162nd Birth Anniversary of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray
Partha Roy
162nd Birth Anniversary of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, Father of Indian Chemistry observed by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS) an autonomous body under Ministry of Culture Government of India, as well as Bharat Sevashram Sangha ‘s Pranabananda Institute of Management & Technology on 2nd August in Kolkata.
Professor Amartya Dutta noted mathematician of Indian Statistical Institute Kolkata who had researched on life of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray spoke on multi – faceted role of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray in development of indigenous Indian economy by setting up educational institutions to chemical and pharmaceutical industries and others. Professor Dutta spoke at both institutions. Director of MAKAIAS, Dr. Sarup Prasad Ghosh ‘s efforts and various initiatives to rediscover as well as reconnect present and future generations of Bharatvarsha with indigenous scientific knowledge and culture are facilitating rejuvenation of rich and diverse knowledge scape of indigenous people of Bharatvarsha and also inculcating pride amongst indigenous people including members of wider Bharatiya diaspora.
Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray born on 2nd August 1861 at Raruli-Katipara, Jessore District, Bengal Presidency, British India (now in the Khulna District, Khulna Division, Bangladesh) and died on 16 June 1944 at the age of 82 years in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. He was the founder of Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, India’s first pharmaceutical company. His initiative provided affordable medicines and healthcare to millions of Indians and others over decades. He is the author of “A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century (1902)”. Ray wrote 107 papers in all branches of chemistry by 1920. He was knighted in 1919, and founded the Indian School of Chemistry (the first chemical research institute in the country) in 1924.
Ray is credited with getting international recognition for not only ancient Indian chemistry, but also ayurveda. Ray ‘s research in nitrites is considered seminal.
The Royal Society of Chemistry honoured his life and work with the first ever Chemical Landmark Plaque outside Europe. Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray was scientist, educationist, entrepreneur, industrialist, social worker and many more. He was a polymath. He was firm believer and promoter of concept of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” more than a century ago. Ray called for rediscovery of rich indigenous scientific knowledge, culture of people of Bharatvarsha that existed for several thousand years and was exported from Bharatvarsha to West Asia, Europe, South East Asia, Far East Asia and other continents on the planet Earth.
Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray called for taking pride in indigenous culture and heritage as well as making efforts to promote indigenous scientific knowledge and culture despite socio-political challenges of his time.
Following the path and spirit of Karmayogi Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, Bharat Sevashram Sangha’s Pranabananda Institute of Management & Technology celebrated its 15th Foundation Day as ” Bangiya Udyomi Divas “. Bharat Sevashram Sangha launched Swami Pranavananda Community Seva and Wellness Services to provide wide range of health and wellness support services for wider benefits of the community. Bharat Sevashram Sangha is working on youth empowerment through skill development and entrepreneurship development in its efforts to support to Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi’s initiative of “Atmanirbhar Bharat “.
