India's top five scientist

The expansion of scientific contemplation in modern India can be credited to the scientists of the nineteenth century. In the later half of the nineteenth century, Sir C V Raman brought about an extraordinary change in Indian scientific thinking. Dr Homi J Bhabha, known as the father of Indian Nuclear Physics, framed the future of Indian science. Dr J C Bose became a pioneer in the field of plant physiology, Dr Vikram Sarabhai developed the concept of atomic energy and industrialization, and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam contributed to the field of defence technology.

1Chandrasekhara V Raman

CV Raman was not only a great scientist but also believed in social development. In 1930, he won the Nobel Prize for Physics. He also became the first Asian to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics.

He is associated with the concept of Raman's Effect, which says that when a light passes through a transparent substance, it scatters. Raman studied the concept of broken light and observed that "there were two spectral lines of very low strength (strength) parallel to the incident monochromatic light." This proved that any broken light was not monochromatic in nature even though the incident light was monochromatic.

When scientists were confused whether the form of light was like waves or like particles, the Raman Effect proved that light is made up of particles known as photons.

2.Dr Jagadish Chandra Bose

Dr Jagadish Chandra Bose is famous for the invention of 'Crescograph' that can record even the millionth part of a millimetre of plant growth and orbital movement. Dr Bose proved, by virtue of the Crescograph, that plants have a circulatory system. The Crescograph has also proved the fact that the upward movement of sap in plants is the doing of living cells.

He was also the inventor of wireless coherer which was later modified by Marconi as the radio.

3.Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha

Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha joined the Indian Institute of Sciences at Bangalore as a Reader at the request of Dr C V Raman. Soon, he became a Professor of Physics. It was here that he got the idea of building a research institute for some of the new areas of Physics.

India's first atomic research centre, now known as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) was established at Trombay, where Bhabha became the first chairman in 1948. India's first atomic reactor, 'Apsara' was also established under his authority.

Dr Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai

Dr Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was the key person behind the launching of India's first satellite 'Aryabhatta'. His studies of cosmic rays have made it evident that cosmic rays are a flow of energy particles with its source in outer space. On their way to earth, they are influenced by solar energy, and the earth's atmosphere and magnetism.

Dr Sarabhai established many institutes, which are of international standing. Most notable among them are the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), which are considered outstanding for their management study programmes. Under his supervision, the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) was set up. He wanted to take education to villages through satellite communication.

Dr A P J Abdul Kalam

Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, the eleventh President of India, was born on October 15, 1931. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997 for his contributions in the field of science and engineering.

He developed the Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV 3) at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, which put the satellite Rohini into orbit.