventor can make lakhs ‘ of rupees by just one or two inventions. Bose has invented many instruments. They have since been used by many industries. When he was offered money for these he did not accept it. He felt that knowledge was not anybody’s personal property. He permitted anyone and everyone to use the fruits of his work.
Read More Summaries
- Akbar and Birbal – Reunion Summary
- Ram Prasad ‘Bismil’ – The Great Martyr Summary
- King Vikram in Disguise Summary
- Bond of Love Summary
- Woodman, Spare that Tree Summary